$ticker $hock - Barrel-Aged
Pulpit Rock Brewing Company
- From:
- Pulpit Rock Brewing Company
- Iowa, United States
- Style:
- Imperial Pastry Stout
Ranked #70 - ABV:
- 13%
- Score:
- 98
Ranked #334 - Avg:
- 4.53 | pDev: 7.28%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 10
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 10, 2025
- Added:
- Jan 13, 2017
- Wants:
- 19
- Gots:
- 3
SCORE
98
World-Class
98
World-Class
2024 - a blend of 35 and 38 month barrel aged imperial stouts then rested on copious amounts of toasted coconut and almonds.
2017 - A luscious stout aged in Elijah Craig 12 year bourbon barrels for just shy of a year and infused with a toasted triad of cacao, almonds and an offensive amount of coconut.
2020 - Imperial stout aged 15 months in bourbon barrels then spiked with toasted coconut, roasted almonds and just enough cacao.
2017 - A luscious stout aged in Elijah Craig 12 year bourbon barrels for just shy of a year and infused with a toasted triad of cacao, almonds and an offensive amount of coconut.
2020 - Imperial stout aged 15 months in bourbon barrels then spiked with toasted coconut, roasted almonds and just enough cacao.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by 4DAloveofSTOUT from Illinois
4.65/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
4.65/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Beer rating #4700!
Been wanting to try this since batch 1. Won the lottery so I am pumped up for that! Excited to finally get to try this out.
On draft @ the Source! 4oz pour.
Dark chocolate, vanilla, barrel char/burnt oak, freshly toasted coconut, bourbon, and finishes a hint of almonds & caramel. Really smooth. Oily body & Drying finish.
Really great BA Pastry Stout.
Jul 13, 2024Been wanting to try this since batch 1. Won the lottery so I am pumped up for that! Excited to finally get to try this out.
On draft @ the Source! 4oz pour.
Dark chocolate, vanilla, barrel char/burnt oak, freshly toasted coconut, bourbon, and finishes a hint of almonds & caramel. Really smooth. Oily body & Drying finish.
Really great BA Pastry Stout.
Reviewed by WickedBeer from Alabama
4.69/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.69/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
2024 Pre-release sneak peek bottle. Opened on 7/7/2024. Exclusive Showcase on PorchDrinking.com.
As expected on the pour from any Pulpit Rock stout; motor oil viscosity. There is a noticeable carbonation build up, with deep brown coloration on the head that lingers momentarily before slowly settling back into the beer.
The nose exudes notes of coconut macaroons; vibrant, toasty, and so distinct. As a clear compliment to the coconut component are undertones of marzipan dipped in rich dark chocolate. While undeniably pastry bliss, with some time and patience we do recognize some subtle complexities of scorched oak and vanilla brought forth by the extensive barrel treatment.
The palate hits immediately with Almond Joy candy. That said, there's a quick transition from rich and sweet to immediately more complex. The coconut follows with a touch of oily and toasty characteristics. The almond compliments with its own punch of drying bitterness. As the barrel meanders into the forefront on the back end of the palate, we are greeted with notes of vanilla and char.
The mouthfeel is thick and viscous, but still retains a noticeable albeit low carbonation that helps prevent an overlying "heaviness" to the experience. There's full-mouthcoating on a long finish, accompanied by a touch of residual bitterness and astringency.
At this point, Pulpit Rock has proven to be one of the best at incorporating different varieties of nuts seamlessly with various adjuncts. Here was no different. The coconut isn't overbearing, and almond is very underrated at being a fantastic compliment to the toasty, oily, bitter characteristics that coconut brings to the table. Additionally, we've seen Pulpit Rock BA stouts go either side of the spectrum - pure pastry vs. barrel/adjunct balance - and with this iteration of $ticker $hock they really nailed the barrel integration here. Always a fun release for the team in Decorah, and such a pleasure to tease this one ahead of the official release next week.
2020 Bottle. Opened on 8/18/2024.
The pour is motor oil thick, like you'd expect if you've had any other Pulpit Rock stout before. Hardly any head build-up, however after a few moments, a deep brown ring of foam fizzles up and settles around the inside perimeter of the glass. Noticeable legs glisten on the side of the glass as the beer falls.
The nose hits immediately with the recognizable aromas of Almond Joy. Dark chocolate, toasted coconut, and marzipan course forward, while the subtlest punch of raisin and plum are noticeable on the back-end.
On the palate the coconut hits right away; toasty and oily, with just a whisper of oxidation on the front-end of the palate. There's some malty sweetness in the middle that lifts up a fruit-forward chocolate flavor. The finish serves as a very evident reminder of the 15 months this beer spent in oak, lingering with a touch of bitterness alongside leather and a hint of char.
While still undoubtedly thick, I'd venture to say it's thin in comparison to more recent PR offerings. Not to say that's a bad thing at all, only an observation. I didn't have this fresh, so I'm not sure if time maybe thinned it out a bit or if boil times have just changed over the years to thicken these boys up more. The carbonation is low but present, the coconut is very balanced in the bitterness it brings to the table, and there's a noticeable yet restrained warmth that lingers well into the next sip.
Jul 07, 2024As expected on the pour from any Pulpit Rock stout; motor oil viscosity. There is a noticeable carbonation build up, with deep brown coloration on the head that lingers momentarily before slowly settling back into the beer.
