Bourbon Aged Beers

[greatgoo]

I'm by no means a beer expert, but it seems like Goose Island Bourbon County and Founders KBS are the most popular Bourbon Aged Beers.

Are there other beers that would rival these two heavy weights you would recommend I try?

Thanks for any help!

[amg]

New Holland Dragon's Milk is a nice readily available bourbon barrel aged imperial stout that you won't have to hunt for. I'm a big fan of Founders Backwoods Bastard (strong Scotch ale aged in bourbon barrels) but it's a fall seasonal so you're not likely to run into it now. the Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale isn't winning any awards, but it's a nice basic BBA English-style ale (malty, not hoppy) that's pretty much everywhere. Great Lakes in your neck of the woods does a BBA imperial stout that's pretty solid. Not sure when that comes out since they don't distribute here anymore.

[johnnyoski]

I second the recommendation of New Holland Dragon's Milk. Pretty easy to find in the Midwest and lighter on the wallet.

I've also had Kentucky Bourbon Ale and Kentucky Bourbon Stout from Lexington Brewing Co but found them a little underwhelming.

[garbanzobean]

Has Dragon's Milk changed appreciably in the past 8-9 years? I had it almost a decade ago, and it has the not so great distinction of being one of maybe 3 beers I disliked so much that I poured them down the drain.

[mosugoji64]

Full Sail bourbon barrel aged stout was good. Anderson Valley (I think that's the name) Wild Turkey barrel aged stout was also pretty tasty.

[Guest]

I dont believe its available but my only experience with a bourbon barrel aged beer was a Brooklyn Brewery dark beer, maybe an imperial stout? That had spent time in ex Woodfords barrels. Apparently it was a christmas for the staff only release, man it was pretty delicious, unique and big in flavour!

[amg]

Has Dragon's Milk changed appreciably in the past 8-9 years? I had it almost a decade ago, and it has the not so great distinction of being one of maybe 3 beers I disliked so much that I poured them down the drain.

It's not for everyone.

[MTNBourbon]

There are way too many to name, see what is available to you and try them.

[pellidon]

New Holland's Dragon Milk was a bit sweeter than I prefer in a stout. But then my first taste of Guinness was in Ireland so that set the bar high. Still not a bad stout and Guinness is Guinness.

[Yeti]

I'm not a big fan of KBS, it's probably my least favorite in the style, at least when it comes to the big name annual release BA stouts. Black Note from Bell's might be the leader of the pack, but is harder to find than either KBS or BCBS. Uncle Jacob's from Avery, Central Waters Brewer's Reserve Bourbon Stout are both very good. Prairie Bomb and Westbrook Mexican Cake have multiple BA variants. BA Plead the Fifth from Dark Horse is another that is difficult to get, but absolutely fantastic. All of this stuff is similarly hard to get when compared to annual bourbon releases. Lots of 1-per, "pay to play", or raffle stuff going on.

You missed 2015, but BBA Blackout Stout from Great Lakes comes out in late January and is relatively easy to pickup from the brewery. They do a release party and locals can usually get as much as they want. It's excellent, put that on your calendar for next year.

There are a lot of people putting down stouts in barrels (whiskey and otherwise), so there should be some things you can find locally. Keep your eyes peeled for BA BORIS the Crusher or DORIS the Destroyer from Hoppin' Frog in Akron. Those base beers are really great, the BA should be phenomenal. Also may want to try Chocolate or Espresso Oak Aged Yeti from Great Divide. Just run over to one of the Lizardville locations when they're not busy and ask for some recommendations. Those guys are usually very helpful.

Edited April 2, 2015 by Yeti

[Pepe]

Can't say enough good about Black Note Stout from Bell's. One of the best and a rare find indeed.

P.S. The vinyl pictured on the cover is Led Zeppelin II

[amg]

New Holland's Dragon Milk was a bit sweeter than I prefer in a stout. But then my first taste of Guinness was in Ireland so that set the bar high. Still not a bad stout and Guinness is Guinness.

