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Fall is in the air, and that means we have yet another year of Kirkland's Vintage Ale! Brewed proudly by Deschutes (pronounced "Da-Shootz") in Bend, Oregon, this Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout spends nine months in the wood, picking up what the whiskey left behind (mostly vanillin and tannins). Bottled over the summer, this particular beer is from Lot B. Neither Costco nor the packaging give us much additional detail beyond the ABV and style. I remember finding last year's edition to be solid but nothing to write home about, fairly dry but a pleasant pour. The use of the work "vintage" to me implies that some changes may be made year-to-year but we'll have to see if our taste buds can help us validate. How does the 2025 vintage fair?
💅Style: Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout
🛒Sourced: $7.99 Costco, GA for a 22oz bottle. $2 cheaper than the 2024 edition!
💥Hops: Not Mentioned sadly. Other ingredients include chocolate malt, milled oats and Dutch cocoa. Chocolate malt is a darkly roasted malt, primarily made from 2-row barley, which contributes rich, coffee-like, and cocoa-like flavors and dark color to beer. Note that it gets its name from its flavor and color, not from containing actual chocolate, though that's why they're kicking in some Dutch cocoa.
🧪ABV: 12% a wee step up from the Abyss and Black butte standard offerings.
🍋IBUs: Not Disclosed.
🎨Color: Heavy black oil with a creamy tan ring of foam.
👃Nose: Very malty with brown sugar, molasses, and dark chocolate.
😜Palate: Full bodied to the point of bordering on creamy. Lots of vanilla, some toffee, and toast. I get more of the vanilla/candy than chocolate, but it's well-balanced, flavorful but not overwhelming.
💦Finish: Short (it's a beer after all), one final flicker of caramel leaves your tongue well coated. The aftertaste is sweet earth.
🏆 Overall: 7/10 - Great - Well Above Average - With imperial stouts I'm always looking for balance. There's a temptation to either overdo it entirely and kick in too many additives or to let fear or economics drive you and skimp, the former making a flavor dumpster fire and the later leaving your with high-gravity brown water. Kirkland 2025 Vintage Ale is fantastic and threads the needle well. I would swear that it is a night-and-day difference over 2024, especially where body is concerned. Deschutes has tuned the recipe well. Picking up a few more of these; I'm going to try to find a lot A to compare as well.
💵Would buy again? I have eight bucks. I like beer. Why the hell not? This is my second year, and I'll keep the tradition rolling.
⚖️Rating Scale:
1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume it by choice.
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but many things I'd rather have.
5 | Good | Good, an agreeable dram indeed
6 | Very Good | A cut above.
7 | Great | Well above average.
8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.
9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.
10 | Perfect | Perfect.