Framinghammer Baltic Porter - Bourbon Barrel Aged - Jack's Abby Brewing

Damian

Massachusetts

2.88/5  rDev -35.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

Drank from a 1 pint .9 fl. oz./.5 liters bottle
Served in a snifter
Thanks to my friend wdarcy77 for this bottle.

Inky jet black appearance. Slightly thin for the style. The liquid was capped by a tight, creamy, one-finger tall crop of caramel colored foam. The head quickly fell to a film of bubbles. Patchy streaks of lacing cascaded down the glass.

The nose was quite subtle. Roasted malts were most noticeable. Hints of vanilla. Touch of brown sugar sweetness. Crisp and smooth lager yeast notes. Not bad overall, but rather unremarkable. A bit of booziness came forth as the beer warmed. Distinct bourbon notes become noticeably stronger with time. The nose also turned a bit smoother and sweeter.

The flavor profile was rather astringent. Charred malts dominated. Notes of espresso. Slight malt and brown sugar-like sweetness. Touch of vanilla. Lots of harsh, generic booziness. Quite roasty, hoppy and bitter on the back end and the finish. Acrid, ashy notes and oily hop resins lingered on my palate long after each sip. Like the nose, the flavor profile smoothed out a bit as the beer warmed.

The mouthfeel was thinner bodied for the style with a moderate, larger bubbled carbonation. Disappointing for a beer of this magnitude.

I am usually impressed by Jack's Abby's beers, but this one was a big disappointment. The beer was thin in both flavor and texture and seemed quite rough around the edges. Perhaps some age would help round this out.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 02:31:27 | More by Damian

wisrarebeer

Wisconsin

3.85/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

$6.79 for a 16 oz bottle from Blanchard's in Boston. Thanks Maddog for the purchase!!

A: opaque, black, great dense creamy head that dissipated
S: rich, cocoa, chocolate, vanilla, bourbon, wet leather, medium nose
T: very rich and full, deep roasted malt, great bourbon balance, only criticism was that it was way too hot
M: good malt and bourbon up front, very hot finish

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 03:26:20 | More by wisrarebeer

ryan1788a5

Massachusetts

3.89/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75

500ml bottle poured into a snifter.

A: Inky black pour. Tan head moves from one finger to nothing in a short time, but that's to be expected in a bigger barrel aged beer like this. Lacing is sparse and spotty.

S: Brown sugar, brown molasses, caramel, chocolate chews, cocoa powder, bakers chocolate. Dried fig and dried apple. Slight prick of alcohol. Undercurrent of wood speaks up more as the beer warms. A bit nutty. Subtle bourbon.

T: Dried fig and apple. A touch leathery. Fudge, black cocoa powder, chocolate truffles. Brown sugar and molasses. Spike of alcohol and peppery bourbon flexes just enough muscle. Charred wood. Drying finish really pulls back and leaves a heated bourbon impression lingering on the palate.

M: Heftier medium body. Rich, silky, a bit slick. Very creamy. Very little carbonation. warming. A luxurious mouthfeel.

O: This is a bourbon drinker's beer through and through. It may come off a bit strongly to those who don't normally partake. Not the most complex beer of its kind, but there's a lot to like about it.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 04:46:51 | More by ryan1788a5

brydeen

Minnesota

3.89/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Bottle poured into a snifter

A: Pours a very dark, creamy looking brown. Almost black, with a 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch mocha colored head, that dissipates quickly, aside from a thin frothy layer, reminiscent of hot cocoa.

S: Deep roasty aroma. Dark chocolate, coffee, toffee, caramel, with the very slightest hint of bourbon. This aroma is incredibly inviting.

T: Bourbon flavor right off the bat. Alcohol taste is surprisingly strong. The sweetness of the bourbon diminishes the roasty quality in the nose. A little hop bitterness in the background too.

M: Velvety smooth texture. Extremely rich and creamy, with very little carbonation detectable. Full-bodied and boozier than I expected.

