Chemesthesis
Jackie O's Taproom & Brewery

Blend of Imperial Stouts aged for 19 months in bourbon barrels and conditioned on Ancho, Cascabel, Mulato, and Pasilla de Oaxaca Chiles, Cacao Nibs, Hickory Nuts, Cinnamon, and Vanilla Beans

Fobab 2025.

 

 

 

 

Picked up a bottle at the Appalachian Vintner in Asheville 12-7-22 for $17.99. Undated bottle consumed 10-5-23.

Beer poured jet black with an okay tan head.

Nose is mild roasted malts with cinnamon and bourbon standing out.

Taste is very well blended as the large malt base incorporates notes of vanilla and bourbon from the barrel. The adjuncts are well played as the cinnamon, cocoa, and chilis form a warming depth with the bourbon. Finishes with a light cinnamon and peppers forward theme with no trace of sweetness.

Mouthfeel is full bodied and very smooth which gives a feeling of satisfaction with each sip.

Overall a well executed beer, probably being the best example of this style of beer. Fair warning, this beer is not for everyone so if you are adverse to heat and spices stay away!

 

Poured at fridge temp. Pours motor oil black with very little head. The nose is chili pepper, cinnamon, vanilla, chocolate, and slight dark fruit.

The taste is fantastic. Big notes of vanilla, spice, chili, cinnamon, nutmeg, toffee, and chocolate. A really nice thick and creamy stout.

2023-04-16
375ml bottle served in a curvy Fremont glass. Don't see a date on the bottle. Got it from @blogjackets in my first trade.

Pours black with very little head -- what head there is rises slowly and forms a minuscule ring around the edge. Looks thick. Smell is primarily cinnamon, a little vanilla, some noticeable pepper. Slight doughiness, which is odd for me to detect in a stout. Some chocolate, too, but not so odd.

Taste is tons of cinnamon and sweetness, a little bit of pepper flavor with a little more pepper bite. Some cola flavor, some chocolate syrup. The cinnamon and sweetness reminds me of something...I think it's Red Hot candies. Vanilla and bourbon are there, but there's a lot of other stuff going on that makes them a bit less noticeable.

Mouthfeel is thick, chewy, a little on the syrupy side. Overall...cinnamon stout is definitely not my jam. This has enough other stuff going on that it's drinkable for me, but I would enjoy it quite a bit more if the cinnamon was waaaayyyy more subtle. On the other hand, if you're one of those people that really dig cinnamon in your beer, this is probably a good choice for you. Don't be turned off by the peppers, in my opinion, that's an appropriately balanced flavor in this beer.

Building no head to speak of, the syrupy yet fluid mahogany body contains dark red ribbons.

A dusty, earthy dried chile nose up front is instantly trounced by delectable chocolate ganache accented by a touch of capsaicin, very much like a Wicked Bar. A spike of heat hits right at the tail end, while cinnamon mildly accompanies.

 

Look - head basically went away without seeing it and no real rimming. Pretty stick though and it looks like black syrup.
Smell - chocolate cinnamon spice and barrel
Taste - About the same as the smell, pretty nice blend and not overpowering like some of these types of beers
Feel - Full body with a light carb
Overall - pretty nice

 

01/22/23 bottle @ home

12.7 ounce bottle, 2022 vintage. Served in a Jackie O's snifter, the beer pours dark brown/black with about an inch tan head that stuck around a little while. Small amount of lacing. Aroma is nice, the brew smells like cinnamon, roasted malt, chilies, nuts, vanilla, cacao nibs and bourbon. For the most part I think the taste is similar to the aroma, but there's also some burnt/charred malt, oak, and earthy flavors noticeable too. All the flavors mesh well, with no one flavor overpowering the others. Chile pepper heat is pretty mild, it's more of a vegetal pepper flavor to me. Mouthfeel/body is full, it's coating and a bit syrupy with a low amount of carbonation. I liked this brew, wouldn't mind getting another bottle of this one!