Judge’s Review: 95 Rating – Dark Woods Barrel-Aged Stout by Batson River Brewing & Distilling

Specialty Wood-Aged Beer | Seasonal | USA

By Scott Birdwell

Judges Rating: 95
Aroma: 22
Appearance: 6
Flavor: 38
Mouthfeel: 10
Overall Impression: 19

Dark Woods Barrel-Aged Stout by Batson River Brewing & Distilling was judged as a Specialty Wood-Aged (Style 33B) per the 2021 BJCP Style Guidelines.
Dark Woods Barrel-Aged Stout weighs in at a hefty 9.3% abv. My sample arrived well-cooled, but not cold. It poured very dark brown, and after expending some efforts on a sunny afternoon, I was able to verify that it was very clear. The aroma was, surprisingly, subdued for a barrel-aged, roasty beer of this strength. I did pick up on some understated barrel notes. The imperial stout aromas were even more subdued. Fortunately, the beer’s true character came through on the palate.
On first taste, the barrel flavors shone through. Notes of vanilla and oak (specifically charred oak), asserted themselves. Roasted grain flavors are very evident, but not overly so. Hops are present, and they hold their own but don’t mask the malt and grain flavors. I did detect some fruity esters, which is not surprising in a beer of this strength. I also noticed just a hint of astringency in the finish. Considering the amount of roasted grains and the aging in barrels with charred oak staves, this is not unexpected, nor was it off-putting. In short, the beer exhibited excellent balance of malt, hops and barrel notes.
One surprising aspect of this beer is that it drank lighter than it should have. Meaning, this went down like a 6 – 7% beer, not one with well over 9% strength. Interesting, and potentially dangerous! This is a really nice beer. One last note: as I struggled with this beer to dissect it, it had the opportunity to warm up. Once it warmed up to the upper 50s to low 60s, the aroma and bouquet really opened up. It was there all along but was hiding until it was warm enough to come out and play. So, don’t over-chill this beer if you want its best qualities to come through.