Barley Johns The Dark Knight (Returns)

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

(12OZ HANDBOTTLED SAMPLE FROM FOOTBALM,THANKS ERIC!)so i a dumped bit into my snifter glass and i can totally see why its called "the dark knight"black as black can be with no hightlights what so ever.a small brown head did try to form,but it faded fast and left a few bubbles swimming to the sides of the glass.i tipped the snifter to my nose and took a nice big whiff.i was smacked in the face by an aroma full of chocolate,bourbon type alcohol,figs,sticky liquorice,coffee,brown sugar,and caramel malts.man talk about an aroma!so now for the first sip.it hits my lips and sends my tounge into a tailspin!first is the chocolate and bourbon,followed by some grahm cracker,coffee,sweet malts,damn.....its really hard to keep up with all the mixing flavors at the moment.all i can say is this is the biggest,richest porter i have had so far.as i drink more i pick up notes of cherries,and even something that resembles flavors you would find in a red wine.i also cant believe how full and rich the mouthfeel is.is this really a porter????this has simply blown me away,at the moment i cant think of anything else to say except.....PROPS TO FOOTBALM!!!!(RE-RATE:I BELIEVE THIS IS ANOTHER BATCH?)not as impressed with this batch as i was the other.mouthfeel was lighter and the bourbon didnt shine as much in this one.still really nice though.

Specail huge thanks to Goldtwins for this one. Wow, what a beer. Darkest dark brown pour with a ring for head. Aromas were very sweet chocolate, dark cherry, hints of liquor and anise. More dark dried fruit. Flavors were very similar, Dark fruit, chocolate, sweet cream. The sweetness takes hold at first with the liquorish bourbon coming in for a finish holding hands with the warming alcohol. So sweet. This is pretty darn good. Thanks a bunch Larry I am very happy to have gotten to sample this brew.

#1500: Thanks to footbalm! Pour is dark brownish black with a thin dense lasting tan head...smell is roasty, chocolate, vanilla, oak, smoke, peanut butter, fantastic...no specific bourbon...taste is sweet...chocolate, alcohol...I feel a little astounded as to how unbalanced it seems...after further inspection, it seems as though it is not as unbalanced...perhaps it is my tongue losing touch with its sense of taste...definately turns nicely palatable, but the alcohol is still incredibly present...delicious...thanks again Eric!!!!

On tap at the brewpub. Hmm.. why are these classified as the same beer? They are quite different in many aspects, other than the similar malt profile. Its obvious from tasting them side by side that they have been created using the same base brew, but the barrel characteristics completely alter the perception of each, making them rather unique from each other. Anyway, I will list my observations below and try to come up with an average rating for the purpose of this entry.

The Dark Knight Returns
Tasted first. Pours the dark black color of night with a thin, bubbly, sea foamy layer of wispy, toasted marshmellow head. Mellowed out aroma of bourbon and toasted malt, accompanied by a mild vanilla sweetness. Some gentle dark chocolate and lightly roasted coffee create a pleasant backdrop to the smooth noes of oak and smoke that curl to my nostrils from the bourbon highlights. Medium bodied mouthfeel that brings a complicated array of flavors to the palate. The first wave of flavor is quite sweet and reminds me of chocolate liquore sweetened with caramelized raw sugar. The bourbon notes are quite a bit sweeter than I initially expected, but are pleasant nonetheless. This being the first bourbon barrel aged porter I have tasted, I’m pleasantly surprised by the effect its had on the beer. The porter’s malt character is deliciously balanced, but takes a back seat to the dominating bourbon characters. The alcohol notes are well restrained however, bringing the focal point to the flavor profile of the barrel. Sweet and slightly syrupy with a final smack of raisin nut bread.

The Dark Knight
Tasted second. Dark chocolate colored pour with a tall, creamy layer of roasted brown head. Much thicker and silkier appearance than the DKR with a richer helping of frothy chocolate whipping cream head. The bourbon notes seem to be a bit more subdued in the aroma, as the milky chocolate characters of the porter caress my nostrils with a velvety softness, accompanied by some sweet notes of honey and toasted oats. The coffee and chocolate notes seem to smell much milkier than in the DKR, and this is also echoed in the beer’s appearance. The mouthfeel of this brew is better than the first, as the palate is much more full and creamy, creating a delicious froth coating on my tongue. Some sweet, fruitier notes of black cherries, raisins, and ripened plums also reveal themselves boldly from behind the bourbony sweet malty background they remained hidden behind in the first tasting. The bourbon character is much stronger in the first half of the finish, where the alcohol comes through a bit strong. This gives way to a slightly spicy finish of black pepper and nutmeg. Quite delicious overall, and brings a nicer mouthfeel and flavor profile to the palate relative to the DNK, although the alcohol is a bit hot.

Absolutely delicious overall as a pair, and quite fun to have the privilege to taste side-by-side.

pours a black with a small tan head intense aroma of vanilla, whiskey, alcohol and malt. taste is much of the same with a pleasant in your face boldness that i truly love. upon first sip i loved this beer.

12 oz handbottle, via footbalm. Very dark brown pour, almost black, with a small dark brown film of head that ran to the edges to form a thin ring. Aroma is fruity with lots of bananas leading off, then a nice blend of chocolate fudge, light bourbon, and oak tannins. As it warmed the bourbon came out a little more, but still well reigned in, along with some alcohol fumes when you inhale very deeply. Flavor is really quite different from most bourbon beers because of it being a Porter. The usual heavily roasted Imperial Stout flavor I’ve come to expect just wasn’t there. Just lots of chocolate and fruitiness under the bourbon. The actual bourbon flavor certainly plays a prominant role, but didn’t really dominate until almost at room temperature. The finish has some roast, with a noticable amount of warming alcohol. Mouthfeel is very full bodied and oily in texture with a nice soft fine carbonation. Finish is quite sticky and cloying. Overall, this started out great but by the end of the glass it neared room temperature and the bourbon really took over. A quick pop back in the fridge for 10 minutes brought that in check though.

Thanks to footbalm for this one. Poured a very dark brown almost black with brown oily looking legs. Nice creamy aroma. Big chocolate aroma with vanilla and bourbon. Light alcohol notes. Large chocolate flavor. Tastes like chocolate milk. Vanilla notes. Very sweet. Creamy mouthfeel and very warming with a full body.

Just have to say WOW to start! Had it on tap at the pub in a small snifter. Poured almost jet black with a small dark tan head. Aroma is wonderful: bourbon, chocolate, coffee, vanilla. Taste was basically the same wonferul flavors as the aroma. I just loved the balance of all of it. The bourbon wanted to become to much at times but contained itself. Re-Rate: Time to give it that 5.0 that it deserves and I was too much of a wuss to give it the first time for fear of what I know not. It was even better the second time around. YES!!!!!!!!