Central City Brewers + Distillers Thor’s Hammer Bourbon Barrel Aged (2014) – American Barleywine at 11.5% ABV | 85 IBU (C$10.25 at NLC Kelsey Drive, 650 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 11-Dec-2016, reviewed 26-Jun-2020)
Appearance: clear ruby brown with a short loose ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin ring, minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: toffee, bourbon, vanilla, oak, dark dried fruits, toasted bread, mild nuts. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-full sticky body, low carbonation, bitter slightly astringent warming finish. (3/5)
Probably (hell, hopefully) my last kick at that cat for this one, which I previously reviewed in 2017 and 2019 – this time with an additional year of cellaring, and as a bourbon barrel aged variant. This is now over six years in the bottle, and much like last year is still hot, with a slightly astringent edge in the finish. As with the non-BB base version, the aroma is decently complex, but with more emphatic notes of vanilla and oaky bourbon. Not a radical departure from the base version, this remains a big boozy bastard that isn’t too hard to drink. (14/20)
7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
