Barley Johns The Dark Knight (Returns)

Brewed by Barley Johns Brew Pub
Style: Imperial/Strong Porter
New Brighton, Minnesota USA

both on tap at the brew pub. the dark knight: pitch black with a thick khaki head. strong chocolate syrup nose with a very evident bourbon scent. flavors are really aggressive with the oak vanilla and booze mixing with the molasses, brown sugar honey and cream all converging on me at once and making my eyes widen a bit. this is so hot, and in a good way. 8 5 8 5 17 4.3 returns: looks the same, aroma is a lot more vanilla and sweet cocoa. taste is milder, not a whole lot, but it is tamer. it does not greet me as aggressively. the chocolate and molasses really take to the forefront here with the bourbon taste as a background. not as dry as the orifginal. not nearly as hot. 7 5 7 5 16 4.0 i was urprised that i like the hotter more in front barrel taste of the dark knight over the return. i am usually leaning toward a more balalnced and more nuanced beer. and i usually hate the over the top barrel aged beers, but this is an exception. the straight out in your face slap and the way all of the aspects of this were aggessive worked for me in this.

On tap at the brewpub, August 2006.
Mostly opaque with a dense tan sawdust layer on top and a thick, dark, creamy tan wrung around the edges. Aroma is intriguing. Scotch whiskey gives out bourbon infused, caramel laden milk chocolate truffle characteristics. A touch of permanent Sharpie markers signal the alcohol strength while bittersweet chocolate lays the layers on chocolate complexity. Sweet port and dessert sherry flavor connotations accrue on center stage. Truffles marinate in a pool of port. Belgian chocolate is a backdoor bandit with coursing caramels amidst steeple chimneys. Fathomless complexity, taking bourbon barrel aging to not just a different level, but a completely different genre. Medium-to-fuller bodied with a sweetly joyous tract performing pirouettes on the palate. Cordials melt away, seeping down the tongue slowly when it touches the roof of the mouth. Artesian candies preoccupy the otherwise enthralled faculties residing above the shoulders, as we look to the next incantation.

The Dark Knights Returns.
Opaque and inky brown in color with livened translucent edges of mahogany at the brink. Bourbon pairs with black currant and plums sitting in port sauce to ring the aromatic dark fruit bell. That goddamn Sharpie element is still prevalent, but this time it systematically sings with sycamore that’s been singed twice over. Infused black tobacco with dashings of espresso dippings rounds it out. Authoritatively syrupy with a toasted hazelnut and French roast centricity. Warming chocolate senses steal glimpses of Grand Marnier fornicating with Godiva and Frangelico liquors. Dry, roasted barrel edge gives light to the blackened honey graham pursuit. Syrupy substance is entirely flavorful at all turns, posturing the stronger remnants of bourbon early-on in a format of fused truffles. A sipper, bright with promise, finishing with campfires and singed marshmallows to bout in the final salute, eventually dwindling into matchsticks, port and crisp cigar wrappers.

Bottle (hand bottled) from Santa. Pours black as ink with no head (the bottle had a fair amout of air in it, so the low carbonation may not be a feature when it comes out of the tap). My first impression of the aroma was that it took me back to my model-building days. It smelled almost exactly like the little bottles of paint I used to paint the models. While that might sound bad, it triggered some good nostalgia, and then other components of the aroma came through that were more appropriate: a hint of bourbon (not over the top like so many BA beers today) over roasty goodness. In the mouth it was very sweet (a little too much for me) with a touch of bourbon (again, in just the right amount), and hints of coffee, chocolate, vanilla, etc. It was pretty flat (again, probably not true if you get it direct from the tap). Overall, I was glad to be able to try it, and I would love to try it at the source. Thanks, Santa!

This was a bottle of the original--courtesy of footbalm, of course. The Dark Knight is a powerful entity that should not be taken lightly. The ominous black liquid oozes from the bottle stealthily as copious amounts of bourbon and brown sugar aromas float from the bottle. The flavor is full of sweet, dark sugars and hints of vanilla and chocolate. The moutfheel is full, thick and sticky. This is one impressively strong tasting beer, and it comes well prepared, of course.

Sample at Indy tasting Dick’s 96th - Aroma of oak, bourbon, vanilla, and chocolate. Pours black with a small ring and no lacing. Flavor matches aroma with some roasty coffee showing up in the finish. Palate was a bit flat due to the handbottle that detracted from the score a bit. Otherwise creamy and smooth for 13%. This is a fantastic brew and I can’t wait to try it fresh on tap.

Sampled July 16, 2006. Handbottle complete with charger shared by boboski, acquired through a generous network of ratebeerians originating with footbalm, I believe. Black with ruby edges topped by just a few tan bubbles. Roasty and bittersweet, subtle lactic notes, mocha, dark fruits, vanilla, vinous notes, and subtle oak. Full smooth palate. Top notch porter.

I heard about this small little brewpub on the north side of the cities, close to my old apartment I lived in 9-10 years ago. All of these local ratebeer guys were raving about this place that I didn’t even know existed. Actually, it didn’t exist when I lived there but was built after I moved to the southern suburbs. Then I was told, "You have to try this Dark Knight" if it is ever available. Well, I just found out it was. And I had an opportunity to visit as I was up around the area. Below is my review of this wonderful elixir. <P> The Dark Knight - I waited in anticipation as robertsreality poured my this dark black beauty. One whiff and immediately I was seduced. The perfumes were of dark chocolate, raisin, cherry, bourbon, with lacing all over the glass. Very sweet taste. I can see why some may be put off by the sweetness, but I found it very good as a dessert type beer. <P> Aroma 9 Appearance 5 Flavor 7 Palate 4 Overall 17 Total 4.2 <P> The Dark Knight Returns - Poured with very little head, which would distinguish this from the original Dark Knight. Similar in scent to the DK, but slightly mellower. I like this even more than the original, as the bourbon sweetness is more softened and mellowed out. Wow! Score/Rating above

Well folks, this is about as good as it gets. Hand bottled courtesy of footbalm. Coconut, vanilla, bourbon, chocolate, and caramel dominate this beer. This beer is hot w/ alcohol from start to finish. Flavors blend very well. One of the best beers I have had. Thanks Eric.