CulturAle Press

Brewing All Stars #9: Rock Bottom Bethesda Bourbon Barrel Aged Export Stout Vintage 2017

Date:  July 28 , 2019  —  This post is in progress.  Return soon for it.  In the meantime, click “more reviews” below to see our most recent “Beer of the Day” posts.

The Story— Geoff Lively has been brewing his own beers within a chain brewery for the better part of 20 years.  Rock Bottom has not only had the smarts to let him alone– sort of–but to take some of his creations and make them the nationwide standard.

But the best part of his — sort of– independence is that he has his own barrel and strong beer aging program and pops out some absolute gems with only a bit of notice.   This beauty was an Export (read “strong”) Stout from 2017 that he aged in Jim Beam barrels for ten months.  It’s a strong – 8.9%–softly hopped –IBU 25– rich pleasuring sipping beer.

The Beer– Even, smooth and very very rich.  Lots of chocolate dominates early but the barrel and wood and bourbon emerges in the finish.  Deep fruits with lingering chocolate.  E Boozy, warming, rich, so smooth, dangerous.

Value —

Values:  “fair” is a good beer at an above market price, “good” is worth the money, “very good” is a bargain, and “excellent” is a steal.

It’s All-Star season.  MLB has finished theirs, but it seems like a new sport is showcasing exceptional talent almost every day.  So we’ll be presenting our own all-star brewing line up.  We don’t claim to present– or even know– what the best beers in America are, but out of the hundred or so that we taste every month, some are indeed special.   For the second couple of weeks in July, we’ll share some recent standouts in  a very crowded craft beer field. .

We’re often asked to share our tasting notes on over 33,000 beers; this blog is in answer to those requests.   Not all our notes, though.  The great beer writer Michael Jackson admirably followed the Thumper Rule, and we’ll try to do the same.  (“If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nuthin’ at all.”)   All the beers we post are from the top half of our ratings and most are from the top quarter.   Of greater value, we think, are the stories behind the beers, and we try to give you enough about the brewery, the style and the places to find great beer to help you on your own beer journeys.   At CulturAle Press we try to write books and publish posts that will help you “Drink Well and Travel Safely.”