for some reason just stuck in my cellar fridge; maybe I was wary of the chai. Anyway when I first tasted it I thought I detected a coconut flavor until I realized that was the vanilla and chai. As it warmed the flavors blended into something different and not unpleasant. Very smooth for 11% with no burn. Whatever the reason for my reticence on this was very ill considered.

Weather is finally turning winter like so time to break out this cellar dweller bottled on 11/1/2019. Bourbon continues to dominate the smell which at 18.3% isn't exactly a shocker. However the heat in the taste doesn't take your breath away, similar to the experience over a year ago. Rather it's nicely smooth. As you sip you get brown sugar, chocolate and dark fruit tastes. Very nicely balanced. I expect the remaining two bottles to benefit from additional cellar time.

4.41/5 rDev -0.2% look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5 Snagged a four pack of this on first sight. Bottled on 11/01/19 so this sucker's already a year old. Poured a 12 ouncer into a DFH tulip. Not much of a head over an inky brown body. Smell just exudes bourbon barrel malts. Taste adds a layer of char, tobacco and leather over the smell. Even though you can't disguise the alcohol burn, it doesn't take your breath away like some Evil Twin high alc smokers do. This is more integrated like a really good J Lees English barleywine, to mix styles. This is a superb sipper with a very full mouthfeel. I'll continue to age the remaining three in my cellar.

I think I cellared this too long; not that it tastes bad per se, it's just better when it's fresher. Still beats not having any wee heavy at my disposal. That's why we experiment. Live and learn. Still one in my cellar fridge to be consumed promptly.

Even at well over two years this still has a licorice and molasses edge to it which is what attracted me to the style. Sláinte.

Finally cracked the 2018s open. Aging nicely.

Bought this in the summer last year with no bottling or packaging date. As you can see the carbonation hasn't diminished one iota. Still a strong bourbon smell and taste noticeable as soon as you open it. Not sure how much longer I'll age the remaining single but for whatever reason this seems to fall off less than previous barrel aged old Raspys.

What is most impressive is how well balanced everything is. You can smell the bourbon as soon as the cap is popped but it's not overwhelming. Nor is the booze. Just a rich molasses, licorice and malt blend of perfection. To the cellaring mavens, such as @Beersnake1 who I know has tried this already, are you planning on aging this? Because I don't know if this can be improved upon. But that's why we experiment amirite? Another North Coast success story which never gets old.?

3.98/5 rDev -2.9% look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4 Pint can poured into a tulip. Full dark tan head over a dark brown body. Lots of lacing. Once it warmed a bit the aromas came forward: malts, vanilla, dark chocolate. Coffee made its presence known in the taste along with the previously mentioned aromas. Mouthfeel was very creamy and easy to drink. Alcohol was very well hidden. Definitely got better as it warmed up. With the coffee presence being understated I think the other three wouldn't benefit from cellaring.

The good news is that I don't think cellaring hurt this. The bad news is that the maple isn't as prominent as I wish it was, which might be an unrealistic expectation on my part. The fudge is still nicely featured and maybe the maple adds a sweetness that I expected to be different. The bourbon is borderline nonexistent though. All in all this was a good but not great cellaring experience.

Still no loss of carbonation with a full head. I think through time I've become conditioned to how Founders thinks of maple syrup adding to their barrel aged stout flavoring because even though I don't taste maple syrup as I ordinarily think of it, there's a sweetening flavor, over and beyond the fudge, that enhances everything. The mouthfeel may have become creamier through time. I still have one bottle from the original four pack; I don't feel like it's a mistake to age it further.

4.06/5 rDev -10.4% look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4 Poured into a DFH tulip. Inky brown body topped by a full fluffy head. Lots of chocolate and malts in the smell but the bourbon and barrel are AWOL. Maybe the maple manifests itself as a sweet smell but not the expected woody bitterness. Same with the taste; the fudge is absolutely out front but masking almost everything else. Although as it warmed I started to detect the maple. Mouthfeel is fine for a big Founders stout. Maybe I've been spoiled but I expected slightly more from this.

4.28/5 rDev +2.4% look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25 12 ounce bottle packaged on 8/21/2020 poured into a DFH tulip. Thick tan head over an inky brown body. Smell was of malts, chocolate, molasses and char. Taste followed the nose. Mouthfeel was very creamy whether from cellaring for a year or maybe just natural. I can see why others hold this in such high regard. An excellent Russian Imperial Stout which will be present in my cellar going forward.

Now that hot weather has gone, time to make a dent in my cellar and this is as good a place to start as any. Packaged on 10/11/2017 this was when I started cellaring Third Coast. Wasn't impressed with earlier tastings but cancel that evaluation with this because the hops have receded nicely while still retaining a pleasant presence. The dark fruit and brown sugar smells and tastes are much more prominent so this is, if not optimal, very close to it.

Carbonation was slightly reduced while still being far from flat. Smell and taste had a reduced hop presence while still obviously being there. This is already starting to age nicely. Not sure where the optimum spot is but I'm pretty sure it's not there yet. Looking forward to revisiting this in a year or so.

4.02/5 rDev -2.2% look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4 Poured from a 12 ounce bottled on 10/11/2017 into a DFH tulip. Small head over a cherry mahogany body which dissipated quickly with little lacing. Smell got much more pronounced as it warmed up since I started this in a very cold attic before moving to a warmer setting. Smell was of nicely sweet fruit with a slight, not overpowering, booze tinge. Taste was more hoppy than the smell but it in no way detracted from the sweet flavors. Absolutely no alcohol burn. Mouthfeel was fine albeit slightly thin. Overall this was a bit of a letdown because my hopes maybe were higher than were reasonable. Then again, maybe additional aging will get this to the point I wanted it to be since this is still young. Will revisit this in a year.

I think I cellared this too long; not that it tastes bad per se, it's just better when it's fresher. Still beats not having any wee heavy at my disposal. That's why we experiment. Live and learn. Still one in my cellar fridge to be consumed promptly.

Even at well over two years this still has a licorice and molasses edge to it which is what attracted me to the style. Sláinte.

Drinking this after a Jackie O's Cellar Cuvée 1 makes me realize that, nothing against the earlier ale at all, that this must be the #1 value in the craft beer world.

Bought this in the summer last year with no bottling or packaging date. As you can see the carbonation hasn't diminished one iota. Still a strong bourbon smell and taste noticeable as soon as you open it. Not sure how much longer I'll age the remaining single but for whatever reason this seems to fall off less than previous barrel aged old Raspys.

What is most impressive is how well balanced everything is. You can smell the bourbon as soon as the cap is popped but it's not overwhelming. Nor is the booze. Just a rich molasses, licorice and malt blend of perfection. To the cellaring mavens, such as @Beersnake1 who I know has tried this already, are you planning on aging this? Because I don't know if this can be improved upon. But that's why we experiment amirite? Another North Coast success story which never gets old.?

When I popped the cap nothing happened and I thought "oh shit, don't be infected or flat". The power of suggestion initially made me think that it had a medicine taste to it but as it warmed up and my anxiety level subsided (16% FTW) it became just fine. In fact the aging may have made the smell more complex because what seemed like a malty cola smell intermittently released a strong vanilla blast. Taste is likewise complex as vanilla, malt, char and barrel contend for attention. Alcohol is very much in the background. Mouthfeel is deceivingly light for such a sipping beast. Wonderful experience.