It's that time again. Advent 2023, running from December 3rd through December 24th, so only 22 days this time around. As a reminder, I do this yearly as a way to thin my cellar some. The requirements are: 1) must be aged in a barrel, 2) cannot be larger than 16oz. and my new requirement is that 3) it cannot be from the calendar year of the Advent Calendar, so no 2023 bottles will be in this year's calendar. Barrel Aged Advent Calendar Day #1 Black Note 2017, bottled 10-5-2017 Roasty, chocolatey aroma with subtle bourbon notes. Taste has roasted malts first, followed by chocolate, slight coffee notes and light bourbon. At this point, 6+ years old, it's still very tasty, but it's definitely lost some of what made it special 6 years ago. Either way, it's a great start to the calendar and I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings. Cheers all! 4.5/5

Advent Calendar Day #7 Another 3 year veteran tonight. I hope they brew this again. They've released 2 variants, but I just want fresh bottles of the regular. 2017 vintage. Bourbon, chocolate and coffee notes along with some oak in the aroma. Taste has bourbon and chocolate first, followed by oak and coffee notes. The body is medium-full with an appropriately low amount of carbonation. This is still very tasty, but it's definitely fallen off a little bit. I can't, in good faith, give this a 5 star rating, but it's a 4.75/5

Barrel Aged Advent Calendar Day #4 Another one I've previously rated 5 stars. Let's see how age has treated this. Bourbon and chocolate notes are very prominent in the aroma. Some oak and light vanilla notes as well. Taste has bourbon, chocolate, oak and vanilla, just like the aroma. I just can't believe how flavorful the bourbon is in this. I must not drink this often enough, because I don't remember it being this flavorful. Medium-full body with an appropriately low amount of carbonation. Definitely still a 5/5 Now I'm starting to worry that all the 5 star beers made their way to the beginning of the advent calendar, but I like all the beers in it, so all is well

Side by side review with Vanilla Black Note Lots of dark fruits come through in the aroma. Bourbon follows, Taste has bourbon and dark fruits, with oak coming through in the mid-palate and continuing into the finish. A little bit of warmth as it goes down the throat. Some chocolate notes are showing up as it warms more. Body is medium-full and the carbonation is appropriately lower for the style. I love them both for different reasons. 4.75/5

Barrel Aged Advent Calendar beer Day #7 2017 vintage, bottled on 10-5-2017 Bourbon, oak and vanilla notes. Taste has a nice, flavorful bourbon, oak, roasted malts and vanilla notes. A world class adjunct free stout. One day soon I'll try it side by side with the vanilla version to compare. 5/5

Side by side review with 2016 and 2017 vintages. 2016: Boozy bourbon in the aroma. Taste has a much more mellow, yet flavorful, bourbon. Some oak follows. Subtle notes of dark fruits come in about mid-palate. 2017: The bourbon is a lot more mellow in the aroma. Taste has dark fruits first, followed by bourbon and chocolate notes. Some oak comes in on the back end. Overall: The 2017 is smoother, but the 2016 has a better bourbon flavor. Both are great, but I have to give the edge to 2016. 5/5

Roasted malts, chocolate, bourbon, and coffee in the aroma. Taste has chocolate, roasted malts, dark fruits, slight coffee and bourbon. Just as tasty as I remember it being. Hopefully they release it again this year. World class 5/5

Bourbon, chocolate, vanilla and oak in the aroma. The oak and vanilla are much lighter than the bourbon and chocolate, but they're there. The chocolate is both milky and dark. Smells top notch. Taste has bourbon, chocolate, vanilla, a little bit of oak. There's a roastiness as well, which could be from either coffee or roasted malts, I'm not sure, but probably malts. Phenomenal blend of flavors. Slightly boozy, but that's to be expected with 11.2% abv. Smooth mouthfeel with a medium-full body and an appropriately lower carbonation. Outstanding stout. I can't wait to try this down the road with some age on it. I don't know if I can still give this a 5, but it's damn close. Solid 4.75/5 Upon continuing to sip, I take back what I said. This is still a 5/5

Bourbon, oak and chocolate in the aroma. Taste has chocolate, oak, bourbon and perhaps some coffee, but that may be roastiness from the malts. Doesn't rely on a ton of adjuncts to make it great; it's quite simple and delicious. A nice coffee aftertaste. World class beer. 5/5