Small Stash Reserve – Barrel Aged Doppelbock 2020

Barrel Aged Dopplebock 2020 by Seedstock Brewery is a barrel-aged Doppelbock and is being evaluated as a Wood-Aged Beer (category 33A in the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). The best examples of Wood-Aged Beers have a “harmonious blend” between the base beer and the wood/spirits resulting in a flavorful, complex blend. Doppelbocks are strong, dark German lagers noted for their strong bready, melanoidin-rich malt character. This beer has been aged in a Laws Whiskey House bourbon barrel for twelve months and weighs in at 10 percent ABV.

Small Stash Reserve pours dark brown in color with a slight haze and a rim of off-white head. The aroma is prominent bourbon and toasted oak with breadcrust malt flavors with dark fruits of plums; the alcohol is evident. The body is medium-full with moderate, pleasant and never-harsh warmth. The flavor is moderately strong bready malt with lighter dark fruits of plums over a moderate bourbon and toasted oak. The beer finishes moderately light in bitterness with moderate bourbon and toasted oak over moderate bready malt and a light, pleasant warmth.

This is a well-brewed, well-aged doppelbock. The bourbon is prominent but stops short of being boozy. The malt character could be a little more complex, but the malt level is appropriate and works well with the bourbon and barrel characters.