Anderson Valley Wild Turkey Bourbon Barrel Stout Review

By April Manning

Rating: B

Anderson Valley Brewing was founded in 1987, and is located in the bucolic Anderson Valley region of Mendocino County, California. They began as a humble 10-barrel brew house in the basement of their original brewpub, The Buckhorn Saloon. Then they were one of only 20 craft breweries in the United States, and are considered to be one of the pioneers of the craft beer industry. Since then they have expanded their brewery from the modest 10-barrels to their current 100- and 85- barrel copper brew kettles.

Being an environmentally friendly brewery, they consider the environment in all aspects of their process. They use water as efficiently as possible,  give spent grain to local ranchers to use as a feed supplement, use spent hops as fertilizer, repurpose bourbon barrels, even their brew house is recycled from two closed breweries in Germany. And over 40% of their energy comes from solar power.

Anderson Valley and Wild Turkey have worked together on a variety of quality and authentic bourbon barrel-aged products. Anderson Valley Wild Turkey Bourbon Barrel Stout was once a draft-only product, taking their Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout and aging it for three months in Wild Turkey barrels. It is now available in 22 oz. bottles as part of an exclusive partnership between Anderson Valley Brewing Company and Wild Turkey Bourbon.

The Stout
This union of beer and barrel results in a delightfully appealing malt beverage.  Anderson Valley Wild Turkey Bourbon Barrel Stout has a pleasing deep chocolate color characteristic of stouts. It has a fruity nose that gives the hint of a mature wine bouquet.  The rich roasted coffee flavor mingles with the vanilla tones brought by the bourbon influence.  The finish is smooth and light. This is an easy drinking stout (6.9% abv) that bourbon drinkers are sure to appreciate.

The Price
$9.99 for 22 oz. bottle.