#310: Deschutes Brewery » Black Butte XXVI (Imperial Porter)

Deschutes Brewery » Black Butte XXVI (Bourbon Barrel Imperial Porter) | ABV: 10.2%
One of my favorite parts about winter is the occasional night in with my partner accompanied with big dark brews. We'd picked this beauty up on our anniversary trip to Philadelphia back in December - no Deschutes Brewery distro to upstate NY, but there's always hoping.

This 26th Anniversary beer is Deschutes' Imperial Porter, 50% aged in bourbon barrels for 6 months and dry spiced with cocoa nibs, pomegranate, molasses and Oregon cranberries.

Black Butte XXVI kicks off with deep, aromatics notes of pomegranate threaded with raspberry truffle, cherry chocolate, and molasses.

Onto the palate, it's exceptionally dark and juicy with a far lighter mouthfeel than expected. Its boozy without being sharp and backed by a delightful sweetness that's just a touch sticky on the lips. The initial finish wraps up with dark chocolate, tart pomegranate and cranberry.Further through there's a growing dryness and inferred flavors of vanilla bean.

To be honest, Deschutes Brewery Black Butte XXVI is phenomenal. A deftly well-balanced and unique blend of boozy dark beer with just the right amount of tartness that somehow all remains light on it's feet. It's not cheap, but well worth the cost.

#300: Mikkeller » Forêt de Tronçais (Barleywine)

Mikkeller »  Forêt de Tronçais (Barleywine) | ABV: 19.3%
301...302...303...300..? You caught it. We are jumping around with our post numbers just for a moment, as I wanted a truly epic beer for review post #300, and boy is this it.

This Forêt series of six Mikkeller beers is based around a high gravity wort, fermented with champagne yeast, and aged in three different varieties of French oak barrels. Each barrel variation has a light and medium toasted variation. Fair warning, this on the far end of what can be called beer. Instead it's booze heaven.

A pungent, complex nose amply introduces Forêt de Tronçais, pluming with toffee, dates, crème brûlée, rum, cane sugar, and maple syrup.

Onto the palate, it's quite sweet and expectantly malt forward. Deep, rich flavors of fig jam, rum, sweet breads, and an inference of a very distinct pastry that I just cannot put my finger on. Further through, notes of overripe grapes & grape skin arise with threads of faint clove and cinnamon, both without the spice mouthcoat though.

Overall, a huge sipper of a brew that's highly recommended for those with an adventurous palate. Here's hoping to compare the other five varieties.

#177: Bell's Brewery » Expedition Stout 2013 (Russian Imperial Stout)

One of the best...

The Brewery: Bell's Brewing (Kalamazoo, MI)
The Brew: Expedition Stout (Russian Imperial Stout)
Availability: Draft & Bottles (Limited)
ABV: 10.5%
Rating: 9.8/10
Location: Home
Found: Chicago

The Story? Back in the fall of 2012, thanks to my cousin Alex, I had my first taste of Bell's. He had a bottle of Bell's monstrous Expedition Stout from traveling earlier in the year. Fast forward to March of 2013 and picked up a six-pack while in Chicago. This Russian Imperial Stout is meant to be aged and so, I cracked into two of them to share upon the return home, but the rest went to the cellar.

10 months later, I had to see how things were progressing.

The Beer? Thick, lacy, hot-coco colored head tops Expedition's deep, dark, opaque brown body. Alluring aromas of sweet chocolate, dark fruit, and even soft hop citrus follow.

Huge, creamy chocolate flavors swirl around - sweet and wet at first, but quickly drying into baking coco, booze, and espresso. The mouthfeel is straight silk and far lighter than it should be for a beer with this much girth.

Expedition is completely exquisite with notes of vanilla, toffee, and bourbon rising in the second sip. A firm, bitter finish starts early and continues to build on itself. Earthy notes fill in further through. This roasted, slow sipper demands to be savored and not just because of the sheer 10.5% ABV, which instead is well masked by the rich, luxurious flavors. Towards the end, faint nods of licorice, anise and other herbs, and black tea finish off this deep darkness of a beer.

Overall, one of the best beers Bell's produces on a yearly basis and one of, if not the best 12 oz Imperial Stout. Highly recommended.