O: This beer is half way to an amazing brew. It drinks almost like a BA stout, but the booze taste is just a little too dominant. The aroma is intoxicating, but it comes up short in the flavor as its so bourbon forward. Good, but just not great.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 01:03:25 | More by brydeen

inlimbo77

Delaware

3.99/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

16oz, March 2013
Kate the Great snifter

A: Pours a deep dark brown black color. Full finger of tight bubbled tan head. Lingers on top for a while. Nicely carbonated.

S: I don't see it in others reviews, but I am getting what might be the opening stages of infection here unless I'm crazy. Definitely smelled of slight butterscotch. Diacdyl maybe? It doesn't ruin the beer though, as it seems like it's coming on now. Still get nice Chocolate. Roasted malts. Slight coffee. Vanilla from the oak.

T: Bitterness on tip of the tongue. The butterscotch seems to take hold for just a bit. Then I do get nice dark chocolate and roasted malt character. Wish it was vanilla and bourbon and not the slight welcoming of infection. Really solid beer other than that and I marked it up for that.

M: Full bodied. Creamy. Nice mouthfeel here.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 15:33:49 | More by inlimbo77

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pour is oily black with a dark tan head. The nose is big and rich with a roasty with light charred wood, rich dark chocolate and cake batter. Taste is strong caramel, rich chocolate cake and light charred barrel. Dry finish, creamy body and soft palate.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 13:07:11 | More by cpetrone84

Chico1985

Massachusetts

4.14/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Bought this ...maybe a month ago? at Julio's. Got another agin' as well. March 2013 bottling. Some good hype for this beer, can Jack's Abby pull off bourbon barrel porters as well as they do hoppy lagers???

Poured this sucka into an imperial pint glass. Pretty much black with the slightest of highlights at the bottom.A big beige head puffs up and comes down to a nice swirly cap
with some lace left.

Smell brings some heavy cocoa and roast notes, with bourbon and oak being somewhat laid back but definitely noticeable, comes off a little boozy.

Taste is well-rounded, nothing really coming off too strong here. Dark chocolate, roast, caramel and vanilla stick out with a good amount of bourbon, oak, and hoppy barrel spice. Just a little dark fruit. Definitely improves upon the scent, more going on and less booze.

Mouthfeel is smooth with low carbonation, not very hefty; but this is still a porter after all so it works. Some heat but this is pretty easy drinking for 10%.

Overall this is quite good, especially for the price, and if you like a good balance between porter/stout flavors and bourbon barrels you are sure to enjoy this. It is a little on the simple side, I think I was expecting a bit more, but not too much to complain about.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 00:55:41 | More by Chico1985

BigCheese

Massachusetts

4.16/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked up a bottle from the brewery, about 3 weeks past bottling date.

A: Dark Coca cola color, looks filtered though, dark mohogany sudsy head about 3 fingers thick, head reduced quickly.

S: Deep roasted malts. Coffee and Coco. Black Strap Rum. Some Rasins and Dark Fruit. Pungent.

T: Real Dark Malts, vanilla, molasses, rum, bourbon, oak, and espresso. Some floral/herbal hops help balance out the huge malt character and high FG. A subtle smoke/peat flavor too. Also some fig/rasin/dark fruit flavors.

M: Low Carbonation, more syrupy than creamy. Very thick and viscous, though soft on the palate. ABV Character is definitely present as this is 10% and quite fresh.

O: Great Cold weather brew, very strong dark flavors and would pair excellent post meal or with dessert. A bit overwhelming in flavor so I'd suggest sharing. Can be sipped like a whiskey or congnac. Drinks like an RIS but a bit cleaner due to lager yeast. Wasn't quite as mind blowing as I had hoped, but far from disappointing. Given price I would opt for the non barrel aged version.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 13:04:35 | More by BigCheese

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.16/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured out as a nice black color with a thin light brown head on top. The retention is thin, there is also a bit of scattered lacing. The smell of the beer gives off a good amount of barrel aged aromas. There is a subtle wooden vanilla aroma along with some roasted malt and chocolate on the nose. The taste is slightly spicy, it's males sense knowing they used Jim Beam barrels. The vanilla notes and roasted malts wok well together. The mouthfeel is smooth, good carbonation and very drinkable for 10%. Overall it's a great brew, really worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 00:29:56 | More by Knapp85

womencantsail

California

4.2/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The pour is black in color with minimal head formation. Starts off with some bourbon notes (wood, vanilla, etc.), followed by lots of roasted malt and dark chocolate. A light fruitiness in the background. The palate also features the bourbon nicely along with some notes of coffee, chocolate, and roasted malt. Fairly simple and straight forward, but really nice.

