“Infinite Wishes is an inspired reimagination of a classic Imperial Stout. Decadently aged for 12 months in Bourbon barrels, Infinite Wishes draws from the depths of nothingness and pours obsidian black with intense aromas of vanilla, cinnamon and cooked sugar finishing with the layered richness of a Bourbon chocolate pie.” 

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Impenetrable black pour capped off by a finger of dark brown head. Minimal lacing as we go. We always get excited when we see a big impy stout pour with such a dark head!

Aroma: Immediately the senses are alive to the gorgeous bourbon oak. The waves of opulent vanilla, sweet spice and banana-tinged caramel gets us every damn time. The way the base imperial stout integrates with the barrel characteristics is phenomenal too. Like the teeth in a zipper…the rich dark chocolate, coffee, licorice and cigar box merge perfectly with the bourbon oak qualities. Resulting in a damn fine aroma.

Flavour: Just as impressive here too. Exquisite balance on show with the front palate treated to an amalgamation of bourbon oak, vanilla, licorice, dark chocolate and burnt caramel. It’s too hard to say yet whether the bourbon oak or the base stout is dominating. It’s like as soon as the base stout throws something at us, the bourbon oak meets it. This tussle lasts all the way through to the drawn out finish as well.

Mouthfeel: Dense and chewy, a little oily. Full bodied with an ever so slightly higher carb. The 13.7% ABV was very well buried.

Overall: Not as good as the French toast variation but it’s still a sensational BA imperial stout. Never knew Smog City had this in em!