I think this one is best at around 3 weeks old. Some of the hop bitterness and alcohol smooths out and the citrus notes really dominate.

This one was a big hit with everyone. Smelled of sweet chocolate and vanilla from the barrel. Barrel not so present in the taste, which was heavily influenced by the berries. Very surprised how much blueberry there was in the flavor. Definitely a dessert beer. Sweet but also tart with the berries. Halfway through my glass I had some coffee ice cream and blackberries and suddenly the vanilla came to the fore in the beer, and the blueberries stood out as well. But it was very delicious and satisfying. Lots of layers and at a reasonable 10.5%. Fairly thin and more carbonated than similar double stouts but I didn't think it detracted. Seriously considering buying another bottle, even at the price, since the alternative is never having it again.

Incredibly disappointed. This bottle was clearly infected/"off". Very sour, even reminiscent of my infected BCBBW from 2015. And I wasn't the only one to say that. Too bad, I was really looking forward to this one. It smelled pretty good, sweet with some barrel notes but tasted nothing like the aroma. I'd like to try again but it's an expensive bottle at $20-25. Burned once...

Really good RIS. Just below Czar. Can't say it gained much with a year but seems more roasty. Wish the chocolate could come out more.

Tasted a bit sour when cold, I was worried about infection but I don't think that was the case. Extremely yeasty. Tasted like a Belgian ale. Not sure what to think. I liked it better fresher when the bourbon was more prominent and I didn't noticed the yeast as much. I'm tempted to keep it a couple more years to see how it changes but I don't know...

No hint of the whiskey. Otherwise a good barleywine. Listed as "English Barleywine" but seemed very hoppy to me. Lots of sediment floating around marred the clear red liquid. Very pleasant to drink, just the right balance of sweetness. Shows the 11% abv, though. I don't recall my previous impression but I'm rather disappointed at the lack of barrel character in this bottle.

Very sour, not a lot of complexity. A bit vinegary, lemon extract. Smells nice. Refreshing but too much vinegar/acetone flavor for me to go back to. Especially for the price.

Same evaluation after a year in the cellar. Too much coffee bitterness for me. Great mouthfeel, smells pretty good, probably a very good beer but I just don't like it.

It's probably a good imperial stout but too much coffee for me. Don't buy again. Also a palate wrecker.

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.

Definitely had the "off flavors". Barrel is in the aroma, not the flavor. Not at all unpleasant as a sour ale, tastes like tart cherries. You get some of the rich flavors for just the first instant it hits your tongue but then transitions to the sour. Flavor is less pleasant as it warms. Not what it should be. Drink cold and it will be OK. I can get sours at much less than 13% abv and that's not what it should be anyway. At least I got my money back. Might be worth just dumping the other bottle in favor, considering the opportunity cost.

Unbelievably sweet. Tastes like brown sugar, maybe a little licorice at the end. Reminds me of the Harvey's Christmas Ale x2. Very boozy, especially as it warmed. Definitely a desert ale. Not for me.

Tried it again, I may be coming around to coffee beers somewhat but this is still too much for me. Very drinkable, but I don't care for the coffee bitterness in this one.

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.

Eh. Very thick and chocolatey but not balanced at all. Smells of whiskey but not a strong barrel flavor. Harsh. Reminds me of fresh Heresy. But this is probably almost a year old and hasn't smoothed out. Maybe not a candidate for aging? Flavor smoothed out as it warmed but it also became less complex. Just OK, overall, for a barrel aged stout. Might be worth trying a fresher bottle but I'm not inclined to.

Really tasty. Sweet, sweet dried fruit. Dates, raisins, even dried pineapple. Super drinkable at 7.5%. Pricey enough but not outrageously expensive at $4/bottle.