AleSmith Decadence 2007 Imperial Porter Barrel Aged
I've had the '07 Decadence and thought it was good, but nothing to scream about. Wasn't even really clamoring for the barrel aged version. Then OlieIPA and Aimstatus bring it to my house as part of a sick line up. And I drank .... Pour produces a big frothy head. Creamy looking, big and small bubbles. Standing up at the edges. Black fluid. Looks pretty damn good. Big bourbon scent. I mean huge bourbon scent. Kinda masks the other aromas. Like being socked in the face with a chamois that had been soaked in Gentleman Jack. A little boozy, but I'm excited now. Taste is simply awesome. The bourbon is there in a big way but not quite as much as the nose would suggest. Right under the bourbon is a big bite of really rich chocolate. Decadence. Incredibly smooth, right down to the beautiful warming sensation in my bellay. So aptly named. This is straight gluttony. Ridiculously good. A big ass beer right here, not for wussies. It's actually shoving me around, pushing me around, showing me who's boss. I love big ABV and I question the honesty of the 10% on the label. I would guess 12%. Either way, HolyRolyPolyOlieIPA Batman, this stuff is great. In a too-good-to-be-true evening line-up that included '09 Kate, '08 Abyss, Choklat, and Black Butte XX (another kickass imperial porter), the barrel aged Decadence was the one that made me pop a chub. Overall: decadence