Dominion Oak Barrel Stout - Old Dominion Brewing Company

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

4.13/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle into a Duvel tulip.

A: Pours a very dark brown color with good opacity. The head is quite nice - a two finger khaki color with a fantastic fluffy texture. It's also slow to recede, though I'm a bit let down at the lack of significant lacing.

S: There's quite a lot of dark chocolate and vanilla in the aroma. I can also pick up some roasted and smoked malts, a twinge of dark fruits, and mocha. Oaky notes don't really pop up. Still, a great example of a 'subtle' aroma.

T/M: The front end of flavors are very vanilla heavy, but the sweetness is nullified somewhat by the clean, bone dry finish. This closely resembles an Irish stout in terms of how it drinks. Most of the other flavors pop up as random subtleties - hints of roasted malt, hints of chocolate, hints of smoke - to help augment the primary note of vanilla. This beer generally finishes quick and roasty, with a surge of oak tannins to help give its finishing characteristics. Wow, I'm surprised how much I like it.

O: This is one of those hidden gems I regret not purchasing sooner. Hell, it's available in some GAS STATIONS in VA. A great session stout - think Guinness infused with vanilla, oak tannins, and steroids.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2012 22:31:46 | More by ThisWangsChung

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

letsdrink

Ohio

3.63/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Very excited to give this one a shot. In my eyes, pretty much any stout is worth a shot and this particular beer piqued my interest.

A - Pours a deep brown, almost black color with a decent head, slight lacing.

S - Oak aroma with a touch of sweetness.

T - Oak follows through initially with vanilla to follow, slightly sweet but certainly not overwhelming. Less bitterness than I had expected on the back end.

M - Here is where I believe things head south. For a stout, this beer is certainly on the lighter end. I was hoping for something a little bit bolder and heavier, but was somewhat disappointed. There is average carbonation, which doesn't help or hinder the overall experience in my opinion.

O - Overall I think this beer looks better than it tastes which not optimal in my opinion when being forced to choose one over the other. The aroma helps the overall experience but doesn't follow through to the mouth. I would say it's worth a shot, but I don't think I would go back for a second one with so many great options available.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 22:42:26 | More by letsdrink

koopa

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +1.3%

04-14-2013 00:52:30 | More by koopa