Brash Biggie Smalls

Brash Beers are brewed and bottled by Mercury Brewing of Ipswich, Massachusetts. This is an 11% ABV Imperial Brown Ale that is barrel aged, 50% in rum barrels and 50% in whiskey barrels. I am not sure why it has the same name as the Notorious B.I.G.'s nickname.

The beer pours mahogany in color, some very dark chestnut brown on the edges when held to the light. There is a tall and creamy head of light tan foam. The aroma is an intermingling of rum and whiskey, roasted malt, dark caramel, oaky, hint of vanilla, some dark fruit, very light dark cherries. The taste follows the aromas, with the rum, whiskey and wood of the barrels up front, followed by a wave of dark caramel malt, followed by the dark fruit. There is a tang on the finish, and it ends very dry, astringently woody, with a touch of bitterness. There is heat from the alcohol, and it is full-bodied and round in the mouth. I think this is the first barrel-aged beer I’ve had that incorporated rum barrels into the mix. 

(Not sure why this  picture came out so badly.)