Stumpy Jack
Lucky Labrador Brewing Company

 

 

Thanks to msubulldog25 for this Portland rarity. I miss me some Portland, but Brian brings the beer to me, and I thank him profusely for it.

Ol' Jack looks nice enough, with a thin head of bubbly dirty white foam, which sits on top of a coal black liquid. Or is it just so damn brown my eyes are playing tricks on me?

Definite woody tones in the aroma, which wrap around dark fruits (plum, fig) and sherry-like alcohol. Strong whiskey notes, too.

Taste reminds of New Glarus's Unplugged Old English Porter, which was modeled on the old-school porter style, which lent a slight sourness. Stumpy Jack has that sourness, but it's not overbearing. There's a smoky layer, which meshes well with the woody flavor, and there are juicy dark fruits at the center, and also white grape/white wine. Hops are felt as a tart, citrus-like flash, mostly in the finish, which goes well with the tart/sour characteristics. Alcohol stays very well-behaved for a nine-percenter, only making a background appearance.

Very slick on the tongue, which offsets the slight pucker this gives. Not heavy, passing over the tongue and down the hatch in a slippery manner.

I went into this not knowing a damn thing about this beer, and sometimes I like to go in blind (or half-blind, as Stumpy Jack appears to be)...but I'm pretty sure this was socked into a whiskey barrel at some stage of the brewing process. Regardless, this is an interesting beer that turns the porter style on its head.

Huge thanks to msubulldog25 for throwing this in as an extra in a recent trade. Opened the bottle the same day that it was received due to slight leakage in transit, but it didn't appear to be very oxidized, and still held up well.

A: Pours a clear, extremely dark brown that is near black until held to light. Faint amber appears around the edges, giving it a slight, warm glow. Very small khaki colored head rests briefly on top, then recedes to leave only a thicker-than-usual, bubbly ring that accompanies you throughout the entire glass.

S: Really impressed here ... whiskey right up front, along with sweet vanilla and nice woody barrel characters that are very well balanced, yet potent. In the background, there's just a hint of hops, dark fruit, and booze. I didn't really pick up on much roasted malts, which was a nice surprise as many porters are just a tad smoke heavy for my taste.

T: Following as one would expect from the smell, whiskey, oak, vanilla, and caramel are at the fore. Smokiness comes out a bit more in the flavor, however, it's still not overly noticeable, and adds a bit more character and complexity. Tiny bit of dark chocolate and alcohol, but just enough to remind you of the 9% ABV, and not enough to hurt the score.

M: Medium-light bodied, with low carbonation. Sticks to the tongue just a bit, but is overall smooth and slightly creamy. The lack of carbonation may be due to a crown malfunction, but as this bottle is, it's a really nice level.

D: This is really pretty well balanced with almost no hint of booze, making it very drinkable. I finished the bottle myself with ease, and would have loved to open another bottle had I had one.

Thanks again to msubulldog25 for this unexpected treat. I really enjoyed this, especially for a style that is mid-range on my list. I'd try this again at any opportunity and would definitely recommend it.

Poured from a 22 oz, a limited release bottling. Stumpy Jack is Lucky Labrador's "Stumptown Porter" aged in used Jack Daniels whiskey barrels.

A: Poured with a mild chill from a bottle to an imperial pint at the SE Hawthorne LL. Gorgeous deep brown with garnet highlights, looks like thin maple syrup. Topped with a bubbly, creamy 2-finger ivory head. Nice clarity, little carbonation and a very attractive clinging creamy lace.

S: Subtle smell of charred malt with a little oak. The Stumptown Porter is usually bereft of smell, so the addition of some mild woody notes bumps this otherwise 'average' smell up a half-point.

T: Wow, surprisingly strong oak barrel flavors - vanilla, faint 'whiskey'-ness & tannic sourness. Finishes dry with a bit of sour cherry & vinous white grape. The fact this is a 'porter' is almost lost in the 'woody' notes; alot of the malty qualities are overshadowed by the aging. An intriguing taste and a drastically different beer from the Stumptown Porter.

M: Mellow and fairly creamy. Smoothness is offset with a little tannic burn. Finishes dry with faint alcohol warmth, a tingly hotness. A medium body with moderate to light carbonation.

D: This is an interesting twist on a porter and showcases how a beer can be transformed through barrel-aging. This one is good enough to drink again for certain and is one I'd recommend. However, there were moments I went from really liking this beer to nearly not wanting to finish it, from sip to sip. Can't remember too many beers I've had that confused my tastebuds as much.