Bourbon Barrel Champion Ground
Jackie O's Taproom & Brewery

Bought at Krisp Beverages + Natural Foods ("best damn beer store" (not in my opinion)) in San Diego, CA. I don't recall the price. Not sure what the bottling date is but might be in the 2021. Consumed on 3/15/25

A&S Fizzy half finger of chocolate head. Disappears quickly and doesn’t come back when stimulated. Not a looker. The aroma is coffee and barrel-heavy. Some caramel as well.

T&M Vanilla in the mid-taste. Bourbon in the finish. Coffee has mostly faded and there is some bitterness lingering. Some dark fruits (raisins). ABV is well hidden, but I wouldn’t call it drinkable. No hint of coconut (or at least remaining). Mouthfeel low carbonation, medium body. Light for the style.

Overall: Pretty disappointed considering the BA score. Could just be that it was aged too long and sat around at RT in a store with light hitting it. who knows. If you have this stilling around I'd recommend drinking it soon.

Pour was ordinary, very small head that disappeared quickly. Deep brown color.

Very nice nose. Coffee, sweet.

Not very impressive taste. Good stout, with coffee flavor, but not really amazing. Mouthfeel is nice, not too thin or thick.

Ok, not great.

10/20/24 - (Bottle - Home) (Chicago, IL) Bottle Notes: Obtained via in person trade with Dave @blogjackets on BA on July 19, 2024 in Sheboygan. 12.7 oz bottled in 2023, refrigerated upon returning home until pulling this morning. Imperial Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels. Sustainably Crafted with Purpose. 13.2% ABV, Art by a symbol I can't quite make out beyond the letters K M. Brewed and bottled by Jackie O's Pub & Brewery, Athens, Ohio.

Around the brewery, we listen to a lot of reggae, drink a fair share of coffee, and are devoted to our barrel aging program. In 2015, we had a one off imperial stout aging in barrels for close to a year. These barrels had a rich chocolate/vanilla character, but were asking for a boost. Stauf's coffee roasters in Columbus, Ohio nailed the perfect roast on some authentic Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee to compliment this Barrel-Aged Stout. The illustration on this label is of Charlie Ace's Swing-A-Ling Mobile Record Shack which was notorious for broadcasting the "Champion Sound!" our version does this with fresh grounds and good vibes all around!!

Appearance: Slow poured into a large snifter. Light carbonation and a quick but soon goon burst of dark brown tan head that ends up leaving a tan ring forming above and around the rim of near black with dark brown base. Very thin small island of carbonation settling over about 5% of the base. 4.0

Aroma: Let this sit for about 15 minutes before diving in. Getting a strong dark roast coffee and pepper notes, the latter some may not enjoy but I enjoy in most instances including this selection. Not getting barrel or anything else from the base, either first attempt or throughout. Pretty much mega coffee, which I'm enjoying, but would have appreciated more depth. 4.0

Taste: Consistent with the aroma, coffee. coffee, coffee . Dark roast, lighter pepper. Sometimes age reduces the coffee, but I can't imagine how concentrated this would be if I popped open at the release. I gave it more time, and was getting a nice chocolate fudge backed by a nice vanilla which I see as overkill in many beers, but nicely balanced here. The aroma remains consistent, but will many BA stouts, let these sit a half hour for maximum enjoyment. 4.25

Mouthfeel: Creamy full body, carbonation very faint and gentle. This drinks strong from go, the non bourbon flavor isn't fooling anyone as this is strong like bull, as my Busia would say. It's also coffee, coffee, pepper, coffee with a bit of chocolate and vanilla slowly emerging later. Coffee very strong, especially a year plus from bottling, from start to strong dark roast flavorful coffee the entire finish. 4.25

Overall: This is a solid BA selection. I enjoyed this a lot. That said, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who didn't really love coffee curbstomping most anything in its path. Really enjoying the coffee, wish I had some/more of the base and what the bourbon smelled or tasted of beyond adding strength. Coffee holds up real well, perhaps a bit too well. Final overall mark based on my personal enjoyment, and for this I enjoyed the overall experience on the coffee autobahn. Thank you Dave! 4.25

Paid $11.99. Bought from Mack’s. Drank at home.

Motor oil black appearance
Light carbonation with a thick,oily,creamy feel.
Aroma is sticky sweet boozy bourbon with the alchohol showing up well but not in a bad way. Malt,molasses with dark fruit.
Taste is a rich deep mix of bourbon,dark fruit with coffee and dark chocolate showing up in the background
Overall,if you like bourbon barrel stouts then you need to get your hands on a bottle of this

 

Appearance - The beer was inky black in color with a small tan head.

Smell - There was a ton of coffe in the nose, but the barrel was also very present.

