Black Oak Bourbon Barreled 2005 Nutcracker Porter

Formerly brewed at Black Oak Brewing
Style: Porter
Etobicoke, Canada

Cask. At Volo Casks Days ’07. Where’s the love? This was terrific stuff, I went back for more. It poured thick-looking black, small head. The aroma - and I had one of the first pours from the cask and a later one too - was not-too-sweet bourbon overlaid on sweet, overroat malt, no alcohol character - other than the ghost of bourbon - but a little candied fruit, raisin and dry, earthy hops. The taste was very smooth, restrained and balanced - bourbon vanilla, heavy roast malt, very earthy and dry - and light, too, this is not a "big" beer. Slick, light mouthfeel, dry, just a whiff of tannic acidity, and a relatively quick finish - my God, the first session barrel-aged beer I’ve had!

Cask at ’Volo Cask Days ’07’. Pours a very dark brown with a spare diminishing light-brown head. Aroma: Well it’s bourboney alright, too much so for my liking, along with vanilla and malt in the background. Flavour starts pretty watery followed by lightly roasted malt and bourbon. Alcohol’s fairly well hidden. Average bodied. Decent but I think this would fare better on draught, cask doesn’t really suit it. I’ll take the delicious regular Nutcracker over this any day!

Volo cask days. Black, no head. Aroma dominated by vanilla and bourbon. None of the nutcracker cinnamon or spiciness. Taste follows - my sample was really dominated by bourbon - too much so. Tasting this blind, I am very certain I would have had no idea that this was nutcracker. Much like the nut brown from a few years back, I would have liked this more with a bit of balance instead of dominating bourbon. The one off is appreciated though Ken!!

Cask at Volo cask days 2007, nnose was definate bourbon, really nice nose, flavor was interesting i picked up some coffee, and nice malty goodness, nice bitterness as well, got some of the bourbon but not huge amounts in the flavor. thanx for bringing this one out Ken

Cask @ Volo Cask Days 2007. Black body with a tiny khaki head. (3+) Strong aroma of vanilla and bourbon. Flavour is quite well rounded. Light bitterness up front, moderate roast throughout and a malty foundations. Light roasty bitterness lingers, bourbon is an accent flavour. (7) Second sample on Sunday: Bourbon dominates the flavour leaving only a whisper of the underlying beer apparent. (6) First sample was delicious, second sample merely good. Medium to full bodied palate, especially for a cask.

Clearly bourbon whiskey aroma wafts at you, along with dark colour and soapy head. Bitter with coffee grinds, very dry and bitter. end of the cask and I have had this younger and fresher and more spicey.