Uinta Labyrinth

Uinta Labyrinth is an American Double/Imperial Stout. I passed right by this Crooked Line Series beer for quite a long time. I mean there was no way I was spending that much money on a Black IPA! Fast forward probably well over a year and I read a review about how great of a stout this was. Stout? Why would they label this as a Black Ale? Makes no sense to me. In any case this is called a Barrel Aged Quadruple Black Ale, and is brewed with licorice sticks and aged in oak barrels.

The pour is dark and thick with a gigantic frothy head. Roasty and sweet on the nose with a bit of licorice, and the mouth-feel is creamy and slick. Tasting sweet cream, dark chocolate, sweet black licorice, dry oak, a hint of vanilla. I’m also getting a surprising twinge of sourness and a fairly strong showing of hops on the finish. The 12.3% ABV is virtually entirely hidden.

I read where someone called this the poor mans Bourbon County Brand Stout. That’s a bit of a stretch, but it is an excellent beer I’ll be picking up on occasion. Of course, I would have been doing that sooner if it had been labeled better!