Honky Tonk "Bardstown" Stout

Honky-Tonk has been notably consistent. I have rated every one of their beers as great, and a standout was the last barrel aged stout that I encountered from this Tennessee brewery. That one walked the line between great and excellent, and my anticipation is that this one will cross that line. I'm a fan of stouts, I'm a fan of barrel aged beers, and I'm a fan of Honky-Tonk. I expect to be a fan of this beer.

So brown it is black, and the head is a light tan of tiny bubbles. This head is several shades lighter then the Badonkadonk stout that I liked before, but the beer is basically the same color. The aroma is intoxicatingly heavy oak, charred grains, vanilla, and the whole thing is laden with an alcohol presence that more than hints at the 8.0% ABV. Presentation is pretty darn good.

First sip is so easy to drink that I briefly contemplated stopping the review and just enjoying my beer for the night. It is smooth, dark, and deep. The vanilla combining with the oak gives almost the honey sweet smoothness that makes the sip go down like a gentle river of molasses with lightly roasted grains imparting a warmth where the alcohol doesn't (and there isn't much place where the alcohol doesn't). It's not quite as sweet as a milk stout would be, but the complex flavors complement each other so well that it replicates a milk stout's smoothness.

Tip-in is moderate carbonation burn with bourbon, oak, and vanilla filling the entirety of the mouth. The middle highlights seared brown sugar that answers with molasses and light toffee while the earth swells underneath. The finish is a touch dry from the alcohol as the oak and bourbon reassert before the eventual semi-sweet trail off.

Bottom Line: These guys are genuinely putting the craft in craft beers.

4.25/5