Retribution - Pumpkin
DuClaw Brewing Co.

 

 

 

 

 

**
10/23/2015
Aged 2 years. 2013 bottle. Very Smokey. Not sure the pumpkin helps this great beer, or maybe 2 years was too long to age. Still very nice. Lots of whiskey, spice, malt. After taste is dry and bitter. Hurt my throat, but that’s probably my cold.
**

Such a great mix of flavors

 

 

Pitch black and opaque with a 1.5 finger frothy beige head that very slowly settles into a thick, lasting ring. Very good retention with large streaks of soapy lacing left behind.

Very interesting aroma with a huge autumnal/pumpkin pie spice presence that's nicely integrated into the characteristics of a boozy bourbon barrel stout. Lots of cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and clove. Maybe some peppermint as well. This is countered by boozy bourbon barrel/charred oak that has subtle toasted coconut and vanilla bean. Silky and roasted malts underneath with hints of coffee bean, burnt toast, burnt sugar and bitter dark cocoa. The roast is countered by silky dessert-like sweetness with fudge, molasses and toffee.

Really well balanced and complex. Prominent spice character with heavy cinnamon, allspice and clove flavor along with some vanilla and nutmeg. The spiciness adds dryness that's complimented by charred oak and boozy bourbon. Underneath the barrel there's a nice balance of sweet and roasted dark malt notes. Chocolate, coffee bean, toast and bitter cacao. Kind of like a pumpkin pie puréed into a bourbon barrel stout. The sweet pumpkin and zesty atumanl spices add a extra layer of complexity that improves the base beer.

 

Bottle date is 2013. Pours opaque, black, with minimal head. Smell is bourbon. Taste is big bourbon, roasted malt, with oak, vanilla, and light pumpkin spice. Cinnamon and nutmeg linger at the end although the sugar and pumpkin spice surface more as the beer warms. Nice and thick bodied. Makes for an interesting take on an imperial stout. Not sure if I would get this again due to the price, but makes for a great beer. Certainly glad I tried this. This is at the top of the pumpkin stouts that I have had.

22oz bottle into snifter. Bottled 10/15/13. Thanks Josh!

A: Pours a thick very dark brown, near black, color with a finger of dense looking dark tan head that slowly faded into a wispy film and fuzzy collar. Spotty lace.
S: Vanilla, smashed pumpkin, rich chocolate, and a touch of barrel character. Good but not great.
T: Thick rich cocoa and chocolate hit first followed by mild pumpkin spice and a touch of black licorice. The finish has hints of toasted coconut, vanilla, and semisweet bourbon. There's a touch of caramel and mint in the aftertaste along with a lingering amount of peppery spice. Spicy and chocolatey overall, with a nice touch of bourbon and pumpkin.
M: Full body, slick yet chewy mouthfeel, softish carb, mild bitterness, solid spice.
O: Solid. A great base stout with a touch of pumpkin, but I think I like original better. Very smooth and delicious. Thanks again StormKing47.

 

Smooth, sweet bourbon,flavor of carmel
awesome beer

 

32 oz growler, poured into a goblet

Appearance: Pours a beautiful, pitch black color with thin wispy clouds of head that completely dissolved away to form a thin halo of foam that gripped the sides of the glass.

Aroma: Lots of roasted malt and whiskey, thanks to the aging in the bourbon barrels. Some notes of smoke, vanilla, caramel, but not much at all in the way of hops.

Taste: Boozy malt bomb up front, followed by some whiskey and then tons of caramel. Strong notes of roasted malt and a little smoke. Finally, there is no hops bitterness to speak of, which I overall prefer.

Mouthfeel: Very chewy, with no carbonation whatsoever, but that could be because it was poured out of a growler. With an ABV of 11.5%, there is a significant alcohol presence on the palate, a very pleasant warming.

Overall: Jesus, this is another awesome imperial stout! I love how much caramel there is in the flavor, and how nicely it’s balanced with the roasted, smoky malt. Delicious!

 

for a beer this big is drank quite nice and there was just enough pumpkin for me to know it was a pumpkin beer. wish there was a little more pumpkin, but hard to complain about a double digit beer that is this easy to drink.