Dominion Oak Barrel Stout

Brewed by Coastal Brewing Company
Style: Stout
Annapolis, Maryland USA

Bottle poured a translucent brownish black with a minimal brown head. Aromas of coffee, oak, whiskey, dark chocolate, light vanilla and a hint of licorice. Palate was light bodied and crisp. Flavors of roasted malt, oak, bitter chocolate, a hint of vanilla and a light hint of whiskey with a crisp sharp finish. Smells much better than it tastes.

Bottle. Pours black with thin brown head. Aroma was a big turn off for me.... Synthetic oak(wtf?), burnt coffee and BBQ(wtf?). Body was thin with decent hop balance. Some smoked malt flavors and wood with slight vanilla aftertaste. Something was just not right about this beer to me, won’t seek this one out again.

I’ve always wanted to like this beer more but I just can’t shake the impression that it’s above average but no more than that. I’m sure the brewpub version is much more rocking, but the flavors here don’t measure up to true oak barrel aging (that vanilla gets a bit cloyin too), and the mouthfeel is overly thin. Still quite solid, but that’s about it.

Had on draft at local bar here in central ohio...Dark brown with nice creamy head...Smelled of