A twist on Kees's standard caramel fudge stout with just a trace of booze to add another flavour. Sorry (not).
Brewed in Buffalo Trace barrels, this is a decadent, rich and boozy kind of stout that has it's place by the fireside on a cold night or as a chaser after a meal.
Buffalo Trace is one of the best bourbons around and their barrels add a sweet, alcoholic style to anything that's brewed in them, making them a popular choice for aging thick, strong and powerful stouts.
The smell is a fascinating combination of sweet, sticky fudge and hardcore booze. It's tantalising, and the aromas are made even stronger in the pour which is surprisingly light for a stout with such a hard-hitting heady aroma.
Initially the flavours are quite heavy on the bourbon, with a boozy sweetness that's not unpleasant but at first masks what comes after. Namely, a stodgy chocolate sweetness that reminds me of that sick feeling you get after too many brownies.
The sweetness isn't balanced by any bitterness, more by the alcoholic flavour that helps to keep it grounded and is the chief aftertaste component. It's decadent, rich and strong - but it's definitely a winner.
The can is pretty straightforward. It's plain blue, with ripples of blue similar to what you'd get if you scrunched a material like sating.
The writing is plain white, with a sort of groovy font that doesn't make it stand out particularly, but the white-on-blue contrast is eye-catching.
There's a lot of information on the can which I really like, including bits about the brewery itself along with the style guide and info about the beer. It's a nice touch which won't win any awards, but with the beer inside that's not really necessary.
Another one form our local bottle shop this one, making it tricky to track down on line. A search on a popular search engine reveals it's stocked in a number of bottle shops, so it seems pretty common to get your hands on one.
We managed to find a few in stock at local Sheffield outfit Hop Hideout - follow the link to add it to your basket if you're local.
Depends how willing you are to venture out - but we recommend you make the journey. Even in snow - especially is snow.
