BEER: 10,000 Steps BREWERY: Private Press Brewing BEER STYLE: American Strong Ale (DBA Blend) COUNTRY: USA ABV.: 13.1% COLOUR (EBC): Dark Brown Black (88.0) BITTERS (EBU/IBU): - AROMA: This one requires some serious time to warm and open up. After a nice and long wait, I get; wet archipelago bread (buttermilk, malts, water and what not?), extremely lively swampy earthiness and that pure dark grey and deeply moist feel from autumny Irish seashore and all those minerals. Yeah, should be nice? Barrels are downsized at the aroma. Liqorice gives some hints, but in all, barrels are shy in nose. HEAD: Somewhere around one finger height. Lively and bouncy. GREY’S VIEW Blend of 75% of Imperial Stout Aged in Bourbon & Cognac Barrels and 25% of Maple Barley Wine Aged in Bourbon Barrels. Cacao Nibs, Ugandan Vanilla Added. Okay, I think it has got some air and warmth to it, so let’s dive in. Indeed. First bite takes some time to really absorb into being. Tastes are versatile. I get malts in many ways, deep, deep feel of vanilla, midsummer sun burnt saunawood, rye bread, light molasses and mineral clean mussels at first bite yeah. Seems intriguing enough to me atleast, yes. Cognac rises so, damn, slowly and stylishly to palate. I sense it’s more on the supporting role in here (as it actually also is) and in the long run it shares some sweet green apples and cherries to the being. So slow, so stylish. Bourbon is more quick to detect with it’s lovely aged wood, liqorice, brown sugary and forest feel. It all entwine beautifully quirky together. Body is light-medium-light, very pleasant to me, as it is also tiny bubbled, bit rushed with carbonation and swift to enjoy. Lovely base in all, to me. Aftertaste has charred wood, burnt midsummer berry bushes with their berries still attached and as a odd element, also sour cherry candy like of feel in the end. OTHER NOTES: Shyer piece in barrels at first, but presenting some seriously firm made base (/ and barrels too if you just give them long enough time to rise up). Although my expectations were different towards the barrels, this is a great blend with clear enough focus on the actual base. Beautiful craft beer artwork entirely. I really respect these sort of brews. BOTTLED 2/2021 TASTED 2/2022