Ninja Beer!

Today I am sampling a rarity in the ABC craft beer world, The Brooklyn Brewery’s Black Ops. It is a bourbon barrel aged imperial stout. Andy Abernathy, the COO of ABC wrote the very first beer blog about this beer and expressed his fervor for it.
Appearance: Comes in a stealthy caged, black bomber with silver lettering. One of these days I need to purchase the appropriate mini snifter for these types of big beers, but for now I am going to serve it in my Maudite tulip. It mentions on the label that it is 100% bottle refermented. It pours a James Bond tuxedo black with a thin brown head.
Smell: Char, vanilla, bourbon, hints of baker’s chocolate. It is boozy and rich.
Taste: smoky oak, bourbon, Champagne yeast was used giving a vinous quality. The bourbon actually is not as prominent as I expected from the aroma like the Shipyard Gladiator. It remains roasty and smooth.
As quick as it was here now it is gone like a shadow in the night. I can safely say I am rather fond of imperial stouts and their robust qualities. I have Black Ops available at my store on Archer Road in Gainesville.