Barrel Aged JAK
The Livery

On tap at the Hopcat listed @ 7.1% abv

Pours a creamy khaki head. Color is a golden orange.

Aroma: Oak and hops. Big pine hops. Grapefruit citrus.

Taste: Huge hop profile. Massive floral and pine hops. Grapefruit citrus. Bready malts. Big oak shows. Too much oak for an IIPA, however.

Mouthfeel: Bitter and sweet. Medium bodied with a good amount of carbonation. Ends oaky and dry.

Overall, not to impressed with this one. Too big and too much -bal aging shows for an iipa.

a second thanks to Jay for bringing this back to Chicago fresh from the taps! pours a drab apricot orange with minimal head that leaves no lacings or retention.

aroma is an odd mix of spices, with notes of distinct dill pickles, some salt, a light spiced note of nutmeg, and a distant hop base that feeds the spice. very unique in the nose.

taste is more of the same with a touch of barrel aging character and a hoppy finish of pine and residual hops and some bitterness, along with lingering salt and dill. it gets a bit more spicy as it warms. the first few sips were a bit overwhelming, but the more the palate gets used to it, the beer really showcases its complexity and the spices get a bit less sharp.

mouthfeel is medium bodied and bitter on the palate with a finish of residual spice and a dry aftertaste.

drinkability is very unique. like a pale ale with dill pickles thrown in with various spices. it doesn't really fit into any one category, with a clever mix of flavors that ends with a supremely complex and curiously drinkable beer. this is an adventure for the palate. cheers!

Thanks to Jay for bringing this out!
JAK double IPA aged in a Jack Daniels barrel.

The growler was a glowing murky orange, backlit by the light in the fridge. In the glass it had more light brown edges, a hazy and opaque rust orange. A thin, honeycombed web of foam spread out on the surface. A spotty halo of lace was left at the edges, above a ring of larger bubbles at the edges.

First whiff brought to mind Jolly Pumpkin's funky barrels. Some coconut and woody nutmeg/cinnamon traces, citrus rind, muddled spice, something like dill. Others perceived vinegar, but all I noticed was a slight sharp hint of it's tartness. It had elements of my favorite barrel-aged IPA, Burton Bridge Empire.

Tart citrus, melon rind, rich caramel, tobacco and dry woody tannin in the finish. An earthy, herbal hop presence underscored the dominant funky barrel layer, with hints at a solid caramel malt base. Slick and briny feel, low carbonation with moderate bitterness. A full bodied sipper that I would have guessed around 8% abv, but the warmth is felt afterwards. Robust and funky, an unusual combination that was very unique and successful. Recommended if you like JP and Oak Aged IPAs.