A little more bitter than I remembered. Smoothed a bit as it warmed but still more coffee and dark chocolate than I prefer. Bourbon is barely there right now to my palate.

This is the best KBS has ever tasted to me. So balanced and chocolaty, but not rich. Deceptively smooth at nearly 12% ABV. Thinner than many consider ideal for big stouts but screw that, this is basically perfect. A little bitter but coffee doesn't overwhelm. Bourbon is surprisingly low key which really lets the other flavors shine.

Harsher than the 2016 but has more flavor. Hope it will settle a bit in the bottle. Exquisitely balanced as always.

Holds up well but doesn't particularly benefit from ageing. Tastes the same as the 2018, which is to say excellent.

Unknown date of consumption. Forgot to record an entry somewhere.

Different than any previous year I remember. Smells like straight up whiskey, tastes like burnt caramel. It's not unpleasant but doesn't have the malty sweet richness I love. It's fresh, though. Needs some time to settle.

This is exceptional. Pineapple and lemon peel. Hugely bitter but not sharp or dry, thirst quenching and juicy. So much here for 8%, I really appreciate that.

I noticed the barrel a lot more with big vanilla tones when it was fully chilled, still had that Scotty bite. I liked it quite a bit this time.

Not much flavor when chilled, or at least not much more flavor than the reg variety although it smells great. It gets pretty sweet when it warms, though. I like the non BA variety better, and it's half the price...

I guess I like this one better fully cold. It's not that the bourbon comes out more, but it just becomes so rich and sweet.

Lighter on the barrel than I prefer. Still has that Scotty bite but with some fuzzy warmth. Hard to say if it's improved, though. I like Scotty for that bite, when I want a bourbon barrel scotch ale, bring the bourbon! CW still rules. And this was >$16, more than double regular Scotty.

Held up remarkably well, much better than the 2016 I opened the same night. Rich malty depth and retains more barrel than bourbon. Still, it showed its age, not a beer that needs cellaring. Sad to see CW let this one go.

I like it chilled a bit, now, but not 44 degrees or anything. As good as it gets for me.

The best.

This is just my favorite beer. So rich and sweet, but not alcohol sweet. Smooth and delicious.

Bourbon had faded significantly after 9 months. It's still there but more in the background. It's smoother overall but I really liked the big bourbon presence.

Past its prime by this point, less than 18 months old. Not much chocolate left. I get bitter coffee and molasses finish. I'll have a 2017 soon to compare. At 1 year old this was still nearly identical to the fresh batch.

Smoother mouthfeel than the 2017 but coffee has dropped off significantly. I like the 2017 better already and I expect it to smooth out quickly as ot settles in the bottle.

Cocoa powder. Held up better than the Scotch Ale, little bourbon left. Doesn't benefit from aging, though.

Yes.

Tried this next to the (very fresh) 2016 and there's no comparison. The 2015 is so mellow and rich and deep. Should be interesting to compare after another year.

Yes. So much flavor. Doesn't have the rick, thick, bite of a RIS but so good. Lots of barrel character. Vanilla in the aroma, chocolate in the flavor. No need to buy Uncle Jacob's Stout anymore.

Incredibly bitter and hoppy up front, transitions quickly to raisin/date sweetness. Even after two years the booze smacks you in the face. Undeniably huge flavor. Expensive but is this ever an experience. They're not kidding about aging for a decade. That's what I'll shoot for.

Yep.

Less barrel than I remember on tap at the brewery. I'll be sure to try the next bottle fully chilled. But no residual sweetness, super chocolaty, rich and thick. This is super good stuff.

Agree with previous assessment. Very fine, unhyped beer & brewery.

Drank at cellar temp without cooling it at all, really sweet. Rich dried apricot sweetness, almost a port. No heat, very smooth.

Very good classic barleywine. Has a bite at cooler temps so let it warm a bit. Great buy at 3 years old.

Still good, maybe not as balanced as it could be. Smokier, burnt caramel, enough bourbon but not a bomb. More barrel than bourbon.

Lost about all the bourbon in the flavor. I expected it to be smoother by now but it's still quite boozy. Very sweet, in a good way, though.