The nose exudes notes of coconut macaroons; vibrant, toasty, and so distinct. As a clear compliment to the coconut component are undertones of marzipan dipped in rich dark chocolate. While undeniably pastry bliss, with some time and patience we do recognize some subtle complexities of scorched oak and vanilla brought forth by the extensive barrel treatment.
The palate hits immediately with Almond Joy candy. That said, there's a quick transition from rich and sweet to immediately more complex. The coconut follows with a touch of oily and toasty characteristics. The almond compliments with its own punch of drying bitterness. As the barrel meanders into the forefront on the back end of the palate, we are greeted with notes of vanilla and char.
The mouthfeel is thick and viscous, but still retains a noticeable albeit low carbonation that helps prevent an overlying "heaviness" to the experience. There's full-mouthcoating on a long finish, accompanied by a touch of residual bitterness and astringency.
At this point, Pulpit Rock has proven to be one of the best at incorporating different varieties of nuts seamlessly with various adjuncts. Here was no different. The coconut isn't overbearing, and almond is very underrated at being a fantastic compliment to the toasty, oily, bitter characteristics that coconut brings to the table. Additionally, we've seen Pulpit Rock BA stouts go either side of the spectrum - pure pastry vs. barrel/adjunct balance - and with this iteration of $ticker $hock they really nailed the barrel integration here. Always a fun release for the team in Decorah, and such a pleasure to tease this one ahead of the official release next week.
2020 Bottle. Opened on 8/18/2024.
The pour is motor oil thick, like you'd expect if you've had any other Pulpit Rock stout before. Hardly any head build-up, however after a few moments, a deep brown ring of foam fizzles up and settles around the inside perimeter of the glass. Noticeable legs glisten on the side of the glass as the beer falls.
The nose hits immediately with the recognizable aromas of Almond Joy. Dark chocolate, toasted coconut, and marzipan course forward, while the subtlest punch of raisin and plum are noticeable on the back-end.
On the palate the coconut hits right away; toasty and oily, with just a whisper of oxidation on the front-end of the palate. There's some malty sweetness in the middle that lifts up a fruit-forward chocolate flavor. The finish serves as a very evident reminder of the 15 months this beer spent in oak, lingering with a touch of bitterness alongside leather and a hint of char.
While still undoubtedly thick, I'd venture to say it's thin in comparison to more recent PR offerings. Not to say that's a bad thing at all, only an observation. I didn't have this fresh, so I'm not sure if time maybe thinned it out a bit or if boil times have just changed over the years to thicken these boys up more. The carbonation is low but present, the coconut is very balanced in the bitterness it brings to the table, and there's a noticeable yet restrained warmth that lingers well into the next sip.
Reviewed by Sabtos from Ohio
4.12/5 rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.12/5 rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
The tar black body allows almost no head to build, whereas the oil slick surface stains the glass brown with ease.
A surprisingly hot nose amplifies the cacao acids like steroids.
While the palate is pretty hot too, like nutty liqueur, but this is somewhat mitigated by a thick body of creamy coconut. The barrel really seems to add more warmth than character, while a second pour after it came to room temp sees the coconut becoming nearly vegetal.
I'd heard the adjuncts were out of bounds when this was fresh, and overall made it more sweet. It seems the barrel has since made gains over these, so, I'm not sure which expression I'd have enjoyed more, but it's less than what I'd been led to believe regardless.
Oct 09, 2023A surprisingly hot nose amplifies the cacao acids like steroids.
While the palate is pretty hot too, like nutty liqueur, but this is somewhat mitigated by a thick body of creamy coconut. The barrel really seems to add more warmth than character, while a second pour after it came to room temp sees the coconut becoming nearly vegetal.
I'd heard the adjuncts were out of bounds when this was fresh, and overall made it more sweet. It seems the barrel has since made gains over these, so, I'm not sure which expression I'd have enjoyed more, but it's less than what I'd been led to believe regardless.
Reviewed by DEZ01301960 from Illinois
4.74/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.74/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Wow! I went to Iowa to pick up an Assassin vertical and ran into this gem. This was fantastic. Thick, viscous motor oil, chocolate, coconut & Almond flavors are on point. Smell is amazing. My Wife dose not drink beer but just one taste and she demanded a 5oz pour. So Good!!!!
Look: Very Dark
Smell: Liquid almond joy, hypnotizing.
Taste: Amazing blend of Chocolate, Coconut, Almond and Barrel. Well balanced.
Feel: Thick Motor Oil, like creamy silk on the tongue.
Overall: One of the most amazing beers I have ever tried. I would drive back to Iowa (5hrs) to pick up a bottle of this.
Mar 30, 2021Look: Very Dark
Smell: Liquid almond joy, hypnotizing.
Taste: Amazing blend of Chocolate, Coconut, Almond and Barrel. Well balanced.
Feel: Thick Motor Oil, like creamy silk on the tongue.
Overall: One of the most amazing beers I have ever tried. I would drive back to Iowa (5hrs) to pick up a bottle of this.
Reviewed by Phineasco from Massachusetts
4.07/5 rDev -10.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.07/5 rDev -10.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
The beer pours Black with absolutely no head. It has very low carbonation. The beer smells of coconut, chocolate, almonds, and subtle bourbon. It tastes of coconut, chocolate syrup, and cocoa powder. The feel is medium. Something’s off about this bottle, I know coconut fades fast but there are no bubbles what so ever. No barrel either, this beer either fell off a cliff in 6 months, or I got a bad bottle. Big let down.
May 27, 2018
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