Jefferson's Reserve Bourbon Barrel Stout
By Kent Kelley

Sometimes there's nothing like a good beer and a shot of fine whiskey to cure the work week blues. But sometimes you just can't find a good beer and a shot of fine whiskey.
There are so many places around HR that just don't have a clue when it comes to taste.
Order a beer and a shot at many places and you'll probably end up regretting it. Personally I consider myself lucky to know the ropes of where to go in this area to satisfy my discriminating palate. And lucky too, for you the reader, Splash posts reviews on these fine establishments each month.
You can count on me for beer advice, and Michelle for fine cuisine, and we now welcome Erin, our resident wine expert and photographer. So you see, Splash is all you need to keep yourself updated on where to go, what to eat, and most importantly what to drink. Oh.(I almost forgot) and what great bands to see also.
One of these days we might just get the whole Splash gang out for the consumption of nutritional sustainance and liquid libation at some local hotspot, and James can pick up the tab! Can I get an amen on that!
Acting on Michelle's advice, we make trails to the Salty Dawg on Shore drive in Va Beach. I figure if she liked the place and the food, they just might have some interesting beer for me to try. Right again Grasshopper!
Hangin around the bar I noticed some patrons glasses filled with a dark roasted looking beer. I ask Edan (another beersnob) "What's that dark beer you're holding there in your flipper?" He promptly informs me that it's
Jefferson's Reserve Bourbon Barrel stout. A big name for a big beer.
Brewed by Bluegrass Brewing co. in Louisville Kentucky.
.
Jefferson's Reserve is actually famous for it's insanely good Kentucky bourbon.
So it seems that the Bluegrass Brewing dudes buy these charred oak barrels from the Jefferson`s Reserve distillery. Not new ones, but barrels that have been used to age their superb whiskey in.
And then the brewmaster at BBC ages their stout in these very same barrels, for 60 days, imparting a nice bourbony finish to the beer.
Outstanding to say the least! Dark malty grains at first, very well crafted and toasty tasting. Slightly reminiscent of Sumatran coffee. It was served very cold but after it warmed up a bit the flavors really jumped out in spades. I was expecting a heavy body in this beer but it was medium bodied and buttery smooth. Not as thick as say, a Guinness or a Mackeson though. More like a really dark strong ale. So you non-stout fans can warm up to it also.
Hovering just slightly above the hops and malt I could detect the faint aroma of Kentucky bourbon. So you get your beer and your shot all at once. A nice monetary savings I must admit.
Coolness I say. That whiskey finish is unique. Gotta hand it to the BBC, they out did themselves on this brew.
Slightly sweet in taste, creamy smooth and robust, but a very well balanced malt and hops marriage. It's dark indeed and those roasted grains really show through.
The coffee overtones balance the taste perfectly, and the finish is most assuredly laced with bourbon. Gotta love that.
Special Pale, Wheat, Chocolate, and English Roasted Barley are the malts used in the brewing process.
The hops they used are Northern Brewer & English East Kent Goldings.
8% ABV will take it's toll on your sobriety, so you better go easy on these brews.
Plus there's a limited supply, so save some for me jerky. As a matter of fact I think I got the last one.(doh!)
I hope The Salty Dawg re-stocks this fine beer pronto. The Beersnob is thirsty for more. Ya hear me!

Check out the May 09 issue of Splash for Michelle's full review of the Salty Dawg.
www.splashmag.com in the archives section. 2 snaps up to the Salty Dawg and Edan for turning me on to Jefferson's Reserve Bourbon Barrel Stout. It's the only place I've yet seen this beer. But hopefully it won't be the last. And 2 snaps up in Z formation to Bluegrass Brewing for making it. Keep it up guys. We want more.
So get to it bigfellow. Your barrel is waiting.

If you have any comments or suggestions about beer in general, beersnobery or any favorite brews for me to check out, email me at splash4free@yahoo.com
Just put beer in the subject line and I'll take it from there. Slainte

The Beersnob
Kent Kelley