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.

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.

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.

It's expensive but I finally found a quad that I like. Toasted candy sugar. Nothing offensive at all.

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%.

Has definitely hit its stride. Really nice right now.

Coming out funky early this year.

Don't drink fully chilled. I was worried until it warmed up a bit.

About what I expected. Which is to say, exceptionally good. In the same tier as BCBS. Massive barrel. High ABV. Started out roasty with too much carbonation, but quickly smoothed out as it warmed. Just a rich, thick dark, stout. More marshmallow /vanilla than chocolate. Not a fan of the cans for cellar life but I love the serving size.

Very heavy on the apple from the Teku glass.

Blows me away, every time. The wrong food pairing can wreck this beer, though. First glass was amazing. After a salad with vinegar mustard dressing, all I could taste was the apples and a little cherry tart and cranberry sour.