Brandy Barrel Black Falls
Jackie O's Taproom & Brewery

 

 

 

12.7oz bottle poured into a snifter
A: Very dark brown, almost pitch black with a thin tan head
S: Cocoa, rye, vanilla, a bit of an earthy element (spicebush?)
T: Matches the nose with a bit of the barrels added
M: Full bodied, a touch sweet/bitter though overall quite balanced
O: A good collaboration, tasty, aging nicely (drink now or hold 1-2 more years)

12.7 oz bottle, vintage 2019, poured into a snifter at 55 degrees F:
L - deep dark with a head that lingered around the edges
S - malt, coffee, molasses, brandy
T - malt on the nose with an apple brandy sweetness on the finish
F - thick mouthfeel with minimal carbonation
O - great beer, flavors are so well blended

 

 

 

 

 

 

Solid chocolate, bourbon. The brandy heat is there on the backend. Decent balance. Not much vanilla to be found. Medium body, solid carbonation making for a smooth, mildly hot backend.

Poured from the 12.7 oz bottle, 2019 version into the test glass
A - Deep dark brown, hides all the secrets, gentle carbonation, very little cap. Soapy lacing
S - Vanilla, some barrel tannin, licorice, honey, dark fruits. Fig, wrapped in dark chocolate
T - Elements of bourbon, some dark fruit again, candied dark fruit. Hint of tobacco. A spicey black pepper thread, and a soft vanilla backbone.
M - Oily, in a good way. sweet with a medium body. linger is complexwants to be dry but cant get there.
O - A very good barrel offering. So many layers in this. Worth seeking out

Medium black, brown tinting when help up to light, thin brown ring. Huge caramel, brandy, plenty of my new favorite beer term: vanillins, bourbon, rye, and licorice. Wow, so the taste builds on the nose with a french toast start before the berries and general dark fruit wash over it all, then finishing with a tide of smoky rye, vanilla, and booze. Starts wet and gets dry. Feel is sweeter, boozy, and velvet smooth. Drinks lighter than it is. Is this the height of craft baltic porter?

375 ml bottle into a snifter. 2019 release, had 4/8/20.

Pours a dark brown- reddish in the light, semi opaque with a half inch foamy head and soapy lacing. Aromas of apple brandy, chocolate, light roast malt, vanilla, oak, caramel, rye, a little bourbon, some molasses, light leather and tobacco, light char. Has a spicy aroma. The flavor is similar- apple brandy, chocolate, rye, vanilla, caramel, malt, oak, light bourbon, some molasses. Also has a generally spicy flavor. Smooth, a very good medium to full body, well carbonated.

This is a gem. Well developed and expressive aromas and- especially, flavors. The vanilla and rye stand out, and the brandy barrels are the icing on the cake. Really enjoyable. Hope they make this again.

 

 

 

 

Primarily Baltic character--light iodine and peat--alongside vanilla on the nose. The brandy notes come through loud and clear on the palate, however, with some bright fruit and substantial boozy oak balanced out by the vanilla. I would love to try the base beer for this, though.