Serving type: growler

07-26-2012 16:53:12 | More by womencantsail

n2185

North Carolina

4.2/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A: Pours black with barely any light tan head that fades into a thin ring with no lacing.

S: Roasted malts with semi-sweet chocolate and creamy coffee followed by vanilla, oak, and a little bourbon. Sweet smelling, overall.

T: Roasted malts here as well with cocoa, bitter chocolate, robust coffee, and a little char. The bourbon is present with a light booziness and a decent amount of oak. There are some more subtle notes of vanilla before a finish with a light alcohol burn.

M: Thick body with carbonation on the lower side of moderate, this beer is a bit more carbonated than many barrel aged stouts/porters, giving it a more robust body rather than creamy.

O: A good beer overall. The nose doesn't have quite the depth that the flavor has, but it's still very enjoyable with a nice mixture of barrel and Baltic porter characteristics.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 03:30:46 | More by n2185

BobZ

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

16.9 oz Bottle poured into a pint glass.

Appearance: Rich, dark, brown with a frothy tan head that actually hangs around for a bit (nice surprise for a BA porter).

Smell: Pleasant oaky bourbon over some chocolate with hints of vanilla.

Taste: A nice roasted malt chocolaty base with the barrel coming forward. The warmth of the bourbon is up front. Again the oaky vanilla is there, a large amount of complexity with this beer. As it warms the chocolate intensifies. Delicious beer.

Mouthfeel: Very good body, smooth, with a good bit of warmth for the bourbon.

Overall: Excellent offering from Jack's Abby, delicious for all the reasons mentioned above. One of the best porters I've ever tasted.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 00:57:59 | More by BobZ

rlee1390

Indiana

4.21/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Received as an extra in a trade, big thanks.

A-Black one finger tan/beige head.

S-Bourbon, vanilla, chocolate, roasted malt and candied sugar.

T-Great balance, bourbon, oak, chocolate, vanilla and candied sugar.

M-Medium bodied, could use some more carbonation though.

O-Had a tad too much candied sugar as the beer warmed, which threw off the balance. Still a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 21:37:46 | More by rlee1390

Scotchboy

Idaho

4.25/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Awesome, awesome bottle sent by dope, split into Deschutes tulips with my brothers.

A: Nearly opaque black with caramel-colored highlights...a good amount of tan head caps the beer and leaves behind some lace...little bit of alcohol legs as well.

S: Subtle smoke and brown sugar, molasses, hints of oaky vanilla and bourbon and deep dark caramel...hints of leafy hop and dark fruitiness as well...

T: More cocoa and chocolate emerge on the palate to complement the aromas...bourbon and vanilla and oak...brown sugar, molasses, even some licorice...light hoppiness is apparent and the sweetness isn't overwhelming...more Baltic notes of smoke and malt, and the bourbon is moderate. Pretty balanced for a BA beer, with a coffee-like dry finish.

MF: Not quite full bodied or viscous, a solid medium body with a creamy mouthfeel that hides the 10% very well.

O: Its a good, good Baltic, one of my favorites. No reason not to try this if you can get it.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 14:59:00 | More by Scotchboy

