Silva Stout

The beer starts with a roasted marshmallow, smoky vanilla aroma with some caramel added – not quite what one would expect from an imperial stout. In the glass it’s black on black with a fluffy dark tan head and pretty lacing. The backbone of the beer is a nice Russian Imperial Stout, but the bourbon barrel conditioning moderates the roastiness typical of the style, and provides more than a touch of sweetness to the beer. The flavor is a nice blend of coffee, burnt toffee, and perhaps some cocoa. It’s a complex beer, but it’s well-constructed. Bourbon barrel-aged beers may have run their course, but the best of them (like this one) really stand out.