Barrel-Aged Framinghammer - Mole
Jack's Abby Brewing

Barrel-Aged Framinghammer - MoleBarrel-Aged Framinghammer - Mole
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From:
Jack's Abby Brewing
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
Baltic Porter
Ranked #11
ABV:
12%
Score:
94
Ranked #1,982
Avg:
4.26 | pDev: 6.81%
Reviews:
61
Ratings:
263
Status:
Active
Rated:
Oct 25, 2022
Added:
Jan 01, 2016
Wants:
  10
Gots:
  29
Baltic porter aged in bourbon barrels with cocoa nibs, chili peppers, vanilla bean and whole cinnamon sticks.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of MikeWard
Reviewed by MikeWard from Pennsylvania

3.97/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
500ml bottle into a goblet. Couldn't find any freshness dating.

Looks good. Black body with hints of brown. Small tan head shrinks to a thin ring, a few specks of lacing.

Hard to get anything on the nose except some bourbon notes.

On tasting, the chocolate has faded, and the vanilla is more of a feel. Bourbon, chili pepper, and cinnamon are present, but restrained.

Mouth close to full, and incredibly smooth. Finish a warming heat with no bitterness or harshness.

Overall, age is the likely cause of the missing chocolate, which is unfortunate. But still a smooth drinking beer where the abv seems less than advertised.
Oct 25, 2022
 
Rated: 4.08 by ummswimmin from New Jersey

Jul 10, 2022
Photo of Roguer
Reviewed by Roguer from Connecticut

3.64/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Very good head production and retention.

Nose is a bit confused, revealing more prune and cola than any of the extra ingredients. This could simply be the way it all comes together, but having had plenty of flavored barrel aged imperial stouts, I'm not really picking up the individual notes, save perhaps for some vanilla and pepper.

Comes together fairly nicely on the palate, but I still can't escape that strong prune-like note. Everything else does come to play, however, with notes of bourbon, cinnamon, vanilla, and a mild-to-moderate vegetal peppery spice. It's not quite rich and creamy enough, and it's missing the chocolate necessary to really taste like a mole - there is some chocolate, especially up front, but it disappears beneath the prune, toast, and light char of the base beer.

Medium bodied, bordering on light full. Quite drinkable.

Overall, a pretty tasty beer, but a bit of a let down. I'm not sure exactly how the malt-and-yeast expression came together to present such a strong dark fruit note, and it's not complementary to the added flavorings.
May 30, 2022
 
Rated: 4.25 by bigred89 from Maryland

Apr 03, 2022
Photo of REVZEB
Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois

4.09/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Had on tap. Not sure if there was age on it or not, doesn't taste like there was given the booze and spice. Pitch black body, brown cap that fades instantly into a small ring. Big bourbon with licorice, roasted malt, dark chocolate, dried fig, vanilla, big cinnamon, and peppers. Taste sees the pepper and cinnamon really take over, barrel fuels them onward with the chocolate with hints of vanilla bonding well, other supporting elements are washed away. Feel is spiced and warm with booze, seems thinner than others in the series, but still true to style with the backbone and viscosity
Jan 12, 2022
 
Rated: 4.04 by chrishiker1409 from New York

Jan 11, 2022
Photo of StoutElk_92
Reviewed by StoutElk_92 from Massachusetts

4.6/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Dark, chocolatey, roasted coffee notes, light cinnamon, chili pepper, vanilla, some bourbon barrel, roasted malts, mild hops to balance, medium lighter bodied, smooth and crisp
Jun 14, 2021
Photo of keithmurray
Reviewed by keithmurray from Connecticut

4.05/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Appearance - dark mahogany body with tan head

Smell - cinnamon, chocolate, peppers, vanilla, oak

Taste - chocolate, cinnamon, chili peppers, vanilla, oak

Mouthfeel - medium plus bodied, medium carbonation, chocolate and cinnamon upfront, peppers and hint of oak barrel on the back end

Overall - enjoyable beer here, flavors pop with the cinnamon, peppers and chocolate. There could be more barrel presence, but otherwise this is a good beer.

Price point - $5/ 16.9 oz bottle
Jan 23, 2021
Photo of Tony210
Reviewed by Tony210 from New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours very dark with appropriate foamy head. Aroma is chocolate mixed with cinnamon, light touch of black licorice. Flavor is chocolate, light touch of cinnamon, and the peppers. The heat from the peppers ignite my stomach instantly. Carbonation creates a creamy texture, although the body is fairly light for the style. Overall I am glad I tried this, the heat is a bit much for my stomach, and it is a bit too light bodied.

