Pisgah Brewing Vortex II

Pisgah Brewing Vortex II is a Russian Imperial stout aged in Kentucky Bourbon Barrels. Bottled 5/2013, this is bottle 85 of 534. It was aged one year.

This pours with a beautiful black color and a nice of white/tan head. Smells really nice too, a good bit of muted bourbon, roasted malts and a touch of booze. The flavor is fantastic with a solid roast, some vanilla, chocolate and again some mild bourbon. A very smooth and easy to drink RIS, although maybe a touch thin in the mouth-feel.

It took me a year to get around to opening this and although I’m happy with the results of the aging, I think this might have been a touch better fresher. Assuming this aged like most barrel aged stouts do, I think I’d sacrifice some of the smoothness for a bolder bourbon flavor.