eXile X-1: Imperial Chocolate Rye Porter - Bourbon Barrel-Aged
DuClaw Brewing Co.

Had this on 2012-11-26 (from tasting notes in a notebook I just found!) in Columbia, PA from a 12oz bottle

 

 

 

Bottled 2012, tasted side-by-side with regular version, poured into teku

A- pours jet black with a small creamy dark tan head that retains long after the pour, leaving some nice lacing behind and a layer of cream skimming the top.

S- dark chocolaty malt with big oaky vanilla and barrel juice aroma, caramel malt, toffee

T- sweet chocolaty malt up front with some smoky campfire notes and flavors of fig & raisin. The bourbon notes have mellowed out after a couple of years but meshes greatly with the chocolate malt. The oaky vanilla has turned sweet and incredibly drinkable

M- medium body with low carbonation, slightly oxidized, leads to a slightly creamy mouthfeel and a smooth slightly warming finish, alcohol has mellowed out nicely

O- the bourbon notes have mellowed out creating a nice sipper. The regular version of this beer was noticeable more smoky

 

 

 

Bottle shared by Bruce, thanks for the opportunity!
Solid black color with a smallish tan head that slowly dissipates. Aromas of oaky wood, roasted coffee, milk chocolate and caramel. The flavor is a complex mix of caramel, chocolate, a bit of spice, vanilla, and wood tannins with a hint of earth. Medium to thick body with a moderate level of carbonation and a creamy silky mouthfeel. Nice imperial stout. The rye adds a hint of spice that compliments the creamy sweetness well.

 

 

 

And with my first introduction to DuClaw comes with this excessively bold Porter, brewed with rye and chocolate malt and then bourbon barrel aged. X-1 is one complex ride!

With a shade off of black, its matte appearance carries a medium cloudiness as garnet low lights penetrate its bark-brown body. A dainty coffee-like creme of foam emerges to cap the beer for a brief moment before its structure quickly succumbs to the barrel complexities within. With little lacing of which to speak, the beer looks still nearly half way though the snifter.

A depth of aromas circulate around the Porter style- heavy toast, chocolate, toffee and a sprinkle of brown sugar kick things off while the earthen char, partly (and presumably) from rye that gives a spicy whole-grain character to its scent. Woodish hops are somewhat British-like except with a hint of pine. But the subtleties of barrel are only known as the ale warms and its bourbon-sweetened notes come forth- caramel, vanilla and oak.

To taste, its the well-balanced flavors of malt that carry the beer. Toffee, toast, chocolate and that ever so spicy rye offer up the earthy sweetness that defines the beer's overall character. Even before the hoppy wood flavors set in, the huskiness of rye applies its sharpness to the early palate, just as the sweetness seeps in. Its toasty dry malt flavor tramps over the middle palate to arrive at a bourbon-soaked sweet booziness in the end. Its toasted base flavor links up perfectly with barrel char, and continues to balance with wood caramel, vanillans and spices.

Upon the strength of a mere 7+ percent, the beer seems lighter than is should. Its lush and velvety textures are creamy and smooth throughout- even as dry toast tries to apply its acrid astringency. But the ale wards those off easily as it ushers in a semi-dry finish with understated warmth and and extended bittersweet chocolatey lingering.

The beer's charm is in its impeccable balance and its humble complexities. Sure, I would prefer more influence from the barrel and a level of intensity that would accompany a 9% Porter, but to that reward I'm sure that their inherent detriments would rear their heads as well. I'm perfectly content with this hefty Porter with some nuances that are hard to place the finger upon- I just wish DuClaw wouldn't have clued us in on all their secrets before hand.