A new BA stout from Prairie? Sign me up! It looks like only 50-ish cases of this were released between Oklahoma and Missouri, so it wasn’t the easiest thing in the world to find. Most were lucky to get a single bottle (myself included) which makes me sad, but hey, it’s just beer, right?

Company: Prairie Artisan Ales

Location: Tulsa, OK.

ABV: 12%

Style/Description: Imperial Stout Aged in Oak Barrels

Price: $13 (500 ml bottle)

Appearance: Pours an opaque deep brown, like espresso, with a light tan head

Nose: Rich caramel, vanilla, and barrel booze. Sweet malty milk chocolate. As it warms, somewhat thin alcohol vapors come to the front a bit, but just a little age will cure that.

Taste: The mouthfeel is thick and velvety. Dark chocolate, carmel, vanilla, and some nice apple notes are in great balance with barrel booziness.

Finish:  Somewhat dry with the booze ramping up, the first time it’s out of balance with everything else. It stings the nostrils, but in kind of a good way.

Overall: Well damn, this is good. I’m saddened by the fact I was only able to secure a single bottle, and now I have no more to drink or cellar. It’s a tough life. This beer has fantastic balance, a killer mouthfeel, and I miss it very much now that it’s gone. Goodbye new friend.

Rating: 4.5/5