Much better out of the IPA glass but still not my kind of beer.

As advertised, a "Hoppy Red Ale". It's fine but NvU is so much better.

The malty finish took some getting used to but I wish I had another bottle or two to try. Massively hoppy, obviously, but not overwhelmingly bitter considering 100 IBU. 8.9% is pretty reasonable for this amount of flavor.

Good solid RIS.

Thick, dark pour with brown, grey head. Coffee grounds and chocolate. Pretty good. Reminds me of Old Rasputin.

You know, it's still pretty good this time. Chocolate abounds and the barrel is still there. Has some legs yet.

The bourbon is back but it's not balanced particularly well anymore. Seems to be past its prime. Don't go past 2 years with this one in the future for sure.

Definitely smoothed out after nearly two years. Lost a lot of the bourbon, though, and the chocolate has gone over to the dark side. Still really good. Hard to say I liked it before because it is plenty smooth now.

Really tasty. Has a bite that I'd like to see smooth out, it's already a year old. Otherwise, it stacks up well against CW's BB stout. Pricey, though.

Tried it in my IPA glass, a little smoother. Probably a good IPA but I don't like this flavor profile.

Not my kind of IPA. It's fine for what it is but don't buy again.

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.

Much better out of the IPA glass but still not great. I think it might be 5 months old, not 2 months old. Wish they'd use a canned on date.

Not good. Maybe it's old but it tastes like Budweiser.

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.

Much better out of the IPA glass but still not great. I think it might be 5 months old, not 2 months old. Wish they'd use a canned on date.

Not good. Maybe it's old but it tastes like Budweiser.

Tried it in my IPA glass, a little smoother. Probably a good IPA but I don't like this flavor profile.

Not my kind of IPA. It's fine for what it is but don't buy again.

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.

Still fantastic. No drop-off but my preference center's around the three year mark. Barrel-aged is great but not what I want all the time. Perfect with beef stew.

Nearly 3 years old and this is in it's prime.

Yep, this is my definition of Russian Imperial Stout.

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.