The Peanut Butter Solution

The Peanut Butter Solution by Gnarly Barley Brewing Co., an Imperial Peanut Butter Stout Aged in Heaven Hill Bourbon Barrels, is being judged according to the 2021 BJCP Style Guidelines, Category 33B – Specialty Wood-Aged Beer.

I am presented with a glass nearly full of an opaque black beer with a 3” tall creamy tan head that slowly recedes to a shorter head stand. The heavy, dark chocolate aroma finds its way to my nasal passage long before the beer arrives under my nose, and it is followed by medium roasted peanuts and low roast malt notes. There are some low alcohol notes floating around, which are on the spicy side of alcohol volatiles. My long-anticipated first sip is of moderate dark chocolate with medium-low peanut butter, and medium spicy alcohol. The beer finishes medium-sweet with a dark chocolate cocoa lingering character, though the alcohol adds a drying quality.

The nose can be summed up as slightly alcoholic peanut butter brownie batter. The body is medium-full, has a roundness, and seems to be somewhat thinned by the alcohol character, which adds medium warmth that hits mid-throat and continues into the stomach. Medium carbonation with no creaminess or astringency. The alcohol on this one adds depth and character.

Pair this sipper with a hefty cheesecake slice, perhaps even a turtle cheesecake.