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The Dogfather (Bourbon Barrel Aged)
Laughing Dog Brewing
- From:
- Laughing Dog Brewing
- Idaho, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
Ranked #1,823 - ABV:
- 10.85%
- Score:
- 84
Ranked #22,380 - Avg:
- 3.73 | pDev: 15.28%
- Reviews:
- 191
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jun 07, 2023
- Added:
- Dec 21, 2009
- Wants:
- 24
- Gots:
- 111
Over 11 months in the making some of the Dogfather is bourbon barrel aged.
71 IBU
71 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by tobelerone:
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts
3.93/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Before I break into woemad’s third BIF box, it’s time to kill off this last bottle from the second box he sent me. This one is just a straight forward barrel aged Stout in a big ole bomber, really bringing the old school vibe. Let’s pop it open and see what it has to offer
Pours almost completely pitch black with 2 fingers of creamy tan head that slowly fades to a thin cap and leaves decent lacing
The nose is certainly aggressive, but in a charming old world way. I’m picking up on aromas of dark toast, charred oak, dark roast coffee, black cherry, burnt caramel, earthy hops, sweet bourbon, and a touch of smoke
Aggresive turns towards abrasive in taste, and it’s still good but it definitely loses something. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting burnt toast, molasses, dark roast coffee, cocoa powder, black cherry, earthy hops, sweet bourbon, and light smoke. The swallow brings notes of burnt caramel, earthy hops, charred oak, molasses, cocoa powder, raisin, brown sugar, and light smoke
A medium body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a slick beer. Finishes dry with a strong bitterness
Sure this is excessive in its roasty and bitter elements, but it’s pretty damn good all things considered. Certainly better than the ratings led me to believe
Jun 07, 2023Pours almost completely pitch black with 2 fingers of creamy tan head that slowly fades to a thin cap and leaves decent lacing
The nose is certainly aggressive, but in a charming old world way. I’m picking up on aromas of dark toast, charred oak, dark roast coffee, black cherry, burnt caramel, earthy hops, sweet bourbon, and a touch of smoke
Aggresive turns towards abrasive in taste, and it’s still good but it definitely loses something. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting burnt toast, molasses, dark roast coffee, cocoa powder, black cherry, earthy hops, sweet bourbon, and light smoke. The swallow brings notes of burnt caramel, earthy hops, charred oak, molasses, cocoa powder, raisin, brown sugar, and light smoke
A medium body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a slick beer. Finishes dry with a strong bitterness
Sure this is excessive in its roasty and bitter elements, but it’s pretty damn good all things considered. Certainly better than the ratings led me to believe
Reviewed by Drennett from Utah
3.48/5 rDev -6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
3.48/5 rDev -6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
Poured a very dark black, looked great coming out of the bomber. Smelled of stronger bourbon from the barrel aging, but did not pick that up as much when tasting. Not much of a mouth feel for a barrel aged stout, very smooth and clean for a BAB. Solid beer, was hoping for a little more booziness, but would drink again.
Mar 29, 2021Rated by rjd722 from Maryland
4.03/5 rDev +8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.03/5 rDev +8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
From 2014
Apr 08, 2019Rated by Newbeergeek1 from Maine
4/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Nice solid brew from a brewery I have never heard of before. I even bought another one for a bottle share.
Feb 25, 2019Reviewed by rarigney from Washington
4.07/5 rDev +9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.07/5 rDev +9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a very dark brown with a light mocha head that shows good retention and lacing. Aroma is slightly smoky with dark malt and bourbon. Taste follows the nose with the addition of a subtle initial sweetness and a hint of vanilla. Medium bodied with minimal alcohol heat and a bitter finish.
Jul 17, 2018Reviewed by HattedClassic from Virginia
3.63/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.63/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Notes
The beer pours a nice, chocolatey brown head and leaves a nice lacing as the beer is drunk. The beer itself is a dark chocolate black.
The smell is decent. It has a moderate bourbon smell and sweet dark chocolate notes. The alcohol is fairly noticeable though.
The taste is decent. It has a strong bourbon note with roasty malts, and a moderate dark chocolate note. There is a wood chip note in the finish.
The mouthfeel is good. It has a heavy body.
Mar 19, 2018The beer pours a nice, chocolatey brown head and leaves a nice lacing as the beer is drunk. The beer itself is a dark chocolate black.
