Spice Wars Barrel Aged Dark Star (2021)

Name: Spice Wars Barrel Aged Dark Star (2021)
Brand: Fremont Brewing
Rating: 4.2 (401 reviews)

Fremont Brewing

Seattle, WA

Tavour Rating

4.2

Style

Barrel Aged Stout

ABV

13.4%

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About This Beer

To craft it, the legendary Seattle crew took a variety of Stouts and barrel-aged them 8, 12, 18, and 24 months in seven to twelve-year-old Kentucky bourbon barrels. Then they added freshly cracked and ground nutmeg, cassia chips, vanilla bean, allspice, ginger, and whole cloves to accent the smooth oat base. After all that time in the barrel, BBADS’ big 13.5% ABV is as soft as melted dark chocolate — and just as rich!

Tasting Notes

Enormous aromas of spice-swirled dates and cocoa-covered raisins erupt out of the espresso-black pour. The sip follows the nose with complex nuances of gourmet dark chocolate truffles served in opulent bourbon oak. Notes of whiskey, caramel, holiday spice, and coffee liquor course through every quaff.

Rich Barrel Aged Smooth Decadent Oaky

Noteworthy Ingredients

Bourbon Barrels Ginger Cassia Bark Vanilla Beans Nutmeg Clove Allspice

Reviews

4.2

401 Ratings

Manach

4.25

Good spices, bourbon, and warmth. A hint of allspice and roasted cocoa on the backend.

darundgren

4.5

This was a flavor bomb. Spices, bourbon and stout flavors just punched me in the mouth the whole time I was drinking it. Can’t wait for the 2022 batch.

josh4385

2.5

too much licorice

Arkadiusz

4.0

Pretty good but I enjoyed some of the other fremont special releases quite a bit more. This may need a bit more time to rest and mellow out some of the spices.

calbear

4.0

Nice bourbon aging on the base stout. Good spice combination that changes the basic Dark Star.

matt7401

4.0

good but not great

patrick3503

5.0

definitely Herby and spicy. pretty weird

brrrdoctrrr

1.75

disappointing to say the least

chris11537

4.5

fantastic beer, chocolate, nutty taste!

alex5300

4.5

Exactly as described - full of spice but beautifully balanced with the base stout

Avobandit

4.25

Very good beer, with a spice twist. I think it’s a little overrated though.

EricRThompson

4.0

Perfect sipper!

nardcore

4.0

Nice spice, but a little more licorice than preferred.

john5589

4.25

Tapped into my strategic Fremont reserves. A cozy sipper chock full o'winter spice that doesn't overwhelm the base oatmeal stout. Excellent Dark Star variant. Saving my other bottle for the holidays.

mark2143

4.0

these are always solid but I always wish the barrel came through more. Also wish I waited for cold weather. The spices used are much better for fall or winter. That's my fault for getting impatient though.

zach2412

4.25

Spicy boozy delight of a beer that means business!

johndubo

4.5

Delicious. Great spices.

MattBarleyWiner

4.25

very great

jtwallen

4.25

Got Spice like a Christmas Cookie! Pretty Impressive Flavor. Barrel Rounds things out Nicely!