Laughing Dog The Dogfather Imperial Stout Bourbon Barrel Aged

4.2/5

AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 16/20

22 ounce bottle into snifter, no bottle date. A slow gusher upon cracking the cap. Pours thick opaque black color with a nice 2 finger dense tan head with awesome retention that reduces to a dense cap that lasts. Nice thick lacing clings to the sides of the glass as well. Aromas of big caramel, roasted malt, dark chocolate, oak, bourbon, light vanilla, light coffee, and maybe a bit of spicy hops. Some nice and well balanced aromas. Taste of big roasted malt, dark chocolate, caramel, vanilla, molasses, oak, bourbon, light smoke, espresso, dark fruit, and a bit of spiciness. Fair amount of bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of dark chocolate, roasted malt, coffee, bourbon, smoke, and spiciness on the finish for a good bit. Nice balance of flavors; without the bourbon being overwhelming. It sits nicely behind the robust chocolate and roasted malt flavors. Medium carbonation and very full bodied; with an insanely creamy and thick mouthfeel that goes down surprisingly smoothly. Alcohol is extremely well hidden at almost 11%; with only a small warming well after the finish. Overall this is a very excellent barrel aged imperial stout! Nice flavor balance with the bourbon; with a huge lush mouthfeel and smooth drinking at almost 11%. I will definitely seek out the regular Dogfather offering in the future.

Definitely an excellent barrel aged imperial stout! Great flavor balance, without being over the top on the bourbon(even though I am a fan). I will pick up the regular offering in the future.