FiftyFifty Eclipse Stout – Old Fitzgerald 2012
FiftyFifty Eclipse Stout is an American Double/Imperial Stout. This variant was aged in Old Fitzgerald bourbon barrels. The wax color for this bottle is “blue”. BR 4 2012 hand written on the bottle. Aged about one year after bottling. Pulled this out of the cellar for beer review 2000, just the kind of “special” occasion I was looking for to open an Eclipse!
Smells amazing: chocolate, molasses, caramel, mild bourbon, dark fruits. Sweet and smooth… oh my goodness this beer just slides down the throat with ease. The taste matches the nose very well: chocolate and molasses at first, followed by a bit of caramel and a touch of prunes/figs. The bourbon flavor is very mild, having not had this fresh I’m not sure if the aging dulled it or not. Hints of vanilla and a bit of boozy bourbon heat of the finish and aftertaste. I don’t think the question with this series will ever be how good it is, but is it worth the approximately $30 price tag? At this particular moment though… I am VERY happy I didn’t pass on this beer!
