Kev's Beer of the Week - Uncle Jacob's Stout

Kev's Beer of the Week ending 6/15/12

Avery Brewing Uncle Jacob's Stout

Kev Rating: A+
Style: Imperial Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels
ABV: 17.42%
IBUs: ?

Availability:  Limited, 2nd in their Annual Barrel Series (the 1st was Rumpkin)
Had: Nick found me a bottle @ Marty's in West Newton
Region: Boulder, CO

I'll take the description from the Avery website to give you an idea of why they brewed this one.  "Jacob Spears, our 6th Great Grand Uncle, is credited as the first distiller to label his whiskey “Bourbon.” He built his distillery in Bourbon County Kentucky in 1790 – 203 years before we began brewing.  While obviously a bit too late to produce Uncle Jacob’s wash, we’ve instead created something far more complex.  In his honor, we present this robust, silky smooth, full-bodied and altogether extremely American rendition of an Imperial Stout aged for 6 months in the very finest Bourbon barrels.  This explains a lot about our penchant for big brews!  It’s in our blood!"

This barrel aged stout is not for the weak of heart.  If you don't like stouts and specifically, barrel aged stouts, then you will probably not appreciate this one as much as you should.  I love barrel aged stouts, especially when they're done this well.  I would put this stout in the top of my barrel aged stouts, along with KBS, Black Tuesday, BCBS series, Black Xantus, Parabola, & Black Ops.

Big whiff of bourbon on the nose, beautiful dark thick pour with a small caramel colored thin head.  I let it open up a bit before taking my first sip (about 10 minutes) and then was greeted with a decadent, robust malt with chocolate and coffee.  It was sweet enough from the bourbon to bring the typical vanilla notes, but wasn't overrun by the barrel aging (at least for me).  

I hope to someday find this again, as I'd like to have two more - one to drink/share and one to age!  My buddy Nick found this for me and I really hope to find it again.  I highly recommend this one for anyone that can get their hands on it.  I'm already sad it's gone & that I don't have any more.