You’re In The Jungle, Baby! - BBA
Jackie O's Taproom & Brewery

2019 version drank in 2022.

 

 

375 ml bottle into a snifter. Released March 2019, had 10/13/20.

Pours a dark brown, opaque and thick looking, with a short, quickly dissipating head and spotty cling. Aromas of chocolate, char, vanilla, malt, bourbon- more as it warms, oak, brown sugar, some chilies, light orange peel, cocoa late. Has a sweet aroma and seems like there’s cinnamon. The bourbon is stronger to start the taste, then vanilla, malt, chocolate, oak, brown sugar, honey, cocoa, some chilies and heat, light orange peel and molasses. Smooth, a good but slightly thinner full body, well carbonated.

All the add- ins show to some degree, lots of enticing aromas and flavors- some really pop when it’s fully warmed. Nicely balanced, drinks easy for the ABV. Very enjoyable.

12.7 ounce bottle, 2019 vintage. Served in a Jackie O's snifter, the beer pours dark brown/black with not quite an inch tan head. Head retention is decent, and there isn't much lacing at all. I like the aroma, the brew smells like cocoa, bourbon, vanilla, orange peel, brown sugar, honey, chilies and a hint of cinnamon. For the most part I think the taste is similar to the aroma, with the addition of some oak, roasted malt and molasses flavors. Chile heat is mild, but all the flavors mesh well together here. Mouthfeel/body is full, it's slick and smooth with a low/moderate amount of carbonation. Easy enough to drink, sure doesn't seem like it's 14.4% ABV. I thought this was a pretty good imperial stout, although I shouldn't be surprised since this is a Jackie O's and Evil Twin collab beer. Hope they bring this one back, definitely worth picking up if you come across a bottle or 2!

 

Drank from a 12.7 fl. oz. bottle purchased at Vendome Wine & Spirits, Toluca Lake, CA
Served in a tulip

Great label art. As for the beer, it poured a medium bodied, dark brown/black hue. Oily and shimmery in the glass. The liquid was topped by a thin, fluffy, mocha colored crown that quickly dropped to a medium collar. Minimal spotty lacing.

The aroma was rich, smooth and very bourbon forward. Fresh vanilla bean notes came through strong. Brown sugar was also apparent. Fairly sweet but not excessively so. Some dark chocolate as well. A bit fudge-like. The bourbon, vanilla and brown sugar notes intensified as the beer warmed.

The flavor was quite similar to the nose but slightly less intense. Malty and robust on the front end. Slightly roasty. Lots of brown sugar. Moderately sweet. The bourbon notes kicked in next. Super smooth and not boozy in the least bit. Hint of raw cocoa in the center. More bourbon and vanilla on the back end and the finish. Just the slightest hint of lingering boozy heat after the swallow. Remarkable for a 14-plus percent ABV beer. Like the nose, the flavor became punchier with time.

The mouthfeel was solid but somewhat thin in body for the style. Creamy and slick on the palate. The liquid contained a fine, moderate effervescence that fluffed up nicely.

Despite the fact that the orange peel and pasilla chilis were completely undetectable in this beer, it was overall still very enjoyable. My biggest gripe with it, however, was that it lacked any distinctiveness. If this were priced in the $10-14 (versus $20) price range, my expectations would not have been so high.

 

 

 

Viscous black with a slight tan ring. Bourbon, vanilla, and chocolate dominate the nose, with molasses, orange zest, and malt supporting. Taste is pretty much the same, only you can taste the peppers in with the orange and booze finish, start sweet and dark, finishes like a boozy liquor, nice. Would like a little more definition in the feel from the barrel, but otherwise viscous, heavy, dark and smooth with some heat from peppers and mostly the booze.

 

 

 

 

 

Released 3/29/19; drank 7/14/19 @ the Yarchives.

Black appearance.

A rough pour yielded a small dark ta head; almost no lace.

Bourbon, milk chocolate, burnt caramel & faint vanilla notes in the nose.

Creamy, thick mouthfeel.

Milk chocolate & vanilla flavors up front; bourbon, medium roast coffee bean, oak & mild pepper heat on the finish.

A lot going on here, but it's balanced enough to make a nice impression. I'd have another...

Good head production, but poor retention.

Nose is mostly sweet imperial stout, brown sugar, mild char. Some alcohol, and minor pepper heat. Bourbon is fairly noticeable on the nose, along with oak and mash.

Thick and sweet on the palate, with tons of chocolate, some vanilla, and a nice vegetal and slightly spicy note from the chilies. I am even getting some notes from the orange peel, which is quite nice. Less bourbon on the palate than on the nose; There is a sharp, slightly sour mash and oakiness that reminds you of it, but otherwise, it is easy to forget that this bill is bourbon barrel aged at all.

The alcohol is initially masked by a very mild pepper heat, but it does grow. Regardless, for the sky high ABV, this beer goes down way too easy.

8 ball black with a tall tan foam settling to a persistent blanket.

This has a deep, nutty cinnamon aroma even though none of that is added. Woody barrel and a hint of orange chews are accented by fainter licorice and molasses.

Sweet chocolate and honey flavors come with a hint of that chewy orange peel. A touch of vanilla caramel comes out before the swallow, which develops a stinging booze and very mild chili presence.

The silky thin body has a fine carbonation and finishes semi-dry.

Fools Gold, NYC.

A- Draft pour into a wine glass with a pure black motor oil body. The nutty tan cap is creamy and rises to a half finger with good retention. Small ring and a few sheets of lacing.

S- Massive fudge, cocoa and roast barley alongside big vanilla beans and a formidable barrel. Dusty cocoa nibs, very dark chocolate, fudge, brownies, chiles, whiskey, light orange peel and a suggestion of booze.

T- The orange opens up a bit here compared to the aroma but the showcase of the brew remains the massive chocolate, bold roasted grain base beer and the boozy and spicy bourbon barrel. Vanilla is bold here weaving the barrel and chocolate together to suggest sweet dessert flavor. A hint of chiles in the end alongside a boozy bite. The play between the booze and the orange is reminiscent of a cordial.

MF- Massively thick bodied with a very low end carbonation. Texture is silky and smooth with a touch of frothyness. Ends hot from the 14.4%.

A beast of a beer. Interesting play between the orange, booze, vanilla and the big cocoa. In the end it all works nicely for a true slow sipper.