Half Day S'mores Barrel Aged Warrior Paint 2Pk

Half Day S'mores Barrel Aged Warrior Paint 2pk is a two-pack of imperial coffee stout from Half Day Brewing Company, bottled at 11% ABV and aged one year in Willett Bourbon barrels. This limited release carries a 4.3 out of 5 rating on Untappd across 246 reviews, reflecting strong enthusiasm from the craft beer community for its dessert-forward barrel-aged profile.

Quick Facts: ABV: 11%  |  Origin: Lincolnshire, Illinois  |  Style: Imperial/Double Coffee Stout  |  Brewery: Half Day Brewing Company  |  Barrel Aging: 1 Year in Willett Bourbon Barrels

Production & Heritage

Half Day Brewing Company operates out of Lincolnshire, Illinois, and has built a following for its rotating barrel-aged Warrior Paint series. Each variant uses a different bourbon barrel source — Woodford Reserve, Buffalo Trace, Heaven Hill, and others have all appeared — making the specific barrel selection a defining variable from release to release. The S'mores edition spent a full year maturing in Willett Bourbon barrels, drawing vanilla and caramel character from the wood while the base imperial coffee stout contributes roasted malt depth and substantial body at 11% ABV.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Toasted marshmallow and graham cracker rise first, followed by dark chocolate and a thread of bourbon-laced vanilla. There is a subtle campfire smokiness beneath the sweetness that nods directly to the s'mores concept.

Taste: The entry is rich and decadent, with milk chocolate and creamy honey leading into a mid-palate of graham cracker sweetness and caramel. Bourbon barrel influence emerges gradually, providing vanilla and oak structure that tempers the dessert-like sweetness. The coffee stout base anchors everything with roasted malt and a faint bitterness that keeps the beer from tipping into cloying territory.

Finish: Medium-long, with lingering notes of burned marshmallow, dark caramel, and gentle barrel warmth. The roasted grain character reasserts itself at the tail end, leaving a dry cocoa impression.

How to Drink S'mores Barrel Aged Warrior Paint

Pour into a snifter or tulip glass at cellar temperature (50–55°F) to let the barrel-aged complexity fully develop; avoid serving ice-cold, as the chocolate, marshmallow, and bourbon notes flatten considerably when too chilled. This imperial stout also pairs well in beer cocktail applications: try it in a Black Velvet floated over sparkling cider for a dessert-meets-celebration twist; blend it into a Beer Float with vanilla bean ice cream for an indulgent after-dinner serve; or use it as the base in a Stout Affogato poured over a scoop of coffee gelato, where the bourbon barrel warmth amplifies the espresso notes.

Best For

• Gifting a craft beer collector who values limited barrel-aged releases
• Dessert course pairing at a dinner party
• Side-by-side tastings comparing different barrel sources in the Warrior Paint series
• Cellaring for up to two years to observe how barrel character evolves

Frequently Asked Questions

What does S'mores Barrel Aged Warrior Paint taste like? It delivers rich chocolate, toasted marshmallow, and graham cracker sweetness balanced by bourbon barrel vanilla and a roasted coffee stout backbone. The overall impression is a liquid s'mores experience with notable barrel warmth at 11% ABV.

How does S'mores Barrel Aged Warrior Paint compare to Goose Island Bourbon County Stout? Both are barrel-aged imperial stouts from the greater Chicago area, but Bourbon County typically runs higher in ABV (around 14%) with a more assertive barrel-forward character. The Half Day S'mores edition leans more heavily into dessert flavors — marshmallow, graham cracker, and milk chocolate — while the Willett barrel influence is more restrained than the pronounced bourbon presence found in most Bourbon County variants.

Is S'mores Barrel Aged Warrior Paint good for sipping neat? Yes, this stout is built for slow sipping from a snifter at cellar temperature, where its layered chocolate, marshmallow, and barrel notes reveal themselves gradually over the course of a glass.

Where is S'mores Barrel Aged Warrior Paint made? It is brewed by Half Day Brewing Company in Lincolnshire, Illinois, a northern suburb of Chicago known for a growing craft brewery scene.

What foods pair well with S'mores Barrel Aged Warrior Paint? Chocolate lava cake mirrors the beer's cocoa richness; smoked brisket contrasts the sweetness with savory depth; salted caramel brownies echo the barrel's caramel notes; aged Gouda offers nutty counterpoint to the roasted malt; and toasted pecan pie complements the vanilla and graham cracker character.

What sizes does S'mores Barrel Aged Warrior Paint come in? This release is sold as a two-pack, with bottles typically in the 12 oz or 16 oz format consistent with Half Day's barrel-aged series packaging.

Is S'mores Barrel Aged Warrior Paint worth the price? It positions as a premium limited-release barrel-aged stout, and the use of sought-after Willett Bourbon barrels with a full year of aging places it in a value-competitive spot among small-batch imperial stouts from independent craft breweries.

Why S'mores Barrel Aged Warrior Paint?

The defining differentiator here is the Willett Bourbon barrel selection — Willett barrels are highly coveted across the bourbon world, and their use in beer aging imparts a refined vanilla-caramel quality that distinguishes this release from versions aged in more commonly sourced cooperage. A full twelve months of barrel contact at 11% ABV allows deep integration between the s'mores-inspired adjunct profile and the wood character without overwhelming the base coffee stout. Within Half Day's Warrior Paint lineup, the S'mores variant stands out as one of the more dessert-driven expressions, yet it avoids excessive sweetness thanks to the roasted malt backbone. For collectors tracking the barrel-aged stout category in Illinois, this two-pack format offers an opportunity to drink one now and cellar one for comparison.