“Stout brewed with honey and aged in oak barrels.”
Glassware: Tulip.
Appearance: Black with just the slightest hint of dark brown fused through. It builds a sturdy two finger head which persists and leaves a thick soapy lace trail down the sides of the glass.
Aroma: Oh wow, intriguing. Lots of bourbon coming through initially but not in the traditional and rather aggressive sense. This is nice and smooth, caramel-laden and sweet with vanilla, butterscotch, honey and maple syrup decadence. Getting good support from the roasted malts, barrels, molasses, licorice and coffee also. Picking up some spicy notes as it settles in. Sensational.
Flavour: It comes on strong without overdoing it. Nicely balanced with oak and just enough caramel/toffee sweetness to nullify the surging bourbon. Strong presence of spice and licorice leading to more of a viscous molasses in the middle. It continues this excellent progression in to a semi-rich, roasty and espresso finish which goes the distance.
Mouthfeel: Luscious creamy texture with medium-full body. Low Co2 and incredibly well masked AbV (11%).
Overall: Without a doubt the best Eclipse variation we’ve had. It’s rich and dense but it’s really well balanced by the honey and natural caramel sweetness imparted from the Buffalo Trace barrels. We’re literally salivating at the idea of a EH Taylor/Eclipse boilermaker now. Just need a spare $350 for a bottle!