Style: Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout

ABV: 11.5

99/100

Aroma:	12
Appearance:	3
Flavor:	20
Mouthfeel:	5

Jackie O’s Pub & Brewery Bourbon Dark Apparition

What the brewers say

“Russian imperial stout brewed with brown sugar and aged in bourbon barrels for 8–12 months.”

What our panel thought

Aroma: “A beautiful blend of vanilla and roasted coconut with great chocolate, roasty undercurrent. Some sweet alcohol notes are pleasant, but foreboding. The roast sits behind the prominent barrel character with some chocolate and cherry notes.”

Flavor: “Rich, juicy, and chewy throughout with a strong umami profile indicative of being nicely aged. Complex blend of perceived earthy, salty, soy-sauce, vanilla, and coconut components. Some low level esters reside underneath, but are well blended. Finishes relatively dry with some contribution from the tannins likely. Some chocolate, slight coffee, and dark fruits are present.”

Overall: “This beer requires one’s place of ultimate comfort to sip on a quiet evening. It’s contemplative and enveloping, and wonderfully features smooth chocolate, vanilla, and roasted coconut with an almost salty richness. Well crafted and well presented.”

What our editors thought

Review printed in: A Light in the Dark (April-May 2016) (View All Issues)

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How We Review

REVIEWS FOR YOU >

Jackie O's Brewery Cellar Cuvee 1

“Deep, rich aroma. Strong coffee and sweet dark chocolate. Light raisin, fig, black currant, and prune esters. Low buttery vanilla oak. Rich, but subtle and well-developed, malt flavors. Umami element just on the edges adds complexity. Barrel is restrained with light vanilla and silky mouthfeel. Balance is malt forward. Clean. Finish is sweet, only a touch cloying. Long rich malt flavor lingers a while. Excellent. Very rich and lovely. Elegant and powerful at the same time.”

Jackie O's Brewery Cellar Cuvee 11

“Sweet burnt caramel and toffee aroma. Rich malt intermingles with leather and cigar tobacco. Very slight bitterness helps to temper the sweetness. Akin to a dunkel, with a healthy dose of honey and caramel added. Very sweet, but enough depth to keep your attention.”

Jackie O’s Pub & Brewery Bourbon Barrel Oil of Aphrodite

**Aroma:** “Chocolate, umami, light fenugreek and maple syrup. Moderate alcohol up front with slight fruity plum note reminiscent of Belgium esters. Roast malt, caramel, and vanilla. Some alcohol. Almost like vanilla coke with a light shot of Kahlua.” **Flavor:** “Coffee roast character is soft and sweet and buoyed by a fair amount of caramel and chocolate and some nice nutty elements. Moderate vanilla and light leather. Coffee with a touch of rum and a shot of vanilla cream soda.” **Overall:** “Big chocolate/mocha stout with bourbon. Touches of coffee and dark chocolate, but mostly sweet chocolate and bourbon. Fair bit of pleasant ethanol warming throughout. A good, enjoyable, easy-drinking stout.”

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