11/29/20
500 ml bottle, 2020 vintage
4 rating
Nov 29, 2020
Photo of HoppingMadMonk
Reviewed by HoppingMadMonk from New Jersey

4.4/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Solid black color.
Medium light carbonation with a just above average body. Has a slight creamy oily feel.
Aroma is black coffee, hot peppers, sweet bourbon, roasted malt.
malt with a slight amount of caramel and vanilla.
Taste is low bitterness espresso, Medium amount of heat, peppers, roasted malt and sweet bourbon.
Overall I think jacks abby hit this one out of the park. This is well done on every level,feel, aroma, taste, will definitely look for this again.
Sep 01, 2020
Photo of woodychandler
Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania

4.34/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
My next brewery horizontal will CANsist of a curious admixture of bottles & CANs, the latter in support of The CANQuest (tm) while it all serves to reduce the ever-shrinking backlog here at Chez Woody. 5/7.

From the Bottle (!): "Chile Pepper & Chocolate"; "Cinnamon & Vanilla Bean"; "Mole Aged in Bourbon Barrels Framinghammer"; "IBUs 45//OG 23 Plato"; "Unfiltered / Unpasteurized"; "1 Pint .9 fl. oz./.5 Liters".

I am taking this portion of the horizontal VERY slowly, one beer per day, so as to both savor each one & to ensure that I will be capable of going to work at some point. Night shift has been a real eye-opener! Zzz.

I prised off the cap with a long-disused bottle opener & started a slow, gentle C-Line pour into the awaiting glass. It evinced a pseudo-cascade that formed a finger of fizzy, foamy, rolling, roiling deep-tan/light-brown head that quickly faded to wisps. Color was Very Dark Brown to Black/Opaque (SRM = > 34, < 44) with cola highlights at the edges. Nose had a pronounced spiciness, but my reefer's cold temp was undoubtedly muting it for the time being. I am going to return to its nose as it has a chance to warm. Mouthfeel was big, thick & full, like a dollop had been scooped into my mouth & onto my tongue! 8=O I simply allowed it to roll around, warming as it did so. It really reminded me of Mexican Hot Chocolate with its spicy chocolatiness! The wife of a friend of my uncle's (phew!), Ada, was really into Mexican culture & living at the western end of The Mission District in S. F., she would really go all-out for Dia de los Muertos & Christmas & Mexican Hot Chocolate was always part of the celebrations.

I appreciated the taste of this beer since, while it was clearly spiced with cinnamon & peppers, they did not go overboard to the point of making my eyeballs sweat. I have a supervisor at work who is of Indian descent & he talks of curry hot enough to "make them cry". 8=p I have had that experience before & it is unpleasant to my Western tongue & bowels, diminishing my enjoyment. This beer did not disappoint by doing that.

The bourbon & vanilla flavors were subtle in this beer, slowly emerging as it warmed & being more prevalent on the back end/finish than in the initial taste. It also had a cumulative effect, slowly becoming spicier as I went without ever getting overwhelming. Still, I was feeling sweat beginning to pop out on my five-head (male pattern baldness has left me with an extended forehead) & on the bald spot on my crown that doubles as the solar panel for my sex machine.

The other cumulative thing was its ABV. It came on like an iron fist encased in velvet, a sneaky pete administered like a rabbit punch, an extended handshake that suddenly turned into a sucker punch. 8=O Phew!

Back to the nose - having warmed, the chocolate, cinnamon & pepperiness were the stars! I really liked that the bourbon was more subdued while still being a presence. Mmm.

Finish was beautifully dry, thanks to the spices, with the chocolate & vanilla being relegated to co-starring roles with bourbon as a cameo. YMMV.
Jul 13, 2020
Photo of tigg924
Reviewed by tigg924 from Massachusetts

4.19/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours opaque, dark brown in color with minimal head. Taste is huge cinnamon and vanilla, with char, chocolate, and a peppery finish. Medium-heavy bodied, roasty, hot with moderate carbonation. Another winner in the Framinghammer series. A lot more cinnamon than Super Mole which I prefer this to. Would get this again.
May 09, 2020
Photo of HorseheadsHophead
Reviewed by HorseheadsHophead from Colorado

4.35/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pitch black, oily appearance with a small tan head. Minimal retention, but some film sticks around.

Some oily chili pepper and cinnamon hits the nose. Not intensely hot or spicy, but savory. Beneath it, dark chocolate, oak, vanilla, and butterscotch.

Chili peppers and cinnamon pop and maintain on the palate, without coming across as intense. Dark chocolate, burnt toast and vanilla prop up some sweetness and body. The bourbon barrel character is restrained but offers caramel and more vanilla that accentuates the other flavors. Finishes warm with some residual silky sweetness.

