Backpocket Barrel Aged First Anniversary Stout

This 9.0% ABV stout is aged in bourbon barrels. It comes from the Backpocket Brewing Company of Coralville, Iowa. They took their First Anniversary Stout, an oatmeal stout, aged it in Cedar Ridge bourbon barrels, and then blended that 50/50 with a Russian Imperial Stout. The result was released the morning of the 2014 BrrrFest, and I was the second person to get a bottle.  This "Corridor Collaboration" is the also the first release in their Lab Series, where they get a little more adventurous and try out some new styles.  If you are ever in the Coralville/Iowa City area, or just driving by on I-80, this place is definitely worth a stop.

The beer pours densely black, the slightest hint of dark brown to black, with ruby, cola on the edges if held to the light. There is a tall half inch of light brown head. The aroma is dark roasted malt, char, light coffee and dark chocolate, and smooth, semi-sweet, aromatic Cedar Ridge bourbon, with that mineral/metallic tang common to stouts. The taste follows the aromas directly, a heavenly meld of all the dark roasted malt (coffee, char, dark bittersweet chocolate) with the oaky, semi-sweet, aromatically boozy bourbon. The beer is medium-bodied, moderately bitter, and subtly carbonated, with smoothness from the oats. This is very solid, very enjoyable and very tasty. If you have ever tried Cedar Ridge bourbon, imagine melding it with a solid stout, and you have an idea of how good this is.