So here’s a two-part look at both a beer and a spirit, made from the same base.

I had another PR contact offering samples of Smells Like Bean Spirit whiskey, distilled from Mikerphone Brewing‘s beer of the same name by R6 Distillery of El Segundo, CA. It’s one of a series of limited whiskeys they have made from other brewers’ beers, mostly from California. Mikerphone, based in Elk Grove Village, appears to be the first brewer outside of California to have their beer distilled.

The beer arrived first: cans of Imperial Smells Like Bean Spirit. A “breakfast stout” made with maple syrup and Tugboat Coffee Roasters Sumatra Mandheling blend.

Since I was not certain if and when the whiskey might arrive, and because I wanted to keep the flow of video beer reviews going, I did a “One Take Beer Review” for the beer itself:

Mikerphone Imperial Smells Like Bean Spirit

Popping the tab, I got a strong nose of maple syrup and straight coffee. More than a Kahlua, my fallback description. A little walnut fudge in the nose as well, I think. The beer pours a fizzy, coffee brown head that goes away in just a few seconds, leaving behind an inky blackness.

I once worked for a guy who insisted on putting pancake syrup in his coffee. That’s what this taste reminds me of. Plenty of coffee with some attendant bitterness. I’d expect a “breakfast stout” to have some oatmeal in it, but I’m not catching the smoothness that might offer.

So the nice strong alcohol notes aren’t filtered by any mellow beer. I was sent two cans, so I’m definitely putting the other can away to see if it smooths out in a year or two. 10.0% abv.

R6 Smells Like Bean Spirit Whiskey

So, just as i posted the review of the Bean Spirit beer, the Bean Spirit whiskey showed up. So I just shot a follow-up review.

86 proof. I had presumed that at this strength, it might be a little strong or rough. I poured it into the unusual whiskey shot glasses they sent, with the Mikerphone and SLBS logos. The labels says it was aged in charred American oak barrels. Probably a year or less, since the result is a little lighter than most barreled spirits. The initial smell is a nice strong whiskey note, followed by a note of maple syrup. Then some coffee threads in, or perhaps the coffee roast is really a note of smoke from the barrel char.

My previous, though limited experience with anything above 80 proof can get pretty rough on the throat—like the little bottle of 93 proof Blanton’s that came with the 2021 Bourbon County Stout preview package. But instead, this turns out to be very smooth. Once I get a sip, I also get a nose of beer in addition to the other bits of the aroma bouquet. Another sip brings out a but more of the coffee. Its a smooth, easily sippable whiskey.

The R6 Smells Like Bean Spirit whiskey collaboration is available at selected liquor retailers around the Chicago area. Suggested retail price is $86/ 750mL bottle. Mikerphone reports that their license will not allow them to sell liquor at their own establishment.