Maxwell

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25

The beer pours an inky black with a nice had of medium sized, khaki bubbles that settle down at about a half a finger’s width, which is surprising given the beer’s 10% ABV and the fact that it was barrel aged. In body, this beer is impenetrable to the eye, and the beer’s head leaves a curtain of lacing full of slippery, small bubbles on the sides of the glass. On the nose, the beer smells of roasted black coffee and big boozy malt with touches of vanilla bourbon and slight hint of bitter hops and oak. The bourbon isn’t huge in the nose, but it is nice and blends well with the malt of the beer. On the tongue, the beer tastes boozy-bourbon sweet with just a touch of bitter roast and some slight acidic bites. In flavor, this beer speaks of booze, bourbon, and roasted malts. The flavor begins as sweet roasted malt with a touch of chocolate and honey, but this builds into practically cloying boozy bourbon with hints of vanilla and coconut, and a very strong touch of alcohol. The finish is bourbon sweet and full of boozy heat as it runs down the throat, and the aftertaste is slightly sticky sweet with lingering bourbon, coffee and chocolate, but also with alcohol hot in the deep back of the throat. In the mouth, the beer feels smooth and velvety with just a faint bite from the carbonation. It is on the light side of heavy in body and definitely carries a clean lager feel in the mouth. Where a stout of this size would have considerable grip and a chewiness, this beer is silky smooth, almost like a fine hot chocolate in feel. The mouth is, however, left sticky and wet with a lingering heat burn from the alcohol. This beer is most certainly a sipper, in case anyone was overlooking its 10% ABV. Overall, this is a good beer. It’s really a nice sipper, and is probably prime to drink in the early winter when you are looking for a bit of a warmth from your drink. Having just had 2012’s BCBS the other day, I can actually say that there is a similarity between the two, though not definitive. Framinghammer is definitely of lager stock with a beautiful and smooth mouthfeel that helps the drinkability of this beer, and it is also about 5% less in alcohol than BCBS, but it carries a nice bourbon heat and some nice bourbon flavors mixed in with thick malty flavors similar to BCBS. Personally, I would advise sitting on a bottle of this a little bit to let the booze settle down and so that it is winter, but that would probably kill some of the bourbon flavors. Right now I’m not craving the boozy beers, but I would certainly revisit this beer come late fall/early winter and I would certainly sip it in front of a fire. It is a good beer, and fantastically cheap for a bourbon barrel-aged beer. Jack’s Abby has got another great thing here, and I can’t wait to try the coffee version of this beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 20:40:40 | More by Maxwell

WanderingFool

Massachusetts

4.29/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Bourbon Barrel Aged Framinghammer pours black into the glass with a moderate, creamy tan head on top. The foam dissolves slowly leaving a coating of lace on the glass.

The rich aroma has notes of oak, vanilla and chocolate. Some ripe fruit and medicinal alcohol is also present.

Each sip of this medium to full bodied beer is smooth and creamy. Feels velvety on the palate. The flavor has a beautiful blend of oak, vanilla, chocolate, ripe fruit (cherry or strawberry?), nuts and toffee. It finishes with alcohol and a little burn. The oak dominates the flavor, but as the beer warms the other taste come through.

This is a very tasty beer with a great mouth feel. The oak and bourbon dominate, but they mellow out with each sip.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 00:39:27 | More by WanderingFool

tigg924

Massachusetts

4.34/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

Appearance: dark brown in color, 1/4 inch head, high carbonation, clear

Smell: cocoa, vanilla, and light oak

Taste: cocoa, vanilla, caramel, and light oak

Mouthfeel: high carbonation, medium-heavy body, sweet with oakiness

Overall: Jack's Abbey makes some of the best beer coming out of Massachusetts and this is right up there with the best that they brew. Very complex, oaky, and chocolaty, without ever being too overpowering in any area. I would certainly get this one again.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 14:10:07 | More by tigg924

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

4.39/5  rDev -2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours deep brown with a head, that upon a vigorous pour, builds and billows. Nice tan thick foam appearance that dissipates to nothing.

Nice nose of dark roasted malt, some booze, some fruit, and cherry/bourbon note. Vanilla, some wood round this out.

Charred malt flavor, with dark roast coffee, some woody vanilla, bitter chocolate, alcohol, and mild cherry in the background. Bitterness rises but is wonderfully balanced within the malt. A hint of booze that lets you know this brew is no joke. Finishes with malt and coffee and alcohol.

Fuller bodied, slight alcohol burn.

Very good beer. Complex, drinkable (for 10%), and well balanced, a very good effort by this brewer.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 22:11:57 | More by OtherShoe2

cfrances33

Illinois

4.39/5  rDev -2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle poured into a Hill Farmstead taster. Thanks BobZ.

