Oh Lord! What sauna doesn't heal, is lethal. I didn't die, I'm actually very much alive. Still sore muscles, and tomorrow most likely even more so, but definitely less sore and more relaxed than before/without the sauna. It's just magic. Now #2 Imperial Stout of the Antwerp barrel aged series: Blantons Bourbon barrel aged. I'm not familiar with Blantons Bourbon either but I'm open. The beer pours opaque, oily jet black. The same level of carbonation: timid. The head, too, is identical to yesterday's Antwerp: soft, bronze chocolatey, half a finger tall. The foamy cap dwindles rapidly to a hair-thin lace ring. The nose enjoys milk chocolate, cacao nibs, vanilla, butterscotch and cream. Further down the road, I pick candied orange peel and a suggestion of coffee. Attractive but probably a bit less intensive than yesterday's version. The taste confirms my initial assessment: the package is soft but moderately less powerful than that of the Weller Bourbon version. The parameters include Bourbon, for sure, vanilla, caramel, cream, butterscotch, cacao nibs, honey and candied orange peel. Very inviting! The biggest difference from yesterday is the dark cherry that is absent today. And now that I think carefully, the barrel notes are substantially weaker here. The body is full but not enormous. As if it was bigger yesterday? The finish puts forward a good deal of Bourbon, some barrel nuances, chocolate and vanilla. The beer leaves a relatively full, creamy, soft, lip-glueing and barrel aged sensation in the mouth. It's also somewhat deep, a tad rich but not particularly complex though. Nice, yet not very intense. Weller was sturdier than Blantons.

Nightcap. This must be interesting! I tasted the base version “Antwerp” four years ago. It was nice although not a masterpiece. I now have four barrel aged editions, three Bourbon BA and one Brandy BA. I will, however, not do side by side reviews but enjoy them one by one whenever the time is ripe. This first of the series is a Weller Bourbon barrel aged version. The beer shows an opaque black complexion. Relatively shy carbonation manages to release a fawn frogspawny lacing that grows maximum half a finger thick. The foamy lid retreats cutely to the rim and bends passionately upwards. The nose enjoys intense Bourbon aromas like vanilla, caramel, butterscotch, cinnamon and oak barrel notes. A distant coffeeish hint seals the deal in the air. Copious Bourbon slams my tastebuds firmly but still softly. Alcohol isn't entirely hidden here. Well... not even closely. Strong oak barrel goes hand in hand with the Bourbon. The taste also gives ample vanilla, surprisingly intensive caramel and a new kid on the block: dark cherry. I didn't get it at all in the scent but it's definitely there on the tongue. A coffeeish wink doesn't leave me alone now either. Furthermore, cacao powder and marginal cinnamon complete the journey in the mouth for now. The body is full, nicely so. The end is rich in Bourbon, barrel nuances, cacao powder and dark cherry. A fairly long tail whips my tongue for quite some time. The mouthfeel is full, a tad alcoholic, definitely barrel aged and neatly warming. It's also rich and deep, intense, soft and smooth. Not particularly complex but not straightforward either. All in all, a pleasant BA imperial stout. Considerably better than the base version. Weller Bourbon is not really familiar to me but it feels like an exceptionally velvety Bourbon variety. Maybe one day, I will have a chance to taste it raw. 🥃

Nonostante la bassa gradazione alcolica ha un gradevolissimo sapore di luppolo