Bourbon? More like bour-bomb!

Brewery: Du Claw Brewing Co.
Location: Abingdon, MD
Name: Retribution
Type: Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels
ABV: 9%
The best part about being a beer lover and participating in Christmas? You get really awesome beers as gifts. This beer is one of those gifts. You know how that one "beer" company has "born on dates?" Well, Du Claw slaps a "Date in Barrel/Date out of Barrel" right on the front of this beer. According to my label, 3/11/2011 was the in date and 9/19/2011 was the out date. Furthermore, this stout was housed in barrel 04 of 20. These little touches make me happy about what can transpire. Between the type of beer, the sweet label, and attention to detail I am eager to partake in this beer and disseminate my findings. Retribution stout is stoutly. No light passing through this one. A tan colored head doesn't last for long and surprisingly, I heard a little bit of carbonation. My gut feeling was that this beer was going to be pretty viscous. Do you like bourbon? Cause damn! I got bourbon as soon as I popped the cap off and knew I was in for a treat. Once in a glass the bourbon gives way to super dark malt notes, some hints of chocolate, and the lightest of light vanilla scents. But really bourbon is the show stealer. You know that shiver you get when you drink something really good? Yep, totally got one of those. Retribution is a train wreck of flavor (in a good way). As poignant as the bourbon is in the bouquet it definitely does not dominate the entire taste of this beer. You get some nice striations of sapidity out of this beer. Past bourbon you get a nice burst of chocolate beefed up by natural vanilla flavor. The taste of the oak barrel comes through in the form of a nice, woody tang. One might even come up with the faintest hint of soy sauce. Ultimately finishing with the warming sensation of a boozey bourbon but nothing like a straight bourbon. The finish is nicely bitter but there is a stodgy sweetness that truly prevents this beer from something that you may drink back to back. Definitely a beer to savor over a period of time. This beer is a bit of an investment as well. Not a cheapy which is OK when you consider the quality of the product. Drink with caution! Do not chug this beer. In fact, if you drink this 22oz. bomber in less than 30-45 minutes I'm not so sure I want to be associated with you! Think about that for a minute.

Du. Du hast. Du hast mich, Du Claw.