Cooper's Cloak Port Barrel Aged With Coffee
Old Ox Brewery

Poured from the bottle into a teku glass. Vintage 2021.

Light tan colored head, nearly khaki yellow but manage to hold on to just a good shade of brown. Creamy looking top with two easy fingers, and some good surprising staying power for an aged stout. Body color manages dark brown faint hints of red color as well to the body, with a touch of fudge thickness and viscosity.

Aroma hits predominanty of coffee on first examination. Faint hints of a fruity tone that is somewhat cherry like that seems to come from the port wood nicely, although very small. More coffee exploration goes really well, swimingly with even hints of milky cream quality. Fact it seems down right exceptional coffee, like a fresh cup of brew with even steam milk added going for capuccino glory. It does seem to take away though from possible barrel characters, but a dam fine note it is.

Palate manages some common ground. A centric coffee dominated flavor, large roast and even delicious ground bitter dark roast flavors, with a lingering bitterness that hits nicely. Light mouthfeel for a barrel aging, not getting much roundness or hints of barrel character in flavor, but a faint touch of fruity sensing quality more like lighter brandy than port just squeaks out by a hair. Aftertaste lingers of a bit of boozy fruit quality and hinting fusel heat.

The Ox really seems to have the coffee angle nailed in their brewing, which you will find in abundance on this beer, unfortunately not so much everything else. Still much to enjoy here, and nothing to be disappointed with.