18mo Barrel Aged Anniversary Stout by Wild Leap Brew Co. is a Barrel-Aged Imperial Milk Stout brewed by Wild Leap Brew Co., judged as BJCP Category 33A. Wood-Aged Beer.

The wood-aged beer category is much like other specialty categories: It is for distinct enhancements to base beer styles. In this case, the enhancement is the character imparted by a wood barrel to the base imperial milk stout. In this particular category, the barrel-aging process should not add alcohol to the beer.

This example has rich aromas of chicory and raisin. It is strongly malty with an apparent sugary (probably lactose) character. It pours black with a loose, sudsy head that fades. This beer's flavor is very sweet; it feels cloying with rich, full malt character. The alcohol in this imperial beer is peppery and spicy and adds bitterness. Still, the sweet, malty flavor prevails. This is a full-bodied, filling beer with moderately low carbonation. A sipper for sure. Overall, the lactose sugar addition seems to be on the high end of drinkable, and may be masking the malt complexity often found in imperial stouts.