Toppling Goliath Double Barrel Assassin Batch 1 | Imperial Stout

Technical Details

Tasting Profile

Toppling Goliath Double Barrel Assassin Batch 1 pours an opaque, viscous black into the glass with a thin, quickly receding dark khaki foam cap and minimal lacing — a hallmark of its extraordinarily dense body. On the nose, the double barrel aging reveals itself immediately: rich bourbon oak mingles with a distinctive apple brandy sweetness, underpinned by deep milk chocolate fudge and a whisper of caramel toffee. The aromatic interplay between the two barrel types is remarkably cohesive, hinting at the complexity to come. On the palate, the mouthfeel is full-bodied, slick, and almost oily in the most luxurious sense, with very low carbonation that allows every layer to unfurl slowly.

Sweetness is forward but never cloying, built on a foundation of chocolate fudge and dark caramel. The bourbon barrel contributes warmth and structured oak, while the apple brandy imparts a subtly fruity, brandy-laced dimension that sets this apart from a conventional single-barrel Assassin. As the beer warms, a toffee and dried dark fruit quality emerges. The finish is long, warming, and gently boozy. This is a beer built for cellaring or slow, reverent sipping — a true world-class release from Decorah, Iowa. Explore the full community ratings on Untappd.

Food Pairing

The double barrel assassin’s layered richness pairs magnificently with a dark chocolate and sea salt tart, where the cocoa bitterness mirrors the fudge-forward base while amplifying the apple brandy lift. For a savory counterpoint, aged Comté or a nutty Gruyère provides salt and umami to balance the beer’s substantial sweetness and warming bourbon character.

Toppling Goliath Double Barrel Assassin Batch 1