Nebraska Brewing Company Black Betty Imperial Stout

This is an 11.% ABV imperial stout aged for six months in fresh whiskey barrels. It is from the Nebraska Brewing Company of La Vista, Nebraska. They are also a sponsor of the large Great Nebraska Beer Fest each August, a fest definitely worth attending.

The beer pours with an absolute blackness. There is a tall, thick, foamy, tan head. The aroma is coconut, whiskey, whiskey tang, oak wood, and dark roasted malt with some chocolate. The taste follows the aromas, with whiskey, oak and hops actually at the front, tangy, even some pine coming through, and the dark roasted malt notes coming in second. This is not what I expected, but it is really tasty. The beer drinks smooth, with its alcohol mostly hidden, although there is a light warming effect.