Anderson Valley Brewing Company Huge Arker Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is Anderson Valley Brewing Company Huge Arker Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout. As a HUGE fan of Anderson Valley Brewing Company I was really looking forward to trying this one.

From the Anderson Valley Brewing Company website: “True to its Boontling moniker, “Huge Arker” is a massive force of nature that detonates on your tongue. After primary fermentation, the beer is aged in Wild Turkey® Bourbon barrels until it fully matures. The deep mahogany color is evocative of the opulence to follow. Dark luscious aromas of burnished oak mingle with candy sugar, bourbon and hearth-baked bread. The luxurious flavors redolent of honey and molasses are intertwined with the richness of dark chocolate and the ardent warmth of alcohol, underpinned with hints of coffee, vanilla and dark fruits.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours very dark brown, nearly black with reddish highlights, a nice tan head and soapy lacing.

Aroma: Bourbon looms large in the nose followed by, candy sugar, bready malts, oak, vanilla with touches of dark chocolate, caramel and toffee.

Taste: Bourbon, dark chocolate, vanilla, molasses, coffee, bready malts, oak and dark fruits.

Overall: Creamy and smooth, Anderson Valley Brewing Company Huge Arker Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout is exceptional.  This 13.5% ABV offering is one to source and drink lots of if you can find it.  Sweet and boozy (in a really good way) I HIGHLY recommend this for fans of the style.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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