Taste - The profile was like thick, syrupy, sweet coffee. It was like a chocolate espresso. The barrel is very present, but does not outshine the coffee. The bitterness of the coffee.
lingers. Incredibly drinkable!

Mouthfeel - The body is syrupy thick, lending itself well to the coffee.

Overall - This is an elite coffee stout.

Bottled 2023. Poured at 52°. Black with ruby edges, some clarity under dark tan creamy head with lots of rocks; poor cap retention leaves small island of micro dots and a heavy ring initially; a few spots of lace with agitation; thin legs at best on swirl. Coffee, char, bourbon, and chocolate nose; more bourbon presents as beer warms. Bittersweet dark chocolate entry; very little bourbon; mild roast coffee; bitter roast coffee finish. Medium light body; silky feel; moderate minus carbonation; alcohol tingle on tip of tongue; a little warmth from 13.1% abv. Overall, typical Jackie O’s BBA Impy Stout - long on promise, short on delivery; wimpy flavors and thin body; otherwise a perfectly ok coffee stout.

 

Picked up a 12.7 oz bottle from the Appalachian Vintner in Asheville 10-28-22 for $14.99. 2022 bottling consumed 4-15-23. Cold stored since purchase.

Beer poured black with a pretty good tan head.

Nose is a funky coffee forward with notes of modestly roasted malts, some vanilla, and a faint trace of bourbon.

Taste is really well done. Modestly roasted malts give some chocolate and coffee notes. The barrel imparts notes of vanilla and light touch of bourbon. Finishes perfectly balanced.

Mouthfeel is medium to full bodied and very smooth.

Overall this is a very well blended imperial stout. Glad i was able to try it!

Im sampling a cellar temp 12.7fl oz bottle poured into my snifter. Bottle date is 2022 .
The beer pours a dark black coffee color with no light passing through my glass. ONly minimal beige head foams up on a densely packed covering, this fades to almost nothing very soon after the pour.
Aroma is rich with malt notes, roast coffee grounds and dark chocolate come through the strongest with roasted notes and definitely decent dose of coconut. Scents are fairly balanced, but the coffee dominates the nose. No hops here and the ABV is hidden as well.
First sip reveals a rich smooth textured beer with medium to thick body. Carbonation is fine and tingly across my palate.
Flavor is malt driven but not really sweet, I get dark chocolate and roasted malts, some rich bourbon notes and hints of brown sugar and the finish reveals some sweet coconut. The coffee flavor is much more muted than the aroma is.
Still no hop character on this one and ABV is hidden.
I am enjoying this imperial stout from a brewery that definitely knows how to make em.
If you like coffee imperial stouts and also coconut, this one is for you.

 

 

12.7oz 2022 vintage bottle poured into a Duvel glass at fridge temp 11.8% ABV per label. The beer pours midnight black with no light penetration and a meager medium brown colored head. The head recedes to a pencil thin ring and some micro dots of lacing. The aroma is moderate in strength featuring expresso beans, bourbon, charred oak and bakers chocolate. The taste is semisweet chocolate, caramel, fruity / berry coffee, light sweet bourbon and gentle oak. Mild to moderate bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with just less that average carbonation and a semi dry finish. ABV is well hidden. Overall, excellent to world class.

Poured from the bottle into a teku glass.

Real nice walnut brown nearly black body, with good reams of fine carbonation. The head is a perfect tan light mocha settling at a nice little one fingers with a thin layer and lovely top.

Delicious aroma. An absolute wonderful balance of rich dark chocolate and vanilla. Thick and velvet like sensing, with a rich hinting sense of cake like density. Minimal coffee notes however, but still a fanstic sense of rich and controlled and barrel aging notes on the nose.

Real fun palate. Mid palate has just a touch of playful carbonation that cuts nicely, but luckily the body is full and thick to give a fantastic experience. Rich dark chocolate, with a big cocoa powder note even with the light bitterness. Slightly milky touches of vanilla, mostly in the finish. The aftertaste does seem to hint of a faint touch of sour fruited coffee, but not off putting, and in a good way. Still much of the coffee character seems buried in a rich chocolate/vanilla rush and a hinted fruit character no doubt from the heat and perhaps ground bean.

Real impressive barrel aged stout, but my only issue is the coffee character is lacking, mostly in aroma. It does seem to have impart some character, but not in the most expected ways.

 

2016 version - aged well but way too heavy on the roast and or bold coffee ground taste for me.

2022, 11.8% ABV

This is satisfies as a coffee stout and I have a high bar, most don't have enough coffee for me. I get deep, robust, medium ground coffee building in intensity from mid-palate through the long, satisfying finish. It works well with the semi-sweet chocolate and light barrel character, primarily booze and vanilla with scant oak. Top notch.

Label says 2022 version. The ABV on this vintage is 11.8%.
Anyway it's still fantastic!