Black Jack Stout - Oak-Aged
DuClaw Brewing Co.

 

 

 

Poured from bottle into a snifter

Appearance – The beer pours a deep brown, nearly black color with a small fizzy brown head. The head fades very fast, leaving a decent level of foamy lace on the sides of the glass.

Smell – The aroma is big of roasted malt and chocolate as well as some aromas of a sweet caramel and toffee. Other aromas of a cappuccino smell are there as well with lots of coffee, vanilla, and cream. A slightly oaky and bourbon smell are mixed with the rest to create a very robust and sweet dark smell overall.

Taste – The taste begins with quite sweet cocoa and roasted malt flavor mixed with flavors of caramel and vanilla. The sweet and robust flavors are later joined by some coffee and cream tastes which bring just a hint of bitterness, but also enhance the roasted and dark flavors of the brew overall, making for a nice robust dark but creamy taste to be sensed. Some lighter notes of dark fruits of raisin and fig develop more toward the end of the taste along with a rather strong oaky and boozy rum like flavor. These flavors, along with a light flavor of some smoke, end up creating a sweeter, dark, and boozy warming feel to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer is on the thicker and creamier side with a carbonation level that is very low. The feel is great for the brew as it accentuates a creamy and thick feel which is nice for all the sweet, dark, and boozy taste of the beer, allowing all the rich flavors to coat the tongue.

Overall – A raosty and sweet, boozy brew. This is a nice slow sipper with tons of robust dark flavors. While not a traditional go too in light of its almost cloying sweetness, it is a great dessert brew when in the mood for such a style.

 

 

 

 

Half finger head but it didn't last long on a jet black body with nice lacing. Aroma is mostly bourbon but it isn't overpowering with notes of chocolate and vanilla. Flavor follows with a nicely balanced stout with sweetness, bourbon and roast intertwined well. Sweetness from vanilla and a little from chocolate. The roast is the least represented but still there. Full, thick body and moderate carbonation. Oak is well represented late in the finish. An excellent beer. I sat on this one for a year and it was worn the wait.