Nebraska Brewing Black Betty
I was on a recent trip to a shop that’s a bit out of the way from my normal travels — I had heard there were a few bottles from Cascade Brewing still in stock — and just happened across this offering from Nebraska Brewing. Black Betty is a beer that I had heard of in the past, but knowing the size of the brewing operations, it was a beer that I never really anticipated trying. As luck would have it, the 11.3% ABV bourbon barrel-aged Russian imperial stout made its way home with me.
And, man, did it live up to expectations. Black Betty isn’t the best barrel-aged stout I’ve ever encountered, but its rich bourbony character hits the spot nicely. Wood, caramel and a fairly strong burnt coffee character all come together quite smoothly to create a dynamic flavor that leaves a lasting impression. I’m particularly happy that, even after resting in barrels for a bit, the brew is still full-bodied. As I’ve seen more an more as of late, these types of beers tend to be a bit lighter than expected: not here, though.
I’m hoping the shop where I picked this one up still has a couple sitting in storage as I’d love to grab a couple more to set down for a couple of years. I have a feeling this one would do nicely with some time in the cellar, but not too long, I rather like that robust coffee character and would hate for it to fade too much.