Olde Rabbit's Foot Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout (2009) - Olde Hickory Brewery

devilben02

North Carolina

4.15/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A soft knock. He opens the door and invites her in. As he takes her coat, he notices her long legs, her wavy chestnut-colored hair, and her almost unnaturally broad shoulders.

"Can I get you something to drink?" he offers as he leads her into his living room.

"How about a beer?" The soft, sultry tone of her voice makes him stop worrying about her mannish shoulders. Maybe she was a swimmer in college.

"What do you like? I have a pretty nice selection."

"I like my beer the same way I like my men: dark and strong." She glances around the room, stopping briefly to study his collection of Thundercats collectibles on the wall unit before finding a seat on his couch.

Being closer to the pale and thin sides of the spectrum himself, he hopes she is just teasing, but he is not afraid of a challenge. He returns from his beer cellar with a bottle of Olde Rabbit's Foot and a pair of snifter glasses. He has her attention as he deftly pours the black, resinous liquid, leaving matching khaki-colored caps of foam on top of each glass. He passes one snifter to his date, and they both take a deep smell of the luxurious dark chocolate and bourbon aromas hovering above the rims of their glasses.

"To world peace," he toasts as he prods her to take a sip. She lifts the glass to her lips and takes a slow, deep pull. Her eyes close as she tastes the rich combination of bittersweet chocolate, dark roasted malt, and sweet bourbon flavors. She senses that there are more flavors hidden within, but the bourbon flavor is dominant rather than a mere hint of vanilla or aroma of whiskey. She finds the potency of the bourbon flavor to be delightful, though, and she lets out a quiet hum of satisfaction as the surprisingly light-bodied, mildly-carbonated, and somewhat silky liquid warms the back of her throat with its sweet booziness.

She slowly reopens her eyes as she calmly lowers the glass from her lips and flashes a playful smile. "Nice choice. What else do you have in store for us tonight?"

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2010 19:59:06 | More by devilben02

MaseFace

Kentucky

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

04-26-2013 00:09:29 | More by MaseFace

Mantooth

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

04-25-2013 10:20:20 | More by Mantooth

trapper2408

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

01-25-2013 01:52:32 | More by trapper2408

spycow

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

01-12-2013 07:13:01 | More by spycow

westcoastbeerlvr

California

1.75/5  rDev -58.6%

01-10-2013 16:21:26 | More by westcoastbeerlvr

VaTechHopHead

California

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

01-09-2013 19:22:33 | More by VaTechHopHead

SummitVA

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

12-19-2012 15:58:53 | More by SummitVA

t0rin0

California

4/5  rDev -5.4%

12-04-2012 23:08:01 | More by t0rin0

SamuelJackson45

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +12.3%

11-28-2012 18:17:30 | More by SamuelJackson45

THECPJ

Delaware

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

11-28-2012 00:27:05 | More by THECPJ

stakem

Pennsylvania

4.55/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A 2009 bomber one of 694 total poured into a tulip. The brew appears black in color with nearly 2 fingers worth of dark tan head that slowly fades leaving strings and spots of lacing effect sticking to the glass. When held to the light, the brew shows the faintest amount of ruby and dark brown clarity around the edges. A light swirl revives a finger of dark tan head back to the surface.

The aroma is sweet and sticky with hints of honey and vanilla. Dark hints of fruity alcohol blend into whiskey with quite a prominent force of accenting character of caramel and toffee. Almost a fudge character comes out with chocolate and a hint of roast. As the brew warms up, the focus on bourbon barrel really becomes the star of the show. The smell of this brew is pretty damn fantastic, I hesitate to call it perfect but damn if I could give it a 4.75 I would.

The taste is still pretty darn brutal and I mean that in a good way. Big burnt to roasty bitter grain/coffee flavoring that is immediately accented by a big bourbon barrel impact. Spirit reinforced alcohol is out in the open with a hint of honey-like sweetness, caramel and vanilla. This is a rock star of a brew that blends well from one flavor into the next. It is a well married pairing of almost ashy thick imperial stout that is bold on it's own accord but with the big bourbon barrel character standing up against this, it just makes for an awesome experience.

This is a medium to fuller bodied brew with a modest amount of carbonation that is uplifting on the palate and just a touch maybe too much. This is a big bold brew with a beautiful balance of character. I remember having this beer when it was fresh and really enjoyed it which is what prompted me to trade for a bottle and it's follow-up release a year later. There was lots of talk about infection with this brew so I was hesitate about opening it and tainting my memory of just how awesome this beer was. Now I sit here feeling guilty that I opened this up, man is it awesome and without any indication of infection/off character. World class offering right here.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 03:24:42 | More by stakem

MasterSki

Illinois

4.4/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle from Photekut - thanks JR! Finally got around to reviewing this nearly 3 years after it was released - what a long strange trip it's been. Served in a Kuhnhenn tulip.

