It’s hard to believe but Breckenridge Brewery and Breckenridge Distillery are not owned by the same company. (Breckenridge Brewery is actually part of Anheuser-Busch, while the distillery is still independently owned.)

Buddy Pass is nonetheless a natural collaboration between the two operations, a barrel exchange in which Breckenridge Brewery brewed an Imperial Oatmeal Stout which was then aged in Breckenridge Distillery Bourbon barrels. After aging, the beer was returned to tanks and the barrels were returned to Breckenridge Distillery, filled with Breckenridge Whiskey to finish for a year. (It’s unclear what whiskey was used in Buddy Pass, whether this is Breckenridge Bourbon or some other spirit; no further details and no age statements are offered.)

Both products bear the name Buddy Pass, a play on a discounted lift ticket you might buy at the nearby Breckenridge ski resort. They were bottled and released at the same time as limited editions, with similar branding.

We got them both, and we’re here to report on how they acquit themselves.

Breckenridge Brewery Buddy Pass Whiskey Barrel-Aged Imperial Oatmeal Stout Batch 1 – Thick and unctuous, there’s no mistaking the barrel aging here. Notes of fig jam, berry syrup, chocolate sauce, and caramel all drip from the palate, which veers into those syrup-laced chocolate covered cherry confections after a time. Gummy and overpoweringly sweet on the finish, some notes of crushed graham crackers and chewy malt can be made out in the mix if you dig deeply enough, though wading through all of the syrupy fruit cocktail to get there may not be entirely worth the effort. 10.5% abv. B- / $14 per four-pack

Breckenridge Distillery Buddy Pass Whiskey Imperial Stout Cask Batch 1 – The whiskey is much more intriguing than the beer. The dripping-fruit sweetness of the beer is still evident here, but it’s not nearly as overpowering, serving to add an extra layer of nuance to the proceedings. The nose isn’t particularly fruity, seeing a gentle breakfast cereal and sesame seed character backed up by perfumy sandalwood, caramel, and barrel char as it opens up. The palate is where things really come to life, kicking off with notes of semi-sweet chocolate and hints of that fig jam present in the beer. Again, that fruit isn’t overwhelming, and it fades into more of a tart cherry character as it unfolds in the glass. Quite chocolaty and rich as the finish builds, the drinker is rewarded with a conclusion that layers in notes of baking spice, a bit of orange zest, and a hint of coconut. Lots going on, but it all works surprisingly and beautifully well together. 108.5 proof. A- / $55

breckbrew.com

Breckenridge Brewery Buddy Pass Whiskey Barrel-Aged Imperial Oatmeal Stout

$14

7

Rating

7.0/10

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Review: Breckenridge Buddy Pass – Imperial Oatmeal Stout and Stout Finished Whiskey, Batch 2 Review: Breckenridge Brewery Barrel Aged Imperial Cherry Stout Review: Stone Imperial Stout and Stone Imperial Stout Whiskey Review: Guinness Imperial Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels (2020) and Imperial Gingerbread Spiced Stout