Year of New Beer: Bourbon Barrel Aged Nate's Coffee Stout, Country Boy Brewing (Georgetown)

Written By: Dion on 02/06/2020

Day 2 of the 8th Birthday Celebration sees one of the best coffee stouts around get the Weller barrel treatment, and the result is as good as expected. Make no mistake, Nate's Coffee is still the star of the show, dominating the early aroma with plenty of roasted bean, chocolate, and a charred bread crust. Bourbon begins to emerge with warmth, but it remains surprisingly subtle, offering hints of caramel, vanilla, and oak. The flavors evolve in much the same fashion, beginning with a delicious, freshly brewed coffee. An earthy bitterness arrives mid-palate, accompanied by a nutty, toffee-like wave, with a sweet bourbon heat gaining a foothold as it warms. Really nice chocolate notes over a finish that teeters between mild bitterness and a restrained, burnt sugar sweetness. I really like the added depth that the barrel aging gives this already outstanding beer. Very well done. Goes on sale Saturday at 11am.