Just like I remember. Good stout flavor, rich, bold, chocolate coffee grounds, but unbalanced. I mean, what do you expect at this ABV. Five years and still fusely as anything.

Two and a half years and it still has that much alcohol burn? Doesn't even have as much flavor as CW stout. I can wait another year for the last one but I don't see myself buying any more. Too expensive, and it's not all that great.

Has definitely smoothed out after a few months. Quite pleasant, coffee isn't as bitter. Never had a strong barrel flavor, just a little sweetness and depth. Can't promise I would guess it's barrel aged if I didn't already know. That's really the only disappointing thing. I should grade on a curve at 8% but come on, guys!

Very strong coffee flavor. I wonder what the base beer is like because it's not massive. Some nice chocolate stuff as well but the coffee is the featured player. Thankfully the coffee isn't bitter. I can't really detect any whiskey and I'm hard pressed to be more specific regarding any qualities lent by the barrel besides depth. Easy to understand they'd be reticent to leave it in the barrel for an extended period of time given their previous production issues with this beer. Is this just their brewhouse stout barrel aged (or vice versa)? Doesn't seem like a candidate for aging at this ABV, although I'm not sure it's really 8.5%.

Cocoa powder. Less bourbon than I remember from the other bottle, wouldn't mind a little more. It also needs another month, at least, to settle in the bottle. But maybe the best vintage that I can remember.

The 2016 took a few months to get this good. This one is ready to go out of the gate. Chocolate bomb on the nose and tongue. Some coffee at the backend, too. More than I remember in other vintages. This is simply great. Reaffirms that I don't _need_ any other barrel stout.

Very smooth and refined. All the flavors blend really nicely, nothing jumps out as too strong. No aggressive anything, just refined. That's the best word for it. Robust and roasty, right amount of sweet, classic RIS bite. A gem at 3 years.

So, this takes 2 or 3 years of aging to get it where I want it. The bite is gone, the heat is gone, so smooth and rich. Tastes unmistakably like a barleywine, and an American barleywine at that, but so well integrated. One of the few worth the cellar space. Sigh, not quite Straightjacket but half the price.

Life.

This was a little more woody tasting earlier on but now the sweeter stickiness is coming out just like you want from a barleywine.

I missed recording a bottle of this somewhere.

Reminds me a lot of Founders' Azacca IPA. Hits most of the IPA notes but the crystal malt is sweeter than I want for the style.

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.

Last 2015 bottle. Sigh.

Makes me reconsider my boycott of Goose Island.

Reminds me a lot of Founders' Azacca IPA. Hits most of the IPA notes but the crystal malt is sweeter than I want for the style.

Fantastic. Even more depth and lovely maltiness than Arrogant Bastard.