Dark Apparition - Apple Brandy Barrel-Aged
Jackie O's Taproom & Brewery

2024 bottle poured at fridge temp. Pours black as night with almost no head. The nose is super nice! A wonderful mix of roasted malts, black licorice, and brandy. Some molasses is in there as well, along with dark German cake. Some raisin mingles.

The taste is intense! Black licorice, brandy, blackberries, red grapes, brown sugar, toffee, super dark malts, French roast coffee grounds, and molasses. Wow - such a wonderful integration of flavors. This is a real winner.

The mouthfeel is medium to thick, with an aftertaste of dark chocolate dipped in brandy and black licorice.

Poured at 53°. Creamy dark tan head with rocks; dissipated quickly leaving several islands of micro dots, a solid ring, and small spots of lace; black body with ruby edges; medium legs on swirl. Apple Brandy nose; boozy retro nasal; chocolate close behind. Entry is chocolate, caramel candy coated apple, hot boozy Brandy; not sugary, but sweet toffee in the finish. Silky smooth feel; medium light body; alcohol burn on tip of tongue; medium mouth warmth; moderate minus carbonation. Overall, great balance of 7 malt base with barrel flavors; an exceptional BA Imperial Stout from the masters in Athens, OH.

The pour is stout black with a short brown head. The density of the foam was loose, interesting.
The taste is truly good; can’t say I got apple brandy from it but it wasn’t rye whiskey or bourbon either. Definitely apple something, which I don’t think I’ve ever had in a stout before, but it works very well.
The feel is lightly viscous, an easy sipper.
OA, delicious. I would definitely buy one if I had the opportunity to drink it again.

Look - Black and thick with a great tan head and great rimming and lacing
Smell - dark grape, molasses, fig, caramel and wood
Taste - lot of barrel with the caramel wood along with molasses and roasted malt
Feel - full body light carb
Overall - pretty nice version of the apparition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018 bottle

It smells like dark grape, red apples, figs/dates, molasses, oak, and tobacco.

Tastes fairly sweet. The barrel overtakes the Dark App base a bit, but the roasted malts, brown sugar/molasses, fudge like chocolate, and tobacco come through in the end. Its mostly red apple and Concord grape with a little alcohol. Not too hot for being over 13%, but noticeable. It has a solid medium body with a little alcohol heat, and finishes dry. A bit like a red wine.

This is pretty barrel forward like a lot of their aged beers, but it’s done really well.

Lavishly smooth and dangerously drinkable, the Dark Apparition stout undergoes a little facelift. Layers of fortified wine and a hint of cider and oak decorates the roasty and toasty taste of the stout but with a spicy balance to give this ghost of a beer new life.

Ominously black and completely opaque, the scantly headed cap swirls like brandy itself with tawny brandy legging but with an inky onyx sheen. Strong brewed coffee, a twinge of vinous alcohol, a pep of dark fruit and a smoky cocoa scent decorates the nose before the first sip delivers a host of roasted sweetness to the tongue. Brown sugar, molasses and sorghum lay sweet and sultry tracks before the brunt of roast rolls in.

Its malty sweet grip loosens on the middle palate and the high roast of espresso, bittersweet chocolate and the tarish nature of black walnut bring an earthy, campfire and sweet ash demeanor to the tastebuds. Trending tart and peppery, a hint of grilled dark fruit seem of grape, plum, blackberry and blackcurrant-like along with nuanced complexities of brandy spice and mulled cider. A late palate of charred oak and chicory bring a sense of earth and dryness to the aggressive roast and supportive sweetness.

Full bodied and shockingly drinkable, the decadence in taste allows for a coffeehouse lightness in texture. Malty dry and decidedly spicy, the beer finishes with the warmth of kahlua with a long afterglow of baker's chocolate, fortified wine and espresso.