The Lost Abbey Track #10 (Bat Out of Hell) American Double / Imperial Stout at 13.5% ABV (US $18.96, trade – thanks Norm!, 375 ml, bottle date 1-Mar-2016, acquired 1-Nov-2016, reviewed 24-Jan-2017)
Appearance: opaque black with hints of brown around the margins, a short, short-lived loose beige head, no lacing. (4/5) Aroma: chocolate, coffee, bourbon, boozy dark fruit, oak, vanilla. (9/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (9/10) Palate: full oily body, low carbonation, lingering bitter and warming finish. (5/5)
In my experience, bourbon barrel-aged stouts can often be a bit much. So can coffee and chocolate stouts. When a brewery decides to do both (as an Imperial!), well, it’s almost always more than a bit much. And this is most certainly more than a bit much. In just about every aspect, this thing is massive – yet surprisingly well-behaved. No single flavour dominates: chocolate leads the way, coffee occupies the middle ground, and bourbon dominates the woody warming finish, but neither seems unbalanced. Rich and complex, big and boozy, warm and smooth. Reminiscent of the couple of hopped whiskies I’ve had recently (and just about as expensive per ounce). (18/20)
9/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
