Barrel Aged Advent Calendar Day #3 Bottled on 10-16-2018 Bourbon, chocolate and oak primarily in the aroma. Taste has bourbon, oak, chocolate and a good amount of roastiness from the malts. The oak is quite ashy tasting, which I don't remember from prior tastings. The body is full with low carbonation. This one never disappoints, but I am a bit thrown off by the ashy oak taste. It doesn't ruin the beer, but it is a bit off-putting. Hopefully it's just a one-off experience and the rest from this year are better. Only time will tell. Normally this is an easy 5 star beer, but I'm knocking it down a bit. High 4.25/5

Barrel Aged Advent Calendar Day #11 Bottled on 10-16-2018 Bourbon, oak, chocolate, roasted malts and dark fruits throughout the aroma. Taste has bourbon, chocolate, oak, dark fruits, vanilla, roasted malts...there's a lot going on, yet it blends together so well. Complex and satisfying. Oak and bourbon linger in the aftertaste. The body is full with a smooth mouthfeel and appropriately low carbonation. This beer is a work of art. It never disappoints. I found a 4-pack of 2021 in the wild yesterday and quickly grabbed it. I can't wait for the next release, but I'm sitting on a decent amount of past vintages. Another 5/5

Barrel Aged Advent Calendar Day #17 Bottled 10-16-2018 Bourbon, chocolate, coffee notes, oak and light vanilla in the aroma. Taste has bourbon, chocolate and coffee notes right out the gate, finishing with oak and vanilla. The aftertaste is bourbon and chocolate. The body is full and mouth coating with an appropriately low amount of carbonation. This is one that, like its non-barrel aged counterpart, seems to continue to get better with age. This one is phenomenal. 5/5

Advent Calendar Day #12 Another 3 year veteran. This is the only year I purchased a full case, so I'm still sitting on a couple of 4-packs. 2018 vintage. Bourbon, roasted malts, chocolate and coffee notes. Taste has bourbon and roasted malts first, followed by chocolate and coffee notes. The body is full with a smooth mouthfeel and an appropriately low amount of carbonation. This beer ages like a fine wine. Fresh or aged, this is always a treat. A simple, non-adjunct stout. Sometimes simple is perfection. 5/5

Barrel Aged Advent Calendar Day #3 I had one of these in my advent calendar last year as well. It's been love at first sip since the first time I had this. Bourbon, dark fruits, chocolate and coffee in the aroma. Taste has bourbon, chocolate, oak, dark fruits (primarily plums and raisins), coffee and notes of vanilla coming through in the finish. So much going on in this, yet it's completely balanced with no one flavor dominating. The body is full with a silky smooth mouthfeel and a lower amount of carbonation. Just perfection in a glass. A second world class beer out of 3 so far. Not a bad start at all. 5/5

Barrel Aged Advent Calendar beer Day #9 2018 vintage, bottled 10-16-2019 Dark fruits, chocolate and bourbon in the aroma. Taste has bourbon and dark fruits first, followed by oak and a little bit of chocolate notes as well. I'll skip the rest since I've already reviewed this multiple times. I put a lot of winners in this Advent calendar and I'm loving it! World class 5/5

World class beer. 5/5

One of the best bourbon barrel aged imperial stouts Michigan has to offer, and among the best in the country. World class, 5/5

Side by side review with Founders Barrel Aged Imperial Stout. Aroma: Bourbon, dark fruits, chocolate and roasted malts. Sweeter aroma. Taste: Dark fruits first, followed by bourbon, chocolate, roasted malts and a slight bit of oak on the back end. Dark fruits and bitter dark chocolate linger in the aftertaste along with some oak. Body and carbonation: Thick, rich and mouth-coating body with an appropriately lower carbonation, which is in line for the style. Overall: I like the dark fruits in this one. Very reminiscent of the regular version, but the addition of the bourbon barrel aging takes it to the next level. Oak from the barrel aging could be more present, but it's there, so no huge complaints. The chocolate is tasty and the bourbon is complimentary without being overwhelming. Both are great, but this one is truly world class and worthy of a world class score. There's nothing I would change about this beer. 5/5