Cinnamon and chocolate at cellar temp, not as smooth as I'd like, has a bit of a bite but very tasty. Bourbon rounded out the edges with some booze and really present in the aroma. I forgot this hat coffee in it until it warmed up and the coffee bitterness came out.

Smells like hot chocolate at cellar temp. Vanilla and cinnamon come through as it warms.

Unexpectedly thin mouthfeel. Tastes like ice cream at about 50 degrees. Changes tremendously as it warms. Cinnamon really comes to the fore. Not a strong bourbon presence and the coffee is pretty subtle, other than giving some bitterness at the end.

So rich and flavorful. What's left to say. I actually thought it tasted like a stout at first. Then the sweetness came out, kind of nutty. Reminds me of a master chef who knows how to use a dozen different spices to develop a complex flavor that is more than the sum of its significant parts. I need to get another six pack and start drinking at 3 years.

Really nice right now. Drank this one somewhat chilled. Kind of a harsh bitterness in the background but plenty sweet and lots of flavor.

Much sweeter than I remember, though not in an unbalanced way. Tasted a lot of dried fruit. Reminds me of Jubilation Ale now. I think I like this one better fresh. Will see what happens after another six months.

Don't let this one warm up to room temp. Best at cellar temp <65.

Straightforward taste, not particularly deep or complex. But it tastes really good. Not a strong aroma. The most remarkable thing about this beer is how clean it goes down. Aftertaste doesn't linger, not necessarily what I prefer for a RIS. A very drinkable 10% RIS. I'll have to check out Rasputin again. And maybe try this fresh, it was a year old. I don't have an impeccable sense of how beers will change. Some I know do improve with a year or two, but some do not. Seems like this one should but I really don't know. Again, it's really good but not exceptional.

Fades pretty fast. Already past its prime, but mostly because I had it so fresh. The fruity juicy notes are all indistinct now and the malt is more apparent. Don't get me wrong, it's still a well balanced, bitter, refreshing IPA. But it's not what it was when fresh. So drink fresh, while it's still great.

Good on Central Waters. This is the first beer I've had with fruity, tropical flavors from them. Good to know they have that range. Smells like pineapple. Has a nice bitterness. Reminds me of Head Hunter. Maybe not as focused of a flavor profile, not exactly sure what I mean by that. I want to do a side by side with Ruination, too.

A big hit. Well earned reputation. I had no difficulty identifying this style from its complete lack of bitterness. Ventures into Belgian Strong Ale territory with its sweetness. Stereotypical toffee and caramel. Incredibly well balanced, so smooth for 13%, no alcohol bite, no booziness. Not as complex as I was hoping considering the reputation, but a relative bargain for the price. Maybe I should have grabbed another bottle this year when I had the chance?

Unfortunately this one was infected. It was sour. Well, tart is more like it. Like some off-flavored beer it wasn't offensive but it wasn't really enjoyable. And not worth the 12.5%. I dumpted most of it and opened a bottle of Straight Jacket, which was excellent.

There's a tartness/sourness that I don't remember encountering before. What's going on? Still chocolaty. The whiskey is more prominent, if anything, but it's marred by the odd (dare I say off?) flavor.

Not that there's hype around this beer, but for as hard as it is to get, it's not exceptional. Plenty of chocolate to be had. There's a large overlap between stouts and porters but I don't have a problem making a distinction with this beer. It's a porter. Lots of carbonation a colder temps. Rye barrel character emerges at room temp. Still very reasonably priced at $8 compared to many other offerings from other breweries. I'd like to see CW do a peanut butter porter. I'll probably pass in the future but it's a nice after dinner beer that isn't too heavy.

Still very good, although the brandy is mostly background booze at this point. A highly alcoholic tart cherry lager. Best a little younger when the brandy is more prominent but still delicious.

All my previous notes say the brandy comes out as it warms but that seems to be fading now. The brandy is still there but more background. Drinks like a crisp cherry lager. Plus alcohol.

Holding up really well for a lager after 6 months. Get it cold an ther cherry really comes out. Once it warms the brandy tends to dominate. But I don't regret this purchase at all. It's a really nice change of pace. Delicious. Kind of ridiculous ABV, though.

Huge, huge brandy. Still nicely tart. I didn't buy it until it was already 3 months old but doesn't seem to be hurting from the age, even though it's a lager. Of course I never had a really fresh bottle to compare... Still, it's fun.

Brandy works well with the tart cherries. Gets more boozy as it warms up.

Fades pretty fast. Already past its prime, but mostly because I had it so fresh. The fruity juicy notes are all indistinct now and the malt is more apparent. Don't get me wrong, it's still a well balanced, bitter, refreshing IPA. But it's not what it was when fresh. So drink fresh, while it's still great.

Good on Central Waters. This is the first beer I've had with fruity, tropical flavors from them. Good to know they have that range. Smells like pineapple. Has a nice bitterness. Reminds me of Head Hunter. Maybe not as focused of a flavor profile, not exactly sure what I mean by that. I want to do a side by side with Ruination, too.

Wow, finally, 6 months after bottling it's finally starting to taste right. That weird, hoppy? flavor has faded and it's sweet and boozy and carmely and buttery.

Something's wrong this year. Last year was as good as any barrel aged wee heavy on the market. This year has a bitter bite the destroys the carmely sweetness. Can't believe I bought so much this year instead of last year.

Ultimately, my experience was that it's a highly carbonated, earthy hopped bitter IPA. It works really well for lunch or with tacos. Not so much with curry. Fluffy, puffy resilient off-white head when poured aggressively. I didn't get any citrusy (maybe some slight citrus peely) notes or tropical fruit flavors but it was almost 2 months after it was canned. Those tend to fade quickly. Would love to try extra fresh. Not sure what the price is down in FL but it's a nice IPA. Glad to try it.

Ultimately, my experience was that it's a highly carbonated, earthy hopped bitter IPA. It works really well for lunch or with tacos. Not so much with curry. Fluffy, puffy resilient off-white head when poured aggressively. I didn't get any citrusy (maybe some slight citrus peely) notes or tropical fruit flavors but it was almost 2 months after it was canned. Those tend to fade quickly. Would love to try extra fresh. Not sure what the price is down in FL but it's a nice IPA. Glad to try it.

Ultimately, my experience was that it's a highly carbonated, earthy hopped bitter IPA. It works really well for lunch or with tacos. Not so much with curry. Fluffy, puffy resilient off-white head when poured aggressively. I didn't get any citrusy (maybe some slight citrus peely) notes or tropical fruit flavors but it was almost 2 months after it was canned. Those tend to fade quickly. Would love to try extra fresh. Not sure what the price is down in FL but it's a nice IPA. Glad to try it.

Tried it chilled this time. Maybe better. My worldview is shaken. Are stouts better cold? I'll never believe that barleywines and high abv scotch ales are better cold but maybe stouts? The BA Silhouette was exceptional cold. BORIS was unimpressive at cellar temp. I've been disappointed by a few stouts at cellar temp...

Exactly one year out from bottling. Excellent value at $7 for a 22oz but I'd gladly pay $10 if it were a little thicker. A classic RIS and it hits the right notes for me. Too bad they're not making it this year, really trips up my nascent vertical. But I have so many bottles of other already and Expedition Stout is so good. There are others.

Nearing 60 days already past it's prime but still pleasant.

Yum. THIS is how a pilsener is supposed to taste. Fresh makes all the difference.