Big Black Jack (Imperial Chocolate Pumpkin Porter) - Oakshire Brewing

jbakajust1

Oregon

3.58/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured @ Bier Stein into 8oz snifter

A - Pours a deep opaque black w/ faint brown highlights, 1 finger tan head that fades to nothing and leaves a little lacing

S - Smells of pumpkin pie spices and ginger, chocolate, pumpkin flesh, graham crackers, and alcohol

T - Tastes of bitter chocolate, cocoa powder, spicy cinnamon and ginger, pumpkin pie, alcohol bite, and burned Starbucks coffee. Graham crackers and alcohol. Ginger lingers after every sip.

M - Very bitter and slightly astringent. Med/Full body w/ dry roasted finish.

O - Not bad, but way too much roast, too bitter and astringent. Pumpkin and spices were spot on. If it weren't for the burned coffee, bitterness and astringency this would be an easy A.

Serving type: on-tap

11-02-2011 21:54:58 | More by jbakajust1

BESTIALEX

Oregon

4.25/5  rDev +11.8%

04-04-2013 02:46:17 | More by BESTIALEX

Smurf2055

Washington

4.06/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 4

At Uber in Seattle

Pours dark with about a finger of off white head. Black. Some larger bubbles remain for the course of the beer. Nice lacing.

Smells strongly of pumpkin and spices. Not much from the porter comes out.

Taste was no surprise; rich and creamy pumpkin with a hint of smokiness and and chocolate. A bit of a bitter finish.

Palate was a reasonably carbonated, creamy, but a bit watery.

Overall, this is right up there with Dark’O’the’Moon, but not as full bodied. Very good take on it though, a great blend.

Serving type: on-tap

04-01-2013 23:18:37 | More by Smurf2055

bradleyp

Illinois

4/5  rDev +5.3%

03-26-2013 15:27:09 | More by bradleyp

chugamugofsud

Oregon

4.5/5  rDev +18.4%

02-21-2013 21:28:04 | More by chugamugofsud

Dunkelhund

Oregon

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

02-03-2013 02:33:19 | More by Dunkelhund

N3rdM3t4l

Oregon

3.33/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Chilled bomber into standard pint.

A: light what light nothing gets through this beer. An inch or so of light brown head fell to a pretty solid cap but this foam refuses to stick to the glass.

S: rich chocolate aroma dominates, some roasty notes, and a hint of alcohol actually. A little bit of sweet spice but not much pumpkin actually.

T: imperial porter for sure. Bit of roasted flavor and the chocolate shines. Not much pumpkin in the flavor but the associated spices are present on the finish. The hops are there for balance only. Finishes a little sweet actually.

M: expected mouthfeel. A chewy medium. Feels like one would expect a pumpkin porter would. A little carbonation lightens it up some. Smooth drinking.

O: was hoping for more pumpkin but got the spice and the imperial porter. So I am happy. Good beer if you like porters and stouts. If you are after a pumpkin beer you need to go elsewhere.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 04:14:44 | More by N3rdM3t4l

iKrystin

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

01-13-2013 21:02:32 | More by iKrystin

Vancoubeer

Washington

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

11-29-2012 03:37:33 | More by Vancoubeer

AxesandAnchors

Oregon

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%

11-22-2012 20:27:15 | More by AxesandAnchors

strongaf

Washington

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

11-16-2012 07:28:04 | More by strongaf

msubulldog25

Oregon

4/5  rDev +5.3%

10-27-2012 14:19:48 | More by msubulldog25

BobDole007

Oregon

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

10-21-2012 09:44:31 | More by BobDole007

hannaho

Washington

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%

10-21-2012 03:47:14 | More by hannaho

Beertopia

Oregon

4/5  rDev +5.3%

10-20-2012 19:27:36 | More by Beertopia

harrymel

Washington

2.75/5  rDev -27.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Supposedly this is a one time thing (or at least that's how the label makes me feel)

Pours black with just a rim and scattered few tan bubbles. Smells richly of chocolate, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice and ginger. I like the nose - it seems inviting and warm. The flavor is vastly deviated from the nose. Dry and bitter, with flavors of seeds, coffee (burnt), char, soil and ash. The flavor is a far cry from the nose - that is such a let down. Body is full with soft carb and an overall nice feel. Overall this beer had so much going for it, but fails to bring it together and drastically fails in the flavor department.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 05:48:13 | More by harrymel

writerLJBerg

Oregon

3.78/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle from Belmont Station.

