Iron Sharpens Iron
Jackie O's Taproom & Brewery
- From:
- Jackie O's Taproom & Brewery
- Ohio, United States
- Style:
- Altbier
Ranked #2 - ABV:
- 13.8%
- Score:
- 92
Ranked #5,234 - Avg:
- 4.31 | pDev: 4.87%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 8
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 14, 2026
- Added:
- May 31, 2023
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
SCORE
92
Outstanding
92
Outstanding
Bourbon barrel aged Doppelsticke Altbier style ale
Brewed with our dear friends of Good Word Brewing in Duluth, Georgia. Iron Sharpens Iron embodies the tradition of honing our skills through collaboration. Aged for 16 months in bourbon barrels, our riff on this obscure style presents with notes of rich oak, toffee, and vanilla.
Brewed with our dear friends of Good Word Brewing in Duluth, Georgia. Iron Sharpens Iron embodies the tradition of honing our skills through collaboration. Aged for 16 months in bourbon barrels, our riff on this obscure style presents with notes of rich oak, toffee, and vanilla.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by stortore from Illinois
4.46/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.46/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
375 ml bottle into a snifter. A 2023 release, had 5/21/25.
Pours a somewhat opaque dark amber color, with a half inch quickly dissipating head and sparse foamy lacing. Aromas of caramel, dark bread, oak, brown sugar as it warms, some bourbon and char, some vanilla and leather, a little fig. Similar flavors: bourbon, caramel, vanilla, oak, malt, brown sugar- again, as it warms, some dark bread, light raisin and leather. Smooth, a very good medium body, well carbonated.
Not sure I would identify this as an Altbier if the label and description didn’t say so, but it’s a really good beer. A good barrel presence, big caramel and oak notes. Really at its best fully warmed. Well worth the purchase.
Aug 29, 2025Pours a somewhat opaque dark amber color, with a half inch quickly dissipating head and sparse foamy lacing. Aromas of caramel, dark bread, oak, brown sugar as it warms, some bourbon and char, some vanilla and leather, a little fig. Similar flavors: bourbon, caramel, vanilla, oak, malt, brown sugar- again, as it warms, some dark bread, light raisin and leather. Smooth, a very good medium body, well carbonated.
Not sure I would identify this as an Altbier if the label and description didn’t say so, but it’s a really good beer. A good barrel presence, big caramel and oak notes. Really at its best fully warmed. Well worth the purchase.
Reviewed by Blogjackets from Ohio
4.3/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.3/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 12.7 ounce bottle, the body was s a dark brown with no head and a small tan bubble ring at the edges. No lacing.
Aroma is bourbon barrel with notes of vanilla, caramel and oak.
Taste follows nose but everything is amped up. A bit more oak expressed than perceived from the aroma. The barrel is assertive but no burn. The sweet bourbon is the main featured taste, but the other characteristics are not buried. The ABV is deftly masked
Mouthfeel is good despite low carbonation. A comforting slick barrel coating.
A fantastic altbier that admittedly is the only barrel aged alt I have ever tried. Tip of the cap to Jackie O's and Good Word Brewing for this great collaboration. Bought on a whim, but now to buy more!
#114
May 06, 2024Aroma is bourbon barrel with notes of vanilla, caramel and oak.
Taste follows nose but everything is amped up. A bit more oak expressed than perceived from the aroma. The barrel is assertive but no burn. The sweet bourbon is the main featured taste, but the other characteristics are not buried. The ABV is deftly masked
Mouthfeel is good despite low carbonation. A comforting slick barrel coating.
A fantastic altbier that admittedly is the only barrel aged alt I have ever tried. Tip of the cap to Jackie O's and Good Word Brewing for this great collaboration. Bought on a whim, but now to buy more!
#114
Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois
4.27/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.27/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Sludgey brown body with a beige ring. Toasted caramel, bourbon, and black strap molasses with touch of vanilla and cocoa. Taste has huge caramel with tootsie roll, bourbon, chocolate shavings, plum, and a touch of vanilla. Feel is malty and warm, super smooth, barrel character comes through nicely. This was a successful experiment of ba an altbier!
Feb 23, 2024
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
4.18/5 rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.18/5 rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Released March 2023; drank 11/21/23 @ the Yarchives.
Opaque brown appearance.
An even pour yielded minimal khaki head; minimal lacing remained.
Cream soda, caramel, oak & dill notes in the nose.
Thick, creamy mouthfeel.
Cream soda, mild leather & mild caramel flavors; wood & bourbon heat emerged as this warmed.
Interesting & tasty; I'd have another!
Nov 22, 2023Opaque brown appearance.
An even pour yielded minimal khaki head; minimal lacing remained.
Cream soda, caramel, oak & dill notes in the nose.
Thick, creamy mouthfeel.
Cream soda, mild leather & mild caramel flavors; wood & bourbon heat emerged as this warmed.
Interesting & tasty; I'd have another!
Reviewed by drdiesel9483 from Ohio
4.49/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.49/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Look - thick dark muddy water with fantastic white rimming and lacing
Smell and taste - woody oak, toffee, caramel, vanilla, dark bread
Feel - medium full body with a medium light slight fizz carb
Overall - outstanding and different
Sep 26, 2023Smell and taste - woody oak, toffee, caramel, vanilla, dark bread
Feel - medium full body with a medium light slight fizz carb
Overall - outstanding and different
Reviewed by DIM from Pennsylvania
4.34/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.34/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Big 'ol barrel aged altbiers, haven't come across many of those. Loving this one, rich toffee, lots of dried fruits that aren't overly sweet, light Moravian sugar cake, and lots 'n lots barrel. Rich booze, vanilla, and just a little oaky char. A really fun beer to try.
Aug 30, 2023
Reviewed by Bluerabbitbell from Pennsylvania
4.12/5 rDev -4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.12/5 rDev -4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
6/14/23, We made it to Jackie O's Public House! Anniversary trip, 2023
Leah wanted to try this one out of intrigue! It's a "double sticke"!!
It has a very distinct aroma, brown bread, maple sweet, slight nuttiness.
Very much had an alcohol burn. Sweet and malty, kind of like molasses brown bread soaked in bourbon, bourbon, bourbon!
Jun 15, 2023Leah wanted to try this one out of intrigue! It's a "double sticke"!!
It has a very distinct aroma, brown bread, maple sweet, slight nuttiness.
Very much had an alcohol burn. Sweet and malty, kind of like molasses brown bread soaked in bourbon, bourbon, bourbon!
Reviewed by CarolinaCardinals from North Carolina
4.4/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.4/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Picked up a bottle from the J.O. Taproom 5-24-23 for $11.99. Collaboration with Good Word brewing, bottled in 2023; reviewed 6-3-23.
Beer poured dark brown with an okay off-white head.
Nose is giving notes of dark fruit, a slight touch of vanilla, and bourbon.
Taste is a large malt base that is dominated by toffee and raisons. Barrel presence is lovely and imparts a touch of vanilla and bourbon. Finishes very balanced with a touch of fruity sweetness.
Mouthfeel is medium to large bodied and very smooth.
Overall a delicious brew, glad i decided to pick up a bottle!
Jun 03, 2023Beer poured dark brown with an okay off-white head.
Nose is giving notes of dark fruit, a slight touch of vanilla, and bourbon.
Taste is a large malt base that is dominated by toffee and raisons. Barrel presence is lovely and imparts a touch of vanilla and bourbon. Finishes very balanced with a touch of fruity sweetness.
Mouthfeel is medium to large bodied and very smooth.
Overall a delicious brew, glad i decided to pick up a bottle!
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!