“Eclipse: a world-wide phenomenon straight from our brewery in small town Truckee. It starts with our award winning Totality Imperial Stout, and then spends 6 months in a variety of barrels specially curated  by our talented brew team, often finished with some specialty flare that will knock your socks off. Imperial Stout aged in Garrison Brothers Texas straight small batch bourbon barrels.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: As anticipated, it pours a menacingly dark black with a short brown head emerging on top. Steady reduction and fairly minimal lace clinging to the glass as it ebbs.

Aroma: Another Eclipse addition, another American Bourbon distillery unearthed. Apparently they’re Texas’s oldest craft distillery (opened 2004) and ardent Bourbon fans seem to compare it a lot to Buffalo Trace. The rich Stout base, again, provides the perfect framework for this Bourbon to do its thing. We’re getting the typical caramel/toffee leading out. Backed up by tobacco/cigar box, toasted coconut, five spice and brown sugar.

Flavour: Oh wow there’s a notable sweetness to it. A solid roasted/smoky element and an overall spiciness that all comes together really well. Obviously (almost) all of their Eclipse series beers blend well with their respective barrels but this one in particular blends especially well. The sugary sweetness, caramel/toffee, coconut, spice and hints of earthy tobacco find their own counterpoints in the base Stout and the result is an incredibly well balanced, sweet yet roasty, smooth and silky finish which goes the distance.

Mouthfeel: Dense but surprisingly inoffensive for its size (12.5% ABV) and immaturity. Low-ish Co2, full bodied.

Overall: We really liked it but it probably still sits in between Laws and Frey Ranch in our opinion. Laws is still the best expression at this stage.