A: Thick, oily black with a creme head. Slides off the glass.

N: Pumpkin, nutmeg, chocolate, coffee, graham cracker, and cinnamon. The base porter shows through pretty well. Really like this one.

T: Pumpkin and chocolate on the front stage. Nutmeg and allspice. This has a sting of bitterness which doesn’t mesh well. Mint. Needs more pumpkin, less hop.

M: Medium mouthfeel. Very porter-like.

O: Wish this was more like the nose. Would be a surefire winner if that was the case. For now, just a recommend for fans of the style.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 19:29:15 | More by writerLJBerg

Docer

Washington

3.73/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: (3.5)

- Pours a nice dark coffee color with a light thin layer of khaki foam and a small ring around the glass. Barely see through the edges of the beer in the light though looks rather filtered.

Smell: (3.5)

- The brew has a light sweet cocoa aroma behind a stronger aroma of pumpkin spice. Bit of clove, cinnamon and perhaps nutmeg in the mix. That's about it really.

Taste: (4.0)

- Nice balance in flavor. A solid basic robust porter with some sweet chocolate character is lightly dosed with some nice caramelized pumpkin and spice. It's balanced, and even has a bit of a grassy and earthy hop presence to handle the sweetness. Higher marks for flavor.

Mouth Feel: (3.5)

- This is a rather medium bodied brew, and isn't the slightest bit syrupy. It's a touch drying in the finish, and is well carbonated. Not very thick and foamy though at all, more like a house pale yeast kind of feel. Little cloying.

Overall: (3.5)

- This one sits slightly above many of the other pumpkin beers out there competing with the squash ingredient. I like that it isn't just another simple amber ale. It's not astounding by any means, but is certainly a nice drinker, and I would grab a pint on tap if it were available. Will I buy any more bottles? Probably not.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2012 05:45:41 | More by Docer

johnnyboy76

Oregon

4.5/5  rDev +18.4%

10-07-2012 04:48:29 | More by johnnyboy76

Bfarr

Washington

3.93/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Black with thin tan frothy head with good retention; with an aggressive pour a nicer head appears. Pumpkin and chocolate with light roasted aroma. Pumpkin starts and ends it but in the middle is a nice all around roasty porter with motes of chocolate. Robust sharp feel to the beer with a light linger.

This is a nice and balanced pumpkin beer with a good clean flavor. Alcohol is subdued and blended well into the light sweetness. The pumpkin is not overpowering and gives it enough flavor to make it a little more interesting than your average imperial porter. A nice dark addition for a Halloween or any other fall evening.

Serving type: growler

09-14-2012 22:45:17 | More by Bfarr

Kopfschuss

Oregon

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

08-06-2012 08:08:36 | More by Kopfschuss

lukester

Washington

3.6/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Had 12 oz of this at Uber Tavern last night. I was in search of something hoppier that night but alas Uber was pouring mostly big sweet beers. I don't recall much in the way of chocolate or pumpkin but then my taste buds are not that keen anymore.. Hop death?

Appearance: Deep and dark almost stout like with decent head

smell: Very much a porter with distinctive yeasty porter smell.

taste: Nice dark to roasted malt flavor.. could be some chocolate in there. No pumpkin that I could taste.

mouth feel: Good

overall: Good porter and certainly one you won't find just anywhere.

Serving type: on-tap

11-28-2011 04:53:40 | More by lukester

jdense

Oregon

3.88/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured at Oakshire beer dinner at Wildwood, 10.21.11, paired with pumpkin tart, yummy, thanks Paul and Matt. Part of Oakshire Single Batch Series.

Dark brown almost black opaque body, thin ring of brown head around edge of glass, minimal lacing. Chocolate prevalent in the nose, re nibs, some pumpkin pie like spices, not a lot, nutmeg and cinnamon, which Paul made work by cutting back on the spices in the pumpkin tart, hard to pick out hops in the nose due to big chocolate presence. Taste is chocolate up front, some caramel which paired nicely with the sauce, a bit of dark brown sugar re molasses, once again hard to pick out the hops, pretty floral. Mouthfeel well on the full side of medium, decent effervescence, a bit sticky. A sipper to be sure, a really good dessert beer, contemplative, I need a cigar.

Serving type: on-tap

10-29-2011 17:31:17 | More by jdense