At Blackstone before the Christmas parade having a Texas beer in Alabama. This is a Martin House Apple Pie Imperial stout. Almost no head by the time it got to me. Heavy texture. Flavor although probably artificial, it's pretty good. Apple pie definitely is the dominant flavor with heavy malt as the foundation. Thick texture goes along with a strong alcohol presence. It's good but so heavy that one of these is enough. I like it.

Having this Texas sour provided by my son-in-law Ryan. Him, my daughter, and me are going to share this Martin House experience. Strong aroma from opening the can of bananas but not much strawberry. Medium yellow as it pours into the glass and then a hint of pink develops. From the glass the aroma definitely has strawberry with the banana. Of course that first sip has a tartness to get acclimated to. After that the fruity flavor of both strawberry and banana is very good. It's drinkable and light and refreshing ... And dangerous! Nowhere, I mean nowhere, is there any alcohol. Even after 3, 4, 6 sips, no alcohol. Hiding 12% isn't easy but they've done it. I also never picked up on the oak flavor that should be the result of being aged on oak spirals. I'm not a big fan of sours. This is definitely sour but not in an offensive way. More like the way grapefruit juice hits you. I actually like this and would not hesitate to have another. Except for that 12% which is hiding somewhere.

This is a Duo and I had this beer with its 2022 version. This is the 2024 which takes the alcohol from 12% to 13.5%. Will it matter? Starts with a heavy whiskey barrel and sweet malt. The malt quickly develops a severe scorched malt characteristic. Very sweet, deep roasted molasses. The scorch in the malt seems to rise to the surface and dominate. This had every opportunity to be a great beer but everything seemed to fall apart. Flavor was mediocre, intense alcohol was abandoned and alone.

Having this again two and a half years later. A Duo with Ryan and my daughter. Taste buds have changed a bit. Still don't understand the can showing a chocolate chip cookie and a brownie. I get a marshmallow, and lots of vanilla. This is not a Martin House two beers to a box special edition. This is one of their mass production beers so an artificial flavor is possible. Hiding a super sweet marshmallow artificial flavor is not easy but they seem to have accomplished it. My daughter gets a Rice Krispies treats flavor but I only get a buttery sugar cookie. Whichever, isn't bad but still a little too sweet for me.

This is another one of those Martin House, two beers to a box limited edition beers. All of them have been excellent except one. This is coming in at a whopping 16% and aged three to five months in whiskey barrels. Never had anything artificial in any of them. This is different when coming from the can. Darkest chocolate head I've ever seen. The beer is so dark in color, it's like a black hole swallowing all light. From this snifter glass I could smell the aroma from far away. Powerful. Chocolate, alcohol, coffee. Up front and distinctive. When swirled in the glass, there is no lacing. A solid oily film coats the glass. Intense aroma giving chocolate, a fresh coffee, and of course the alcohol. A small sip immediately reveals a whiskey alcohol, freshly roasted coffee, and milk chocolate. This milk chocolate is confusing since it's not mentioned on the can or the website, but it's definitely there. While the texture is soft, it's not as oily as the glass, and remarkably turns a bit dry in the finish. This is a unique beer with confusing marketing. Whiskey flavor is apparent but nothing from the oak Barrel. Nothing woodsy or oak in the flavor. And they never mentioned chocolate which is very evident. But, as with most of their limited edition two beers to a box releases, there's nothing artificial in this beer that I can find. If anyone gets a chance to try this you should. As a matter of fact, any of the Martin Houses special boxes are worth a try.

Happy 4th of July🎇🇺🇲🎆 This is one of the two beers to a box selections from Martin House that Ryan and I will enjoy as Duo beers. This Imperial dessert Stout comes in at 15% and spent 4 months in whiskey barrels. Sounds awesome! Started with a high deep brown head but dissipated so fast I couldn't get the photo in time. Came out of the can like motor oil it was so dark and heavy. Chocolate aroma and boozy. Texture is soft and creamy but it's the whiskey that immediately draws your attention. The barrels they used must have been emptied of the whiskey hours before the beer was added. The beer doesn't taste of alcohol, it tastes like pure whiskey was added. Not unpleasant, just strong. The initial taste, along with the pronounced whiskey, reminds me of Hershey's dark chocolate syrup. And plenty of it. Add some artificial vanilla and you have a pretty tasty beer. Faint traces of peanut butter hides late in the finish and adds nothing to the experience. They must have left some whiskey in these barrels when they added the beer. It's that pronounced. The chocolate did not seem artificial but the vanilla did, somewhat. Forget about the peanut butter. As strong as the 15% whiskey was, it was not overpowering or off-putting. The balance between the dessert flavors and the whiskey was well done. Dessert stouts are my favorite and my weakness so my rating may be a bit high. Much higher than Ryan's but I enjoyed it.

Having this Martin House, two beers to a box, special Barrel aged Imperial sour. Hoping there's nothing artificial in this fruit flavored beer. Of course, it's a Duo with Ryan. Only a little hazy, orange with a little yellow on the fringe. Aroma is definitely sour. First sip is not good. Sour in a bad way. But then it smooths out and is actually pretty good. Don't know where that beginning disappeared to. I taste pineapple, guava, and a little mango. Ryan found banana but I cannot locate it. The finish has a little oak bite in the background and the guava taste from the tequila barrel that I recognize from margaritas. The middle and the finish I enjoy but that first sip is rough. I do have to commend them that there's nothing at all artificial in these flavors. I'm convinced they used the real thing and for that I thank them. Also, almost forgot that it's 10%. That's totally hidden. Not a bad beer but I'd will pass on having anymore.

At my nieces house, Whiskey River Ranch celebrating my sisters remarkable life. Almost black color. Nose relays a devil's food chocolate cake. Heavy, syrupy, sticky in the mouth. Flavor delivers on that distinctive chocolate taste. No effervescence. Oh no! That artificial mediciney liquorice aftertaste invades and ruins the experience. Damn, but I knew it could happen.