Nickel Brook Brewing Co. Kentucky Bastard Imperial Stout at 14.5% ABV | 70 IBU (C$25.99 at Oak & Vine, 750 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 11-Mar-2017, reviewed 15-May-2018)
Appearance: mercilessly black with no hint of relief, one finger of beige head diminishing gradually to a thin ring, spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: bourbon, oak, coconut, dark chocolate, mild coffee, hint of nail polish. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (8/10) Palate: full slightly oily body, soft carbonation, lingering and building bitter finish. (4/5)
Kentucky (bourbon)? Check. Bastard (almost fifteen percent?!?!)? Check. Sooo… yeah. Does what it says on the label, I guess? Oh, wait! Coconut! Bonus check! (Yes, OK, it’s so friggin’ boozy it kinda sorta almost smells like nail polish. Whattya want? You can’t make an omelette without cracking a few eggs.) Really surprisingly drinkable for, yes, a huge bastard beer. Kentucky-fried version of their Bolshevik Bastard, and a huge winner. (16/20)
8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