[garbanzobean]

It's not for everyone.

I'm not generally all that picky when it comes to craft beer, and usually enjoy or at least appreciate well made beer from styles that aren't necessarily my favorites. At any rate, I recall a sickly sweet flavor (somewhere between rotting meat and malt syrup) clashing with roasty and oaky bitterness. Maybe I just got a bottle from a bad batch. It made a pretty distinct impression, that's for sure.

[amg]

I'm not generally all that picky when it comes to craft beer, and usually enjoy or at least appreciate well made beer from styles that aren't necessarily my favorites. At any rate, I recall a sickly sweet flavor (somewhere between rotting meat and malt syrup) clashing with roasty and oaky bitterness. Maybe I just got a bottle from a bad batch. It made a pretty distinct impression, that's for sure.

I remember I didn't really like it the first time I tried it, but it grew on me.

[ThirstyinOhio]

I would like to second the BA beers from hoppin frog. The BA Borris and Dorris are usually excellent. If you are ever at their tasting room in Akron, you can purchase a bottle of the Borris Van Wink which was aged in 10yr Van Wink barrels. If we ever meet up GreatGoo, I'll bring a few different BA beers from Hoppin Frog. I tend to buy them buy the case and just don't drink them fast enough.

Yeti, the next time you stop in Lizardville give me a heads up and I'll meet you and buy the first round. I'm at one of the locations damn near weekly.

Edited April 3, 2015 by ThirstyinOhio

[clingman71]

Can't say enough good about Black Note Stout from Bell's. One of the best and a rare find indeed.

P.S. The vinyl pictured on the cover is Led Zeppelin II

Agreed, Black Note is exquisite. It is a shame that Bell's doesn't produce it like GI produces BCBS - also stellar, probably at the top of the list for me, the original made in quantity and consistently great.

In Ohio, Jackie O's BB Dark Apparition is excellent.

[drunk]

Rocky's Revenge is pretty good. It's cheap and easy to find (for me) too.

[DPPSmoker]

Agreed, Black Note is exquisite. It is a shame that Bell's doesn't produce it like GI produces BCBS - also stellar, probably at the top of the list for me, the original made in quantity and consistently great.

In Ohio, Jackie O's BB Dark Apparition is excellent.

I have heard and read that anything barrel aged from Jackie O's is excellent. OP, I believe a lot of Jackie O's barrel aged beers are released only at their brewery.

Black Note was fantastic when I purchased it a year ago. Unfortunately, I opened a year old bottle recently and it tasted like soy sauce. Blech. I have a few more bottles so I'm going to wait a while before I revisit that one. Black Note last released in late March 2014. Many folks in Michigan are waiting for Bell's to release it again seeing how it has been a year. But Larry Bell refuses to announce its release or make a big deal out of the release like Founders does with KBS. He simply states that it will be released when it's ready.

I didn't think he would release Black Note right now anyway. Bell's just released Saturn on Monday at the Bell's General Store. Saturn is a bourbon barrel aged barleywine. They are selling it for $43 per case otd at the General Store so I made a special trip on Monday to get it. Saturn is excellent and I highly recommend it.

But getting back to Black Note, no one knows when, or if, it will be released. It could be soon or it could be months from now. When Bell's does release it, they will do so first at their General Store where they will let you purchase up to a case (last year's case was $130). This is great in that you are lucky if a shop will sell you an entire four pack due to demand.

[DPPSmoker]

I'm not a big fan of KBS, it's probably my least favorite in the style, at least when it comes to the big name annual release BA stouts. Black Note from Bell's might be the leader of the pack, but is harder to find than either KBS or BCBS. Uncle Jacob's from Avery, Central Waters Brewer's Reserve Bourbon Stout are both very good. Prairie Bomb and Westbrook Mexican Cake have multiple BA variants. BA Plead the Fifth from Dark Horse is another that is difficult to get, but absolutely fantastic. All of this stuff is similarly hard to get when compared to annual bourbon releases. Lots of 1-per, "pay to play", or raffle stuff going on.

