Prairie Artisan Ales Barrel Aged Bomb!

Prairie Artisan Ales Barrel Aged Bomb! is an Imperial Stout aged on espresso beans, chocolate, vanilla beans, and ancho chile peppers then aged in Whiskey Barrels, 11.2% ABV.

This stout pours with a nice black color with an inch tan head. I’m getting a lot of the coffee and vanilla on the nose, before long a good bit of milk chocolate almost takes over the aroma. I’m also smelling just a slight hint of the whiskey barrel on the nose as well. I can’t say this smells better than regular Prairie Bomb!, but it is at least as good. Holy smokes, this is one amazing beer! First off I have to point out the silky smooth mouth-feel. I have found a lot of Prairie stouts to be a bit thin on the feel, this beer feels absolutely perfect and coats the mouth with each sip. The taste is loaded with sweet, rich malt and complex layers of coffee, vanilla, whiskey, and hints of dark fruits. A mild (but noticeable!) amount chili pepper mixes with some alcohol burn in the taste. This same burn also settles quite nicely in my chest.

I didn’t think there was any way this 12 oz. bottle could have been worth the nine plus dollars I paid for it, I was totally wrong. I just wish I could afford to load up on a few more!