Imperial Sponge Candy Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels by Resurgence Brewing Co.

Brewery: Resurgence Brewing Co
Beer Style:  Imperial Barrel Aged Stout
ABV:  10%

Beer God’s Notes

Original Tasting Notes:  I’m actually getting a lot of coffee in this.

My first sip I got a lot of the bourbon and wood barrel flavors (lots of caramel and oak), but as this warmed up I was actually getting a lot of coffee in this. I don’t think it has any coffee or coffee-flavored aspects but I was tasting a lot of it.

I’m not originally from the Buffalo area, so when I moved here I had no idea what the heck sponge candy was.  Well, Watson’s (a local candy shop) makes what everyone I know calls the best sponge candy around (I’m sure I’ll have other’s that will argue with me). But here’s a little blurb from Watson’s

Made by hand in small batches, each sponge is carefully cooked in traditional copper kettles by our highly trained candy makers.  These crispy, tender chunks of caramelized spun sugar are then drenched in our wonderfully creamy chocolate.

And what it looks like when it’s not in a stout:

So it’s chocolate and a spongey caramel inside of it.

Which explains the vanilla and caramel flavors I was getting from this.   The regular version is pretty tasty, but maybe a little sweet.  The bourbon barrel version packs a punch and is definitely not as sweet as it’s little brother.

Description

Our Sponge Candy Stout holds up particularly well to barrel aging because of the burnt sugar character imparted by Watson’s sponge candy clippings. The sugars are mellow enough to play well with the caramel and wood the barrel contributes, making the end result complex, mellow and slightly hot. Tasted against the standard sponge candy stout we have on our menu year-round, the barrel-aged version has a more rounded, definitely richer and headier flavor profile. It’s a sipper for sure, but that’s what barrel aging does: It takes your favorite parts of bourbon and the best characteristics of beer and marries them together for a match really made in heaven.