Pour: Nearly pitch black, with a touch of deep brown mixed in. Nice finger os khaki, foamy head. Head recedes to a rim and leaves a little bit of lacing.

Smell: Big roasted malts, bourbon, and toasted oak up front. Almost a spicy coffee aspect. Lots of chocolate, toffee, dark fruits, and coffee throughout the nose.

Taste: Follows the nose with roasted coffee, bourbon, milk chocolate, and dark raisins. Sticky, but not overly sweet. The bourbon character provides a nice heat, but is very integrated into the chocolate, vanilla, and dark fruit flavors of the base beer. Finishes sticky with toffee, chocolate, and bourbon.

Mouthfeel: Lightly spicy, which is interesting and lends a level of complexity. Quite sticky, but as previously stated, never too sweet. Nice bourbon heat throughout.

Overall: This beer was even more impressive than the ABCS had before it. Delicious.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 19:23:05 | More by cfrances33

HuskyinPDX

Washington

4.41/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Bottle opened on 4.29.13

A - Pours a dark brown-black with a one and a half inch light brown foamy-bubbly head, fades slowly.

S - Strong coffee, chocolate, roasted malt and pleasant vanilla.

T - Vanilla, then coffee, chocolate. Finishes with a roasted malts and a touch of bourbon.

D - Good carbonation and a medium to light body.

O - Vanilla, chocolate and coffee with some roasted malt-perfection! This may be the best Lager I have ever had. Now if I can only get ahold of the Vanilla and Coffee versions.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 04:17:43 | More by HuskyinPDX

EgadBananas

Louisiana

4.43/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

HUGE thanks to JM03 for hooking this up!

Pours black as night. Some carbonation was lost in transit it appears as it poured with a minimal dark tan head.

Aroma was a wonderful pleasant bourbon, oak and vanilla, with a little fruitiness, chocolate and roast.

On the taste you are hit with a big chocolate sweetness. A slight bit of dark fruits, and a complimentary bourbon and oak. Finishes with a vanilla sweetness. Nothings overwhelming and all balances out wonderfully.

Body was full to the max. Carb was little to none, but the silky body was fine without it.

This is a beautiful beer and I'm honored to have had the chance to try it!

Serving type: growler

04-16-2012 02:23:38 | More by EgadBananas

jaasen64

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Reviewed from notes taken last night at Jack's Abby's One year anniversary.

Framinghammer Porter aged 6-weeks in Jim Beam Bourbon Barrels. Supposedly brewed in December and kegged about 3-4 months ago holding on to it for their 1-year anniversary.

Served in a Jack's Abby snifter.

A- Dark black with a slight translucent purplish hue around the edges, a little bit oily, pretty much no head when served, not too much in terms of lacing.

S- Dark fruits- grapes, plums, etc. balanced with dark chocolate, roasted malts, and some bourbon + oak in the background. Definitely more dark fruit then I was expecting.

T- Dark chocolate, roasted malts, dark fruits- grapes, plums, a tiny bit of cherries (again definitely more then I was expecting- not a bad thing though), some light bourbon + oak. Complex yet everything was very well balanced.

M- Very smooth, a little bit of heat but not bad at all for 10% abv, goes down easily, not much carbonation, well-balanced.

O- This was a very good BA porter, however I'm not sure if it exactly lives up the hype it has been receiving. It was definitely very flavorful, complex, smooth, and well balanced. It definitely can stand up to other top-notch BA porters and is surprisingly good for a brewery that just celebrated their 1-year anniversary. I would definitely like to revisit this beer in December when they start bottling it. The beer definitely showed some nice well-balanced bourbon characteristics however it might have lost some of it's presence sitting in a keg for a few months, I'd be interested to try it fresh.

Serving type: on-tap

07-23-2012 13:58:27 | More by jaasen64

kangarooAdam59

Connecticut

4.43/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanx Dools9 (hope everything's ok in the Boston area tonight for ya, thinkin' about ya):

Bottled March 2013:

Into a pint glass:

A; dark brown/black colored body with a finger's worth of head that quickly dies and leaves a film of lacing sticking to the glass

S: chocolate malts, light coffee, dark fruits (plum, raisins and figs - more or less...??)

