The fresher the better for this. It's already dropped off in juiciness and the alcohol burn is more present compared to the first bottle I had.

Intensely hoppy. Even more than Enjoy By. 11+% is too much for an IPA but it is really good.

Basically like I remember it from before. Sweet, almost date sweet, viscous and still kind of boozy. It's been 2.5 years, what do you want? Tons of rich flavor but it's like drinking sweet, syrupy coffee grounds. Has that nice bite I want from an RIS but there's nothing to balance out the sweetness.

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.

Eh. Not my cup of tea. Not sure what they were going for but it tastes like a fresh hop IPA which isn't my jam. I didn't think it even had a potent hop flavor,particularly for a double. Drank like a pale ale which is admirable at 8%. I don't plan to revisit.

Shouldn't have bought it this late. It's only a month and a half out but it's missing all the bright, fruity, pineapple flavors when it's fresh. Now it's just generically hoppy with a solid bitterness. Too much alcohol to be worthwhile if it isn't fresh. Still good but I should have bought it the first week I saw it.

Again big malt, less fermented cherry than I remember. Smells like vinegar but more of a moderate sour on the tongue. Carbonation is delightful as ever. Not sure I can put this up there with my favorites any more. Cran-bic is so good. And I still have an Oud Bruin left. Wished New Glarus would put out more in this vein instead Weiss beers.

So much maltier than I remember. Gives it a lot more depth, although it's not as crisply refreshing. Mutes the cherries a bit, too. Oddly reminds me of BBQ now, even though I don't like that beer.

Such a drinkable sour. New Glarus sours work for me. Less cherry and less carbonation than I remember.

The fresher the better for this. It's already dropped off in juiciness and the alcohol burn is more present compared to the first bottle I had.

Intensely hoppy. Even more than Enjoy By. 11+% is too much for an IPA but it is really good.

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%.

Fully chilled, this is a great "with dinner" scotch ale. Unfortunately, it's too expensive at $7 a bottle.

It's fine. I think I like the Jacobite better. But very easy to drink at 7.2% and good smoky, peaty flavor. I need to reevaluate the wee heavy for drinkability. It doesn't have to be extreme. But at lower abv would I rather have an IPA? It's a dilemma.

The fresher the better for this. It's already dropped off in juiciness and the alcohol burn is more present compared to the first bottle I had.

Intensely hoppy. Even more than Enjoy By. 11+% is too much for an IPA but it is really good.

Shouldn't have bought it this late. It's only a month and a half out but it's missing all the bright, fruity, pineapple flavors when it's fresh. Now it's just generically hoppy with a solid bitterness. Too much alcohol to be worthwhile if it isn't fresh. Still good but I should have bought it the first week I saw it.

Smells better than it tastes. Big, juicy, tropical and pineapple flavors in the aroma. Tastes pretty hoppy but doesn't have the fruity hops that I expect from what I think they are going for with this series.