The smell is decent. It has a moderate bourbon smell and sweet dark chocolate notes. The alcohol is fairly noticeable though.
The taste is decent. It has a strong bourbon note with roasty malts, and a moderate dark chocolate note. There is a wood chip note in the finish.
The mouthfeel is good. It has a heavy body.
Reviewed by IvoryFoxhole from Virginia
3.84/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.84/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
22 oz bottle from 10/17. Allowed to warm and poured into Belgian ale glass.
L: 3F head with good retention. Leaves lots of light tan lacing and a cap and ring. Beer is dark black.
S: Roasted malts, some oaked bourbon barrel. Not a whole lot else.
T: Follows nose. You'd expect some additional flavors like coffee or vanilla to develop but they're really not there. It's pretty good, but it's also pretty straightforward and lacks subtlety. A little bit of a burned caramel finish with some alcohol heat.
F: Medium to full bodied, drinks pretty well. Light carbonation. Construction is OK if non-complex. Balance also OK. Alcohol heat definitely noticeable on finish.
O: It's not a bad RIS and now I've had a beer from Idaho. Everyone wins.
Mar 06, 2018L: 3F head with good retention. Leaves lots of light tan lacing and a cap and ring. Beer is dark black.
S: Roasted malts, some oaked bourbon barrel. Not a whole lot else.
T: Follows nose. You'd expect some additional flavors like coffee or vanilla to develop but they're really not there. It's pretty good, but it's also pretty straightforward and lacks subtlety. A little bit of a burned caramel finish with some alcohol heat.
F: Medium to full bodied, drinks pretty well. Light carbonation. Construction is OK if non-complex. Balance also OK. Alcohol heat definitely noticeable on finish.
O: It's not a bad RIS and now I've had a beer from Idaho. Everyone wins.
Reviewed by BergBeer from Hawaii
3.8/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.8/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Look: Opaque jet black with a thin mocha head. No activity visible.
Smell: Rich caramel and vanilla notes. Then subtle black coffee and oaky bourbon. Alcohol is smooth if pronounced.
Taste: Much like the nose. Rich caramel, toasted coconut, bitter black coffee, oaky spicy bourbon, dark bakers chocolate, burnt toast, a little green apple on the finish.
Feel: Full flavored if a bit thin. Big body with a dry finish. Medium alcohol. Medium bitterness.
Overall: A good barrel aged stout. It’s not flawless by any means but overall it’s solid stuff.
Feb 17, 2018Smell: Rich caramel and vanilla notes. Then subtle black coffee and oaky bourbon. Alcohol is smooth if pronounced.
Taste: Much like the nose. Rich caramel, toasted coconut, bitter black coffee, oaky spicy bourbon, dark bakers chocolate, burnt toast, a little green apple on the finish.
Feel: Full flavored if a bit thin. Big body with a dry finish. Medium alcohol. Medium bitterness.
Overall: A good barrel aged stout. It’s not flawless by any means but overall it’s solid stuff.
Reviewed by Bcurrie33 from Montana
3.94/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
3.94/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
Detected clove on first taste. Got me interested. First notes of licorice. Develops into smoky aftertaste often seen in bourbon barrel aged stouts. missing the vanilla I love from aging. Lacks the layers of flavor of well done imperials.
Jan 17, 2018Reviewed by Roguer from Connecticut
3.94/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.94/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Black brew with a strong dark brown head; fantastic retention and lacing.
Big roasty nose: char, oak, ash, burnt coffee, molasses, licorice, caramel, and bourbon. A heavy dark malt profile definitely takes priority over the bourbon aspects.
Flavor follows: waves of roasty malt - at times metallic - tinged with bourbon. Burnt coffee, bitter chocolate, dark fruit, and molasses.
Smooth on the palate; bitter and strong, but easy drinking for a double digit ABV brew.
Jan 08, 2018Big roasty nose: char, oak, ash, burnt coffee, molasses, licorice, caramel, and bourbon. A heavy dark malt profile definitely takes priority over the bourbon aspects.
Flavor follows: waves of roasty malt - at times metallic - tinged with bourbon. Burnt coffee, bitter chocolate, dark fruit, and molasses.
Smooth on the palate; bitter and strong, but easy drinking for a double digit ABV brew.
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