Imperial March - Logboat

ABV: 10%
Bottled: 3/2016

Description from brewery:
Imperial March is an Imperial Stout, aged on oak. Aromas of leather, oak, and vanilla join on the palate to enhance the toffee and coconut notes.

Pairs with: None mentioned.


MOBeerGuy Thoughts:
Pours black with a thick tan/brown head.

Aroma of oak, roasted malt, and vanilla.

This stout has a nice thick and creamy body. The roasted malt flavor make most of the first sip. Following that is a hint of dry oak and then it finishes with a smooth/creamy vanilla after-taste. Other flavors that I get while having additional sips are a bit of smokiness, hint of tobacco and chocolate.

I love the overall roundedness of this rich stout. For me, this beer has the perfect consistency with the right ratio of roasted malt and vanilla notes.

I love the complexity of flavors to this beer, they work very well together to produce a high quality brew.

Pairs with: Dark chocolate or cheesecake.

I give this beer a 4 out of 5

MILF - Mother's Brewing Company

ABV: 11%
Bottled: 1/2016

Description from brewery:
You’re in for a treat with this one. Brewed with cocoa nibs and raisins and then lovingly aged in rum, sherry, bourbon, brandy and whiskey barrels, this big beer takes on flavors from the spirit and wood of each barrel. The end result is a complex and elegant companion that’s right for carefree nights of privilege and excess.

Pairs with: Goes great with savory meats like venison, beef, & bison. Or try it with something sweet like panna cotta, raspberry tart, creme brûlée, or chocolate souffle.


MOBeerGuy Thoughts:
Pours black with a thick tan head.

Aroma of oak barrel, bourbon, brandy, and vanilla.

This thick body stout is very smooth on the tongue. Upon first taste, the notes of raisin, bourbon, vanilla, and chocolate are found. The complex flavors of this beer are delightful and they invite you back for another sip. When returning for a quick second taste, I tasted fig, some smokiness ending with a hint of red wine. This brew gives a nice slow warmth in the throat that gradually finds its way to the stomach.

I love the complexity of flavors to this beer, they work very well together to produce a high quality brew.

Pairs with: Chocolate or a hard cheese like Parmigiano-Reggiano

I give this beer a 4.25 out of 5

Barrel Aged Liquid Spiritual Delight with Vanilla - 2nd Shift

ABV: 11.5%
Bottled: 2/2016

Description from brewery:
Aged in Tennessee whiskey barrels with organic fair trade Madagascar vanilla beans. Distributed exclusively through The Wine and Cheese Place in St. Louis, MO

Pairs with: None mentioned

MOBeerGuy Thoughts:
Pours black with a thick brown head.

Strong aroma of whiskey barrel with sweet vanilla.

This thick body stout is very smooth. The mix of whiskey and vanilla first hit the tongue. As the flavor changes to burnt barley and charred barrel, the vanilla is there for support. The vanilla really rounds off the bitter burnt flavors. As the brew moves to the throat, the flavor becomes chocolaty. The aftertaste also has a hint of burnt flavors, but the sweet vanilla leaves you wanting to drink more!

The addition of the Madagascar vanilla bean really enhances the profile of the base beer. I would love to see a non-barrel aged version on shelves so that more can experience the wonderfulness of this beer.

Pairs with: Nothing, this beer is great on it's own to enjoy after dinner.

I give this beer a 4.5 out of 5

Saddlebag Stout - Aged in Wine Barrels - Crown Valley

ABV: 10.7%
Bottled: 3/2016

Description from brewery:
This beer started as a delicious 8% cream stout, we put it in our very own Crown Valley Red wine barrels and mellowed it to perfection. The characteristic of stone fruit along with the smooth finish make this a perfect companion to a hearty meal. Cellar this or enjoy it today.

Pairs with: None mentioned

MOBeerGuy Thoughts:
Pours black with a thin tan head.

Aroma of oak, red wine, and fruit.

This smooth medium-body beer has notes of oak and fruit that are prominent on first sip. Dark roasted flavors of the stout quickly follow, ending with notes of dark cherry and chocolate. I also find the beer ending with a bit of tartness. As the beer warms to room temperature, the flavors become more complex like a dry red wine.

