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Barley Johns The Dark Knight (Returns)

Barley Johns The Dark Knight (Returns)

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 Percentile 
100
overall
An American Strong Ale brewed by
Barley Johns Brew Pub

New Brighton, Minnesota USA

bottled
available

on tap
common

Local Distribution
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 Ratings  Average  Score  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in  Advanced 
2524.17/5.04.16/5.013%99.3 Trappist glass P  Stats

Commercial Description:
The Dark Knight - For those not yet familiar, the Dark Knight (yes, it is a Batman reference) is our double fermented Old 8 porter, aged in a bourbon barrel for 6 months. Double fermented refers to a second "feeding" of various sugars to increase the alcohol content as well as bolster the flavor. Chocolate, coffee, charcoal and bourbon, familiar notes from the previous batch return in this years incarnation of the DK. Served in a 5 oz pour, the bourbon note from this tap is very prominent as it is a first time use of a Jim Beam barrel.

The Dark Knight Returns - The same profile as the Dark Knight, however, since this is a second time usage of the barrel, the bourbon note is less prominent and the beer as a result is more rounded and balanced.

Most RecentTop RatersHighest Ratings Who's Rated This?
 Papsoe (9980), Frederiksberg, Denmark
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/57/103/515/20

Sep 9, 2007  
(Growler 64 oz) Courtesy of yespr. Opaque black with a small, light brown head. Sweetish vanilla and bourbon notes. Medium-bodied, sweetish roasted malt, oak, vanilla and very distinct bourbon. Slightly medicinal perhaps. Ends sweet without much bitterness but VERY hot and alcoholic. 070907

tdaglow (7), USA
does not count click to see why this rating of Barley Johns The Dark Knight (Returns) does not count
5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
10/105/510/105/520/20
Aug 10, 2008  
This is a beer that I like more the more I have it. The deep black color almost makes one think twice about what they’re doing before driinking it and the strong bourbon, coffee and vanilla just gets smoother with every sip. I’d only be repeating what other have siad if I go on. My only question is what might a third go-round with the barrel.


 fiver29 (276), Strongsville, Ohio, USA
4.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/59/105/517/20
Jul 20, 2008  
Hand bottle from Santa. Thanks Santa! Pours pitch black with a slight chocolate brown head. Has a great aroma to it that has roasted malts, chocolate, vanilla, oak, and bourbon notes. Heavy mouthfeel reveals a warm alcohol upfront, smooth chocolate and a creamy sensation leads to the vanilla, oak, and bourbon flavors. It finishes with alcohol and a coffee aftertaste. Overall this is a wonderful brew that I am grateful to have had the chance to try. It comes together nicely at the end and leaves me wanting more!! Wow this is a nice beer.


 pepsican (667), the beer wastelands of, Iowa, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/58/104/516/20
Jul 5, 2008  
Completely black pour with a small tan head. Aroma is heavy bourbon, vanilla, and chocolate. Flavor is even more bourbon, vanilla, wood, oak, toast, brown sugar, and maybe a bit of coconut. Finishes with a good burn, very thick and creamy. This was very nice!


 nimbleprop (570), Washington, Washington DC, USA
4.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/59/105/519/20
Jul 3, 2008  
Never thought I’d have a chance to try this beer, then hellomynameis hooked me up with a 12oz hand bottle via trade. Thanks a million Zac! Pours a flat, oily black with a thin tan head that left only a faint ring around the edge of a glass. Looks more like flat cola or a black malbec than a pint of ale. Aroma is a little boozy at first, but once is breaths there’s vanilla, oak, toasted wood, toasted bread, chocolate, coffee, Kahlua, bourbon, soy sauce, liquid smoke, dark cane sugar and a little bit of rum. Flavor is again, very boozy at first, but then it becomes very very chocolaty, with rum, whiskey, brown sugar, molasses, some soy, vanilla, and coffee with cream. The finish and the mouth feel make this beer. Flat and oily in the mouth with plenty of heat from the alcohol, but the crazy thing is, after the shock of the booze wears off you wind up with a creamy, sweet, delicious after taste in your mouth. What starts a very good beer melds into a great beer by the end. A total shock and far far better than I imagined it would be. Definitely not for the faint at heart but clearly a beer brewed with much care and consideration.


 pnista (884), Bloomington, Indiana, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/517/20
Jun 29, 2008  
On tap at the brewpub, 2006 batch. Pours a dark dark brown to black with a ring of tan for a head. Big sweet vanilla bourbon. A bit of booze, though soft. Maybe some slight coconut. Light and ethereal, lower carbonation. Alcohol thinness. Big alcohol over light sweetness. Big bourbony vanilla, some coconut and oak. Lingering sweetness dried out by oaky tannins and alcohol. A real gem!




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