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.

Last 2015 bottle. Sigh.

Makes me reconsider my boycott of Goose Island.

Smells great, and it's refreshing. But every sip makes me wish it was an IPA.

Smells great, and it's refreshing. But every sip makes me wish it was an IPA.

Thick and rich. Reminded me of Silhouette, initially, with a little more coffee. But became a bit harsh once it warmed a little. I still liked it a lot.

Smells great, and it's refreshing. But every sip makes me wish it was an IPA.

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 noticed the barrel a lot more with big vanilla tones when it was fully chilled, still had that Scotty bite. I liked it quite a bit this time.

Not much flavor when chilled, or at least not much more flavor than the reg variety although it smells great. It gets pretty sweet when it warms, though. I like the non BA variety better, and it's half the price...

I guess I like this one better fully cold. It's not that the bourbon comes out more, but it just becomes so rich and sweet.

Lighter on the barrel than I prefer. Still has that Scotty bite but with some fuzzy warmth. Hard to say if it's improved, though. I like Scotty for that bite, when I want a bourbon barrel scotch ale, bring the bourbon! CW still rules. And this was >$16, more than double regular Scotty.

Pure grapefruit this time with some malty depth out of the IPA glass. Don't pass up NvU for this.

Much better out of the Speigelau IPA glass. The piney bitterness of the hops come through. Also less sweet. Might have been the pairing of the food, Indian curry this time, but I think the glass played a large part.

Big grapefruit, maltier than I expected. I need to try a different glass. Sweeter than it should be at <8%. It's a solid IPA but maybe I'm just spoiled.

Really good. Reminds me of Backwoods. Plenty of whiskey and char from the barrel. Has a slight honey sweetness I wish wasn't there. Love trying any bourbon barrel scotch ale, especially when they reward me.

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.

As advertised. Whiskey, pumpkin, and spices. Not my cup of tea. Fun to try.

Better now than at 3 days old. About 2 weeks out it hits its peak and sits there for a while.

Certainly no worse after a few weeks. Probably better.

Taste profile is cleaned up. Much more bitter, surprisingly so.

It's actually a bit too fresh. Smells amazing and explodes with good hops, plus it's smooth. But a little unfocused and seems like it needs to settle.

Muted at refrigerator temp. Musty, smoky, not too sweet. Has a surprising hop? bitterness to it, but not overpowering. Very smooth. Hits all the right notes for a drinkable scotch ale.