Doomsday Hound - Wooded Reserve
New Realm Brewing Company

Bottle:
The head built up fairly well, and while it didn't fizzle away quickly, it didn't last long, either. Nose is more interesting than the black body. First little whiff I get generic brownie notes. Then as I inhale a little deeper each smell, I get a plum and raisin note; then more brownie and some dark brown sugar or cola; then coconut, more of that plum/prune note, and a little whiskey barrel.

First sip is thin and not very carbonated. I am actually someone who doesn't mind a light stout, but the lack of carbonation helps give a watery impression. I don't think doing a double pour would be enough to flatten the beer this much. A second sip and I do get the carbonation I can see in a ring around the beer up front, but it dissipates quickly as the beer works towards my esophagus.

Weak coffee and cola, followed quickly by a hint of prune start the flavor profile for me. More cola and chocolate licorice (not black) form the middle taste with notes of a moderately priced whiskey soaked currant. The back I get a little of the chocolate brownie, which thankfully grows as it warms as the tang fade. The whiskey-soaked fruit note doesn't completely leave, but does give up some control after just past half a glass.

A bit disappointed in this bottle - mainly feel, though the tangy note was a little too influential in the taste, as well. My bottle may have been an anomaly given other reviews.

L: Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Had a deep dark brown /almost black color and a thick consistency. There was a quarter inch of foamy, tan-colored, somewhat long-lasting head. Not a whole lot of lacing.

S: A pretty good aroma of booze, chocolate, malt, vanilla, coffee, and coconut.

T: Tasted of fair amount of malt (present throughout, though subtle), some coffee notes (less than expected), a good shot a dark chocolate (not too much, though), a lot of bourbon (and its accompanying barrel), and a tinge of vanilla (just enough). This is a well-balanced, slightly aggressive flavor. Pretty tasty.

F: An average amount of carbonation with a smooth finish. Medium- to full-bodied.

O: An enjoyable and well made stout. Drinkable.

I had my daughter pick up two of New Realm's more expensive brews in crowlers at the Virginia Beach brewery for Father's Day. Doomsday Hound Wooded Reserve was one of them. I had enjoyed regular Doomsday Hound in a 16 oz four pack. This beer is stronger (10.1 abv vice 9.5 for the regular Doomsday). The Wooded Reserve is aged in oak bourbon barrels. Both the oak bitterness and the bourbon flavor are very prominent in this beer. Pours a dense brown color with no light getting through (like the regular Doomsday). There is no head or lacing on the Reserve although I saw a small white head on the portion of the crowler that I poured into a growler. Aroma is very prominent. Rich bready malt, oak bitterness with some chocolate flavoring. The taste is very rich and somewhat sweet and includes plenty of bourbon flavoring, with only the oak as a bittering presence. Mouthfeel is very rich, there is a slight alcohol "bite" that goes along with the warming aspect. The touch of oak is good to provide a little bitterness, This is kind of like Bourbon County Stout "Lite"!!!! I liked Doomsday Hound, but this beer is much better. A really big, flavorful beer that don't hit you over the head with alcohol. Outstanding!!!!