Blackbeerd (2010) Buffalo Trace Aged

Aroma, burnt (black patent?) over chocolates and dark malts. Let this beer warm up. Solid malt, no hints of sweetness or alcohol. As warms up, the bourbon "Ish" flavor starts to come out. That comes out as it warms up. Smells to style and good. Look. Thin head that quickly turns to clean lace that clings slightly to edges. Incredibly dark, 1/8" of translucence at edge of beer. Taste: Tastes like it smells, black patent, some bourbon, a lot of dark malts. Over carbonated, which gives it that bubbly "spicy" burn. It's over carbonated. That bourbon smell I mentioned, I think it's anise/licorice and it leaves a... candy like bite in the end. It's fine, but the candy element sort of makes it... a copy of a great beer rather than a great beer. It's very good "just fine".

Bottled on 06-15-10. Pours opaque with a thin mocha foam canopy. Fleeting retention with typical RIS lacing. Aroma of oak, vanilla, and bourbon great me first. Roast and chocolate center stage the malts. Taste has a nice big finish of oak, vanilla, and bourbon. An anise/licorice flavor comes through that puts me back some. Light end of big body (huh?). Medium or better carbonation, maybe too much for the style. Astringent black malts drying the palate. A nice beer but not a great beer. Seems to be heavily focused on the bourbon. Enjoy!