Nutcracker Porter - Bourbon Barrel Aged
Black Oak Brewing Co.

Enjoyed at Volo as part of the nutcracker suite tasting (regular, cask, extra cinnamon and bourbon barrel).

Same appearance as the regular nutcracker, but with less of a head. Yep...that's definitely jim beam in the aroma - very different from the candy cane smell of the regular. In fact, the aroma is predominantly bourbon, and its tough to identify the base beer underneath. The bourbon is well integrated into the flavour, and although it does not dominate it is always there. Other notes include chocolate and raisins. A bit thin on the palate, but it seems to match this beer well.

Overall, I would not get a whole pint of this, but would be happy to sip away on a glass.

sampled at volo as part of cask days 2007. i actually had 3 or 4 samples of this one over the course of the weekend.

pours deep brown, not quite black or opaque. a small white head forms, then disappears quickly with no lace.

aroma is great. lots of bourbon and vanilla. hints of raw oak. anise. dark chocolate. big roast. toasted bread and biscuits. alcohol. by my third sample i started to notice a bit of cinnamon, but i didn't really pick up any of the usual nutcracker spice in the previous ones.

taste is good. bourbon and vanilla. alcohol. light roast. dark chocolate. the roast is more subtle, and the usual porter characteristics more subdued behind the bourbon and oak. i think my first two samples were colder and worked better, but near room temperature on the second day this one wasn't as nice.

mouthfeel is good. silky smooth. low carbonation level. medium-big body.

drinkability is great. mostly balanced with a good level of bourbon. it dominates over the base beer a little, but not quite to the level that it becomes more about bourbon than porter. for my taste i'd dial it back just a little, but i'm certainly enjoying it as-is.

Volo Cask Days 07, Sunday session, thanks to proprietor Ralph for hosting a unique and fun event. With this selection, I got pretty close to the end of the cask, it was opaque black with bubbles but lacked a head. The nose was very corn mash bourbon with hints of roast coffee, malt, a bit of toffee but nothing in particular was very pronounced. The taste was very much bourbon with a hot whiskey mouthfeel that predominated; a thin body with texture of a liqueur, light and smooth. While the alcohol was apparent, I felt that the full effect was muted given a bitter dark chocolate aftertaste. I couldn't help but feel this was getting a bit over the hill but I'm glad that I got to try it while it still available.

Clearly bourbon whiskey aroma wafts at you, along with dark colour and soapy head. Bitter with coffee grinds, very dry and bitter. end of the cask and I have had this younger and fresher and more spicey. Worth experimenting with but ratings will be all over the place.

Volo Cask Days 07.

A: Black with a bubbly tan head.

S: Bourbon, toffee, candy, nut, chocolate, brown sugar.

T: Bittersweet chocolate, bourbon, nut, hint of licorous, brown sugar, slight grainy astringency.

M: Light to moderate body is extremely smooth. Lightly carbonated.

D: Very tasty & drinkable.