Jobu - Rum Barrel Aged
Capital Brewery

 

 

 

 

Dark ruby body, tan unremarkable head, some streams of carbonation. Nose smells mostly like a sour beer, minus the sour; red fruit (cherry and grape skin) with a touch of vanilla. There is a bit of caramel and molasses as well. Flavor is schizophrenic; there are plenty of brown ale and barrel notes, but also some sour nuances. Butter, coconut, brown sugar, toasty and caramel malt duke it out, while on other sips red fruit, vanilla, and mildly sour/acidic flavors come out. I have a feeling that this effect was accidental and by may viewed as a conglomeration of flaws, but I quite like it and can appreciate it as a complex beer. If I didn't know better I would guess this was aged in red wine barrels. No alcohol warmth, although it is evident that there is an appreciable amount. Medium body, not flat but the carbonation is underpowered.
Number don't do a beer like this justice. Even amazing beers' stories can be told with superlative scores, but a beer like this begs for words to be ascribed to it. Brown notes are nearly swallowed by sour notes. Perhaps this was an unintentional infection, an unforeseen effect of barrel aging, or a completely desired characteristic; all I know is that it results in big, complex, and very enjoyable flavor.

 

Had a sour/tart taste

 

Pours an opaque dark brown color with khaki colored head. Nuts, rum, oak, roast, and some light alcohol notes on the nose; follows onto the palate. Medium to full bodied, seems a bit thin, possibly the barrel thinning it out. Finishes with a nice rum sweetness balanced by a nutty roasty note.

 

 

L: A deep dark brown pour kicks up a thin light tan film that quickly dissipates. S: After the pour the air fills with rum, molasses, brown sugar and malt aromas. T: Malt rules the palate with a blend of sweet and tart, molasses, brown sugar, light caramel, and rum with the tart providing some balance to the sweet. F: Medium body and above average carbonation, soft palate. O: A rum soaked beer that is a little on the sweet side but is pulled back from the abyss of cloyingness by a touch of tartness.