Dominion Oak Barrel Stout - Old Dominion Brewing Company

Mattyb79

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -5.1%

01-31-2013 19:53:45 | More by Mattyb79

kojevergas

California

3.6/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Picked this up earlier tonight at illicit retail in Los Angeles. 6% ABV according to my bottle's label. I dig the simple yet classy label art. "Oak aged stout fermented with vanilla beans." Just what I'm in the mood for. Per the description, they used oak chips - not an oak barrel. Bottled 01/03/13. 355 ml brown glass bottle with branded standard silver pressure cap served into a Mitchells of Lancaster flared stem-tulip in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are high; it sounds very tasty and the ratings are sky-high currently. I also feel like it's been around long enough that it's hype resistant. I'd never heard of the brewery until I saw this bottle today.

Served chilled, and allowed to warm over the course of consumption. Side-poured initially with standard vigor, but as I poured it became evident no head was pouring so I increased vigor substantially.

A: Pours a half finger khaki colour head. Slight cream. Decent thickness. Okay (~1-2 minute) retention. Body colour is a solid black; not a dark or a jet black. Opaque (both nontransparent and nontranslucent). No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Not an impressive appearance for the style, but par for the course.

Sm: Lovely oak - with evocative toasted character. Good vanilla character too - from the vanilla beans not the oak. Dark malt. Maybe some chocolate malt. I'd like more of the oak and less of the vanilla. There's not a lot of subtlety to the aroma, but it comes off balanced even if it is simple. Mild in strength and quite appealing for what it is - an oak/vanilla stout with no bells and whistles.

T/Mf: Nice toasty oak character greets you right on the climax and stays throughout. Too sticky and sugary. It's got a nice rounded vanilla character, but like many vanilla stouts it does border on overly sweet. I'm glad the bottle size is only 12 fl oz; I hate downing a bomber of a vanilla stout - the sweetness is always too much. Simple for an oak barrel stout. Dark malts and chocolate malts comprise the foundation. I don't get much caramel. No yeast character or alcohol comes through. Well balanced. I quite fancy it. Not the most subtle, and far from the most complex, but it's nice to have an approachable no-frills oaky stout from time to time. Smooth and wet. Pretty good carbonation. Good thickness. Good body. Nice presence on the palate.

Dr: Very drinkable; it's a lovely little oaky stout. I'd definitely get this again; do they sell it by the sixer in Delware? I'd buy one regularly. A lovely beer for the style and one nobody seems to be talking about. I'd recommend it to friends. I could probably happily down four of these in the same night; it's quite good.

B

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 01:16:45 | More by kojevergas

rangerred

Tennessee

3.45/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

12oz bottle into a pint glass.

Pours pitch black with a thick billowy two finger tan head. Outstanding head retention and lacing.

Aroma of vanilla and dark roasted malt. Some hints of cocoa and just a very, very faint touch of peat. I don't get any oak at all. A little bit underwhelming.

This same disappointment carries over into the taste. Vanilla and a touch of coffee up front along with a little caramel and peat. No real oak at all in the taste either which is disappointing considering the name of the beer. Very full mouthfeel and a sticky finish.

Overall, I was expecting quite a bit more out of this. It taste very much like a run of the mill American stout. Really no oak or smoke whatsoever.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 01:47:13 | More by rangerred

touchmeimsac

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +13.9%

05-20-2013 17:45:15 | More by touchmeimsac

SpAiReArGsEonNE

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +13.9%

05-20-2013 02:25:02 | More by SpAiReArGsEonNE

KSfrost

Maryland

4/5  rDev +1.3%

05-19-2013 21:47:35 | More by KSfrost

jakeox

Illinois

4/5  rDev +1.3%

05-18-2013 23:42:13 | More by jakeox

fearfactory

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -5.1%

05-18-2013 22:40:55 | More by fearfactory

mattsucks

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +7.6%

05-18-2013 14:22:44 | More by mattsucks

twenty5

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -5.1%

05-15-2013 16:52:23 | More by twenty5

The_Revisionist

District of Columbia

4.5/5  rDev +13.9%

05-13-2013 09:49:55 | More by The_Revisionist

atone315

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev -5.1%

05-12-2013 00:10:45 | More by atone315

mportnoy

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -5.1%

05-11-2013 20:29:18 | More by mportnoy

pandow

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -5.1%

05-11-2013 02:32:23 | More by pandow

Bill235

Ohio

4/5  rDev +1.3%

05-09-2013 19:43:05 | More by Bill235

AnotherImperial

Arizona

4/5  rDev +1.3%

05-08-2013 22:03:03 | More by AnotherImperial

mick303

Ontario (Canada)

3.79/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a tulip glass, colour is a rich dark brown/black. Initially a nice frothy tan head, recedes leaving some minor whispy lacing. 3.5

S- lots of sweet smoky vanilla notes. Roasty caramel maltiness, floral vanilla notes, milk chocolate with sweet caramel undertones. Some oaky smokiness in the back. No detectable bitterness, very sweet and vanilla forward. 4.24

T- very sweet, chocolate, dry silky vanilla pod, dry maltiness. Some zesty citrus, with cherry and lemon, lots of vanilla and some chocolate. Decent complexity and full flavour with some interesting background flavours. Finishes dry and full, chocolate malt and dry oak. 3.75

M- slight carbonation, rather light, with a malty profile. More of a session stout. Some slight bitterness on the tongue and finish, overly vanilla feel. 3.75.

So my take on this is that the vanilla and sweetness has somewhat run away with the show. It is a pretty tasty vanilla stout, but that seems to dominate and obscure further complexity. Some interesting stuff going on behind that, but I feel the potential is left somewhat unfulfilled, an interesting experience nonetheless. 3.5

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 20:08:01 | More by mick303

alex_hart

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +1.3%

05-05-2013 05:40:12 | More by alex_hart

MLKincer

Ohio

3.25/5  rDev -17.7%

05-05-2013 01:57:46 | More by MLKincer

csurowiec

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +7.6%

04-29-2013 20:13:48 | More by csurowiec

TonyTalon

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev -5.1%

04-29-2013 03:53:23 | More by TonyTalon

rmorris17

4.5/5  rDev +13.9%

04-25-2013 00:23:53 | More by rmorris17

amstokesdb9

Virginia

4/5  rDev +1.3%

04-22-2013 03:22:33 | More by amstokesdb9

Lukass

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +7.6%

04-22-2013 02:27:24 | More by Lukass

Keyportnick

Wisconsin

3.24/5  rDev -18%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Got this as an eztra

12oz bottle poured into a firestone walker teku glass.

A- pours a tobacco brown and rests a rich black. Pours with a frothy just off white head that sticks around and fades into some lively lacing.

S-Nothing much going on with the nose. A faint touch of vanilla bean and a hair of cold coffee. Like I said pretty dull. Nothing jumps out at you

T- light roasted chocolate malts, rich vanilla.

M- light body, strong carbonation, light finish

O- Decent beer. I felt like it was missing a lot. It claims to be oak barrel aged and then they say they use oak chips. I couldn't find either of those in this beer. The vanilla stands out nicely though. Crisp clean lighter styled stout.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 03:53:47 | More by Keyportnick