T: sweet and bitter at different times through the previously mentioned flavors with added vanilla and bourbon, dry sweet aftertaste and finish

M: medium and smooth, wow, how smooth, probably one of the smoothest Baltic Porters I've ever had, alcohol is hidden well, carbonation is right on the mark

O: wow, well balanced Baltic Porter that impressed me with some nice complexities that make it superior of its style (now that Old No. 19 is retired b/c the brewery no longer exists, this would be my go-to Baltic Porter if I stayed on the East Coast)

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 00:03:03 | More by kangarooAdam59

Pahn

New York

4.43/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

500ml bottle into a red wine glass.

Appearance: Free pour yields a 1.5 inch tan head that sticks around. Decent strings of tan lacing for such a high ABV beer. Pours solid black.

Smell: Nutty roasted malt. Underwhelming, promising little at first. Some cola-like effervescence and character.

No booziness and almost no barrel. With time some fruit and vanilla come out, with some Twix / coffee liqueur to it. Nice, but still a bit weak.

Taste: From the first sip it's apparent that this beer is the real deal, overdelivering in flavor despite underpromising in aroma. The rounded, creamy body asserts itself right away, delivering espresso and husky roasted malt compressed into an oaky, caramely package. Tastes like a beer that was in oak barrels just long enough.

Further in the flavor revs up with a decent complexity without the base beer being overwhelmed by oak or bourbon. There's some great (oak) vanilla tinged cocoa and just a bit of subtle dark fruit (I'm being purposefully general, as it's just a vague highlight). Powerfully high IBU cuts the sweet flavors, keeping the overall experience far from dessert (noticeable alcohol heat does this too).

The base beer shines through as a recognizably high end porter (not as good as Everett, probably not quite as good as Founder's, better than Anchor and other greats). The barrel aging mostly elevates the mouthfeel (substantially) and adds vanilla and caramel highlights along with smoothing out the base flavors.

Mouthfeel: Full bodied, somewhat silky and somewhat slick. High side of moderate carbonation. Great dry finish, augmented by the high IBUs.

Overall: This beer is a fantastic mix of rough and delicate; smooth desserty flavors along with hearty roasted malt, abrasive (but enjoyable) bitterness, etc. Not the deepest BA beer in the world, but really well balanced and enjoyable. Plus, I remain a sucker for any beer with a world class mouthfeel.

A great beer, just under world class overall I'd say. Not the best thing I've had from Jack's Abby, but something I would happily drink again.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 03:47:01 | More by Pahn

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.44/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a few of these at Julio's. The bottles of this beer were actually aged in High West barrels.

A - Poured into my Duvel tulip a deep, dark brown nearly black hue with a nice one finger dark mocha head that fades to leave a thin, thin blanket and light lacing.. Good puffy halo too.

S - Guess on tap it translates more "oomph" but yeah. So there is nice chocolate notes along with solid Jim Beam notes. Some coffee in the background along with faint hints of vanilla. As it warms from the cellar the aromas pop more. Initial reaction though is its not earth shattering like some others have made it out to be.

T - MMmmmm...that's more like it. Dark chocolate erupts on the pallet with nice roasted malts. There is a spattering of dark fruits tucked away under the initial chocolate....not quite cherry or plum, just generic dark fruit flavour. That is smashed down even more by the bourbon that while not overpowering definitely makes its presence known. That bourbon lends the nice coconut notes that come from bourbon barrel aging. Some light vanilla too towards the end. The finish starts off chocolatey but ends with well, a mouthful of good, rich High West bourbon.

M - Mouthfeel is quite nice for the style. I'd like a hair thicker/chewier, however, considering this is a lager..uhhhh yeah. So its relatively silky smooth with a small prickly of carbonation. Initially one thinks this is slammable. Nope. That bourbon and 10% hits one like a 2x4 if its drank too fast. Yeah, goes down crazy easy.

O - Overall, this is a damn good bourbon aged porter. Glad I have a few more as this is crazy drinkable. Yeah, need to buy more.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 23:57:54 | More by rudzud