Love the work that was put into this beer. I would consider this as a hidden Missouri treasure.

Pairs with: Cheesecake, grilled beef, blue cheese

I give this beer a 4 out of 5

Imperial Milk Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels with Raspberries, Blackberries, and Cacao Nibs - 4 Hands Brewery and Randalls

ABV: 9.3%
Bottled: 3/14/2016

Description from brewery:
Brewed for Randall’s Wines and Spirits. Aged in Bourbon Barrels with raspberries, blackberries, and caco nibs.

Pairs with: None mentioned

MOBeerGuy Thoughts:
Pours black with a brown head.

Aroma of fruit and bourbon.

The first taste is of strong tart fruit, followed quickly with a hint of bourbon. The fruit flavor fades away slowly, ending on the milk stout base. The dry aftertaste leaves you wanting to take another sip.

This beer reminds me of 4 Hands' other beer, Downfall, but with a subtle nod to Cuvee Ange.

Note: Aging this bottle until approximately August would rapidly deteriorate the tart fruitiness of this beer.

Pairs with: Dark Chocolate, grilled beef

I give this beer a 4.25 out of 5

Wolpertinger - Urban Chestnut Brewing Company

ABV: 11.5%
Bottled: 1/2016

Description from brewery:
To celebrate our 5th Anniversary we captured Wolpertinger 2015 and held him for several months in stainless steel cage before determining that this year's Bavarian Beast is a triple fermented ale (three unique yeast strains) that is spicy and Belgian-like.   He then went through a hibernation period in bourbon and Burgundy oak barrels, absorbing the flavors of his environment-growing, changing.  We then unleashed this five year old wild beast into the world.  Prost!

Pairs with: None mentioned

MOBeerGuy Thoughts:
Wolpertinger pours clear dark golden brown with a white head.

The beer has a prominent smell of dried fruits followed by bourbon and then finishes with caramel malt.

When sipping, this brew was very complex. The dried fruit (that was in the aroma) first hit the front of the tongue then changed to a dry bourbon-y caramel finish at the back of the mouth with a bit of spice.

I am not a big fan of strong ales, but I really appreciate the art and effort that was put into this beer. This high percentage beer didn't have a strong alcohol taste. Due to the triple fermentation, the beer had a nice dryness to it.

Pairs with: Dark Chocolate, Bratwurst, Cigar

I give this beer a 4 out of 5

Saison - Crane Brewing

ABV: 6.8%
Bottled: 11/11/2015

Description from brewery:

A farmhouse-style field beer brewed to finish dry and refresh. This Belgo-French style ale’s flavor begins with toasty malt, followed by fruity yeast and ends lightly bitter and crisp.

Malt: Pilsner, Munich and Wheat
Hops: Magnum and Styrian Golding
Yeast: French and Belgian Saison Yeast

Pairs with: None mentioned

MOBeerGuy Thoughts:
Crane's Saison pours golden with a white head.

The smell of yeast first arrives to the nose with the citrus notes following quickly after, and ending with a hint of malt.

When sipping, this brew holds true to its style, it is crisp yet yeasty and bready with hints of citrus.

This beer does take you to a barn out in the country in the midst of a mid summer evening.

Pairs with: Funky cheese, spicy curry, rotisserie chicken

I give this beer a 4 out of 5

Madagascar 2 - a collaboration between 4 Hands Brewery and Schnucks

ABV: 9.3%
Bottled: 2/2016

Description from brewery:
Imperial Milk Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels with Madagascar vanilla beans and cinnamon. Pouring inky-black in color, Madagascar II is full-bodied with notes of bourbon, vanilla, chocolate, and cinnamon. Pairs with Chocolate Cake

MOBeerGuy Thoughts:
Madagascar II pours smoothly with a nice foam, creating a rich and dark head.

The smell of bourbon and cinnamon is very inviting.

When sipping, this medium body milk stout has a velvety texture to the tongue. The taste of cinnamon melds well with the rich Madagascar vanilla bean, and the cinnamon really smooths out the bourbon that it was aged with.

If you've had the 4 Hand Horchata Milk Stout, this reminds me of a premium version of that beer. It is rich and full of superb flavor.

Pairs with chocolate over 60% cacao

I give this beer a 4.75 out of 5