Mouthfeel is light for its abv, but oily and slick. Moderately carbonated, deceptively drinkable.
Apr 09, 2020
Photo of beerthulhu
Reviewed by beerthulhu from New Jersey

4.43/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
-Bourbon barrel aged Baltic Porter.

A: A dark walnut head is one inch, bready textured, thick and cushy with a long standing appeal. A dark and viscose pour of chocolate shows burgundy highlights with backlighting. A soft and lazy rising moment of micro-effervesce. The lacing sticks really well, smothering the glass.

S: Sweet caramel creamer and bourbon hints. Brown sugar, oaky coconut notes with a soft vanilla touch. The bourbon influence is very smooth and balanced.

T: Strong notes of bourbon soaked oak barrel woodiness and vanilla on the open. Warming alcohol comes along with a spicy cinnamon and warm chili pepper touch. Figs and dark fruit add to the complexity with a light smoky caramel grain base. Roasted barley, some coffee and roasted chocolate round things out.

M: Thick and syrupy mouthful, very heavy and full bodied with an oily edge. CO2 is kept to a minimal to preserve the silky smooth nature and fullness along with the oats.

O: The bourbon influence and flavor is clearly the standout and defining moment of this drink. Outstanding by all regards the exceptionally smooth character and balance are both eloquent and artful, a true symbol of craftsmenship that has become synonymous with anyone familiar with Jacks's. Even by my stringent expectations from this brewery, they always seem to exceed them. A very polished flavor, no rough edges makes for an exceptional drinkability factor begging for the next sip which can't come quick enough. A pleasantly lingering silty smooth and smoky ash and oak finish along with roasted pine cannot be denied. An under-represented style (Baltic Porter) that will leave you questioning...why? Outstanding regards and flavor with a begging for more enduring impression.
Apr 01, 2020
 
Rated: 3 by prisdefer from New York

Feb 19, 2020
Photo of deleted_user_995920
Reviewed by deleted_user_995920

4.14/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a jet black with a slight ruby hue. With a frothy mocha colored head ,totally opaque. Smell is quite muted, picking up some faint toffee, a cream of wheat scent. Taste is cocoa, cola,barrel notes,raisin,maybe more DR pepper more than cola,candied apple. Feels almost thin bodied, not slick or viscous. For such a high ABV there is little evidence of that. Overall this MOLE porter is the first I have ever had, mostly the Mol'e BBQ rub theme is usually in a stout- Great beer, worth trying.Did not really pick up the peppers or the cinnamon. Mole' rub is usually much spicier than depicted in this beer.
Feb 05, 2020
Photo of Rug
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts

4.07/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Pours a real pretty deep brown with 2 fingers of a mocha colored head that reduces to a nice ring

The aroma is all roast up front, those chocolate malts meld well with the cinnamon and subtle peppers, a sweet vanilla backbone from the barrel exists too with a small dark fruit note

Taste is all classic porter, the additional ingredients here are subtle. I’d have to imagine this isn’t too far off from the base beer. Kinda funny how the heat is mostly on the front end rather than the aftertaste, it finishes with the sweeter malt notes and a small vanilla character with some smokiness

The feel here is real interesting, smooth and medium bodied without being too heavy, it finishes off dry and leaves a bit of the spice. Not too carbonated unless held in the mouth, but it works out nice

I was personally expecting something a little more out there, but this is nice, nuanced and balanced, doesn’t go over the top, and it’s incredible that it’s a lager! Definitely down to try other variants and am absolutely planning a trip here
Dec 29, 2019
Photo of zotzot
Reviewed by zotzot from Vermont

4.46/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Drinking out of a Stella Artois water glass - works well!!
Dark dark dark brown color, otherwise clear.
Filmy stout head.
Imperial stout smell.
Very nice taste. The chili pepper add a very nice hotness. Very reminiscent of Mexican food and mole sauce. Good job!!
Nice combo of concept of mole sauce with imperial barrel aged imperial porter.
Sep 18, 2019
 
Rated: 4.24 by Dark_Scarecrow from Virginia

Sep 07, 2019
Photo of twosheds
Reviewed by twosheds from Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.5
Black with a tan head.

Smells like bourbon and vanilla.

Taste has a lot going on. Starts off with bourbon, but quickly mellows with the malty profile of the porter and the added flavors. The aftertaste has an alcohol bite to it with mostly the bourbon lingering.

The mouthfeel is remarkably smooth for such a strong beer.

I think I would like this better if it wasn't aged in Bourbon barrels. It overpowers the other flavors a little too much.
Jul 14, 2019
Barrel-Aged Framinghammer - Mole from Jack's Abby Brewing
Beer rating: 94 out of 100 with 263 ratings