Jamaican Rum Barrel Imperial Porter
Clifford Brewing Co.

Appearance: A body as black as night that reveals nothing to a mere half finger of head that did not lace but did stick around. Still, would have liked a bit more of it.

Smell: There is definitely a an unmistakable Jamaican Rum funk to this, that mix of overripe bananas and demerara sugar (although it this case, probably a bit more burnt then normal) makes itself know in front of a bitter burnt malt background. Potency is just fine and didn't need any warming to come out, although it does put more of a spotlight on the malt.

Taste: Starts with Rum, sugar that the bitter malt reigns in quite well as it takes over for a second, before the funky part of the rum comes back as the overripe banana, oak and I think mild allspice show up before an unidentifiable bitterness ends the party very neatly.

Mouthfeel: Points lost for the lack of head, and the carbonation seems oddly aggressive at times, and oddly sedate closer to the end. The said, the transitioning in perfect, and the aftertaste is a well balanced rum and porter mix that, yes does come across as a bit boozey but in a good way as you don't get that solvent note because of it's sweeter aspects.

Drinkability: This stuff is deadly, and it gets you on your way quite well. The body is just slightly heavier then medium body making it a bit too easy to drink to treat something this good as a sipper. Really, the only thing stopping this from going down is that boozey note which serves as a fair warning.

Final Thoughts: As a purveyor of various tiki drinks, I am of course a fan of rum, but generally I prefer the neater Cuban or sweeter Guyana and Barbados offerings. That said, one of the Jamaican Rum drinks I do like is a Wray and Ting as it is called. Wray and Nephew overproof rum, and Ting Grapefruit soda. I mention this because that drink works because sweet of the soda and bitterness of the Grapefruit is able to stand up to, and work with the Jamaican funk. This beer, does the same thing as the malt and I guess sweeter aspects from the oak, are stood up by the bitterness of the Porter. This is another great aged offering from Clifford and one you should certainly try.