Amsterdam Brewery Barrel Aged Double Tempest American Double / Imperial Stout at 14% ABV | 115 IBU (Trade – thanks, Chris Conway (groulxsome)!, 650 ml, packaged on 14-Feb-2013, best before 14-Feb-2016, acquired 8-Sep-2014, reviewed 17-Feb-2018)
Appearance: near opaque black with the merest hints of brown relief around the margins, one fat finger of rocky beige head, good retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: bourbon, coconut, oak, vanilla, chocolate. (9/10) Taste: high sweet, high bitter. (8/10) Palate: full slick body, moderate-low carbonation, lingering and building bitter warming finish. (5/5)
I can’t find an authoritative source on the too-bitter-to-taste IBUs, but it seems legit. The bottle says this should cellar well for up to three years, but this one seems to have done very well indeed for more than five. (Given the massive ABV and IBU, that’s hardly surprising, but it is reassuring to my overall cellaring philosophy.) Even after its extended cellaring, this is still a little hot, which is why I’ve marked it down ever so slightly on taste compared to aroma, but it’s still relatively well balanced. (I was going to say it was still relatively approachable, but, no, I’m not sure that’s true: it’s still a beast, any way you slice it.) Helluva beer, and worth laying hands on, even if your chances of finding this particular vintage probably approach zero. (17/20)
8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
