Special Beer Review-Infinite Sadness, Country Boy Brewing, Lexington, KY.

Written By: Dion on 12/20/2014

"I can't tell you how wonderful she is. I don't want you to know. I don't want anyone to know."--F. Scott Fitzgerald.
This sentiment sums up pretty well how I feel about this beer. If everyone knows how good she is, it will make it that much more difficult for me to have her to myself. My first encounter with her was on August 1st, 2013. We were introduced at the taproom by Evan Coppage, and we soon escaped to the solitude of the brewery, away from the hustle and bustle of the bar. A love affair was born that day. Needless to say, I was excited to find out that I would soon be able to bring her home. Today I spent a couple of hours with her, and my fond memories have been rekindled. Juicy citrus and some earthy, leafy hops hit the nose first, while the charred oak and bourbon lurk beneath the surface, content to make their mark on the tongue. A wonderfully complex array of flavors await as here the influence of the Four Roses barrels becomes evident. Ribbons of toffee swirl around chocolate and vanilla notes as a sweet bourbon heat provides a layer on which the hop bitterness builds. A beautiful, earthy, nutty char lingers on the tongue through the finish, with the 11.5% ABV remaining remarkably integrated. You have to start with a pretty solid beer in order to produce an outstanding one after barrel aging. For Country Boy, the Heart of Dankness Black IPA is just that--fully capable of commanding a room on its own. Giving it the Four Roses treatment just takes it to another level. As the guys approach three years in business, they have certainly begun to establish themselves as the barrel aging masters. And what we in the Lexington area already know, the rest of the craft beer world will soon begin to find out. If you would like to begin your own love affair with this dark beauty, make your way to the taproom on Tuesday, December 23rd at noon as the bottles are officially released to the public. I will reluctantly let everyone know how wonderful she is. Many thanks to Jeff & DH for letting me revisit this old friend.