You missed 2015, but BBA Blackout Stout from Great Lakes comes out in late January and is relatively easy to pickup from the brewery. They do a release party and locals can usually get as much as they want. It's excellent, put that on your calendar for next year.

There are a lot of people putting down stouts in barrels (whiskey and otherwise), so there should be some things you can find locally. Keep your eyes peeled for BA BORIS the Crusher or DORIS the Destroyer from Hoppin' Frog in Akron. Those base beers are really great, the BA should be phenomenal. Also may want to try Chocolate or Espresso Oak Aged Yeti from Great Divide. Just run over to one of the Lizardville locations when they're not busy and ask for some recommendations. Those guys are usually very helpful.

Hi Josh. I expect to make it to KBF again this year and I will bring some Dark Horse BB Plead the Fifth with me. If I run into you, I'll be sure to give you one. I agree with you that it is fantastic. I think it is the closest bba stout to BCBS.

Thirsty Dog is in Akron and they bottle Siberian Nights. It's not bad but I wouldn't put it in the same class as BCBS or KBS.

One last comment on the subject - Michigan has several other breweries who are also doing very good bba stouts but they do not distribute out of Michigan or they don't distribute to many states outside of Michigan. Some of the better ones are Founders CBS (the very best beer ever!!!), Oddside Morningwood, Oddside Hipster Brunch Stout, Perrin Malted Milk Ball Porter, Perrin Kill 'Em All, Griffin Claw Flying Buffalo (one of my top three), Saugatauck bba Neopolitan Stout, Greenbush Delusion and Arcadia Shipwreck Porter. I know that Short's and Kuhnhenn have well regarded bba stouts that I have not tried yet.

[Enoch]

I love bourbon barreled beers. Among my favorites are the numerous ones from Allagash and Avery. I also love Avery rum barrel beers but very sweet. Btw I also enjoy New Holland's Beer Barrelled Bourbon.

in fact Avery Samael is a oak aged (toasted oak chips so I don't know if it counts) barley wine that cellers well. I get a case each year to save.

Edited May 10, 2015 by Enoch

[redbear]

Lots of great beers mentioned in this thread. I'm fortunate that the Prairie Bomb and Noir variants are fairly available here in Austin.

Boulevard makes a number of barrel aged releases that are usually easy to find. I really enjoy their imperial stout and bourbon barrel aged quad. However, their Rye-on-Rye is a standout beer. One of my top 5 favorites. Highly recommended.

[amg]

Rye-on-Rye is an incredible beer. Looks like it's slated for release in the fall this time.

[Swoboda]

Lots of great beers mentioned in this thread. I'm fortunate that the Prairie Bomb and Noir variants are fairly available here in Austin.

Boulevard makes a number of barrel aged releases that are usually easy to find. I really enjoy their imperial stout and bourbon barrel aged quad. However, their Rye-on-Rye is a standout beer. One of my top 5 favorites. Highly recommended.

This reminded me that I have several of the Boulevard barrel aged beers in the basement bunker:

Bourbon Barrel Quad 2013 release . . . best by date 8/15

Imperial Stout 2013 release . . . best by date 11/15

Rye on Rye 2014 release . . . best by date 11/15

Looks like I have some pleasure drinking to do in the near term. Will be sharing these with friends and neighbors this Summer and Fall. Especially like the BBQ and ROR . . . cheers!

[bullitt]

I tried Blue Mountain Brewery's Dark Hollow Stout aged in old bourbon barrels. I could not note any bourbon in the taste or the nose of this one.

[BigBoldBully]

Take my advice with a grain, since I am sick of all the GI Bourbon County stuff (most of a case has been languishing in the cellar for several years) and even KBS. I think the backwoods bastard is nice, but I came to recommend bourbon barrel barleywine by central waters, if available to you.