Beer Review: Great Notion Barbeerian Peanut Butter Cheesecake Imperial Pastry Stout (10% ABV)
Great Notion Brewing consistently pushes the boundaries of brewing with its audacious and often decadent pastry stouts, and “Barbeerian” Peanut Butter Cheesecake is no exception. This Imperial Pastry Stout is designed for those with a serious sweet tooth and a love for bold, dessert-inspired beers.
Appearance: Poured from the can, Barbeerian lives up to its stout heritage, presenting a thick, inky black color with virtually no light penetration. It forms a dense, dark brown head that dissipates slowly, leaving behind luxurious lacing on the glass—a testament to its rich body and ingredient load. It looks exactly like a liquid dessert.
Aroma: A full-on assault of dessert-like goodness. Intense notes of creamy peanut butter dominate, smelling remarkably authentic, like a freshly opened jar or a rich Reese’s peanut butter cup. Underlying this is a sweet, slightly tangy cheesecake character, with hints of graham cracker crust and a whisper of vanilla or cream cheese frosting. It’s incredibly inviting and unmistakably signals a very sweet beer.
Taste: The first sip is a journey into a liquid peanut butter cheesecake. The peanut butter flavor is robust and immediate, tasting very natural and nutty, not artificial. This is swiftly followed by a decadent sweetness that evokes a rich, creamy cheesecake. You can discern the subtle tanginess often associated with cream cheese, beautifully balanced by hints of vanilla and a perceived graham cracker sweetness that creates a realistic “crust” sensation on the finish. Despite the intense sweetness, there’s a respectable roastiness from the stout base that emerges, providing a counterpoint and preventing it from becoming entirely cloying. The 10% ABV is present as a warming sensation but is exceptionally well-hidden by the sheer volume of flavor.
Mouthfeel: As expected from a Great Notion pastry stout, the mouthfeel is gloriously thick, viscous, and full-bodied. It coats the palate in a velvety smoothness, living up to the “imperial pastry stout” designation. The carbonation is moderate, just enough to lift the heavy flavors without detracting from the luxurious texture. It feels like drinking a melted dessert.
Great Notion‘s Barbeerian Peanut Butter Cheesecake Imperial Pastry Stout is a triumph for fans of extreme dessert beers. It’s an unashamedly sweet, incredibly flavorful, and beautifully crafted stout that delivers exactly what it promises. The balance between the authentic peanut butter and the creamy cheesecake notes is masterful, with the stout base providing just enough structure and roast character to keep it grounded. This is a beer to be savored slowly, perhaps as a dessert in itself. It’s rich, decadent, and a fantastic example of Great Notion’s prowess in the pastry stout arena.