A - Finger of tan foam settles to a thick collar, wispy cap, and spotty lace work. Near-black body with brown highlights at the fringes of the glass.

S - Chocolate, dark fruits, earthy bourbon, loads of vanilla, light oak, and some mild honey as well. Quite sweet, with only mild roast qualities.

T - The flavor is a delightful blend of dark chocolate, oak, marshmallow, fudge, caramel, and light bourbon flavors. There are some light fruity flavors that may be indicative of age, or might have been there all along, but there isn't any obvious oxidation yet. Really mellow, with nary a trace of the 10.13%.

M - Medium-full body, with a smooth texture, dry and mildly tannic finish, and lingering residual stickiness that coats the palate. Perhaps a hint of alcohol warmth, but less than you'd expect from the listed ABV.

D - I thought I had this a few years ago, but I'm now wondering if that was the 2010 edition as this was significantly better than my previous experience. This was a big hit at our Canadian Thanksgiving dinner and met with universal praise from beer experts and novices alike - I had to fight off my guests to get a little bit more into my glass. If you're still holding on to this vintage, I'd recommend giving it a go as I can't imagine it getting better.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 02:26:52 | More by MasterSki

CheapBeerBuzz

California

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

08-20-2012 00:41:34 | More by CheapBeerBuzz

Mebuzzard

Colorado

4.75/5  rDev +12.3%

04-29-2012 04:27:58 | More by Mebuzzard

stouts4me

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: pours a smooth, dark brown with a thin mocha head, which leaves the surface quickly.

S: smells of heavy bourbon, as it warms the strength of the bourbon aroma will mellow a bit

T: a bit strong when it pours out chilled, warming improves the flavor; thinking this would be very good in a year and a half on a chilly , quiet, winter evening in front of an outside fire pit, with a very light , gentle snow falling.

M: very pleasing mouthfeel: just right.

O: I enjoyed this big, bourbony, full - smooth imperial stout, and would definitely pick another one up if not prohibitivly expensive( no more than $45), and then age it just as I said above, about a year and a half.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2012 00:57:08 | More by stouts4me

marvin213

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

03-25-2012 21:04:06 | More by marvin213

fehrminator

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

02-24-2012 18:12:16 | More by fehrminator

claspada

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle provided by cuzco at a recent tasting.

Pours a very dark, velvety brown color with a nice creamy textured inch of khaki head which leaves just a lacing as it recedes.

Aromas begin with mild boozy bourbon barrel and associated bourbon smells, vanilla and toffee predominantly. Also the traditional stout smells; roasty dark chocolate and light coffee presence as well. Notes of various dark fruits emerge as it warms.

The tastes follow the nose but in opposite fashion. The simple Imperial Stout flavors begin with roasted maltiness, dark bitter cocoa and light espresso. Then you get the nice kick from the Pappy barrels; vanilla and toffee once again. Dark caramelized sugars and raisin emerge as it warms, but not in any significant fashion.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium carbonated. Finish is a nice balance of roasty malts and sweet barrel. Not offensive or boozy at all; quite mellowed actually.

Overall this was a nice treat which I was happy to sample. A really well made barrel aged Imperial Stout which is drinking very nice at this point after 2+ years. Definitely not the most intense barrel aging, like any BCS variation but more so than a Weyerbacher Heresy or a KBS. Glad I was fortunate to sample it, but not a MUST have for me going forward.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2012 17:52:04 | More by claspada

THEOPTIMATOR88

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

02-19-2012 20:40:32 | More by THEOPTIMATOR88

Alpar

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

01-25-2012 22:36:19 | More by Alpar

ygtbsm94

Virginia

4/5  rDev -5.4%

01-16-2012 06:38:07 | More by ygtbsm94

kevgod

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +18.2%

01-07-2012 17:37:20 | More by kevgod

jcartamdg

Florida

3.93/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours dark black with no head. Aroma of bourbon, bourbon and more bourbon. Taste follows the nose, chocolate, bourbon and slight honey in the finish. This is a really nice beer, I love the bourbon in it. Smooth for what it is. I could drink this all day.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2012 00:56:27 | More by jcartamdg

texasclimber

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

12-18-2011 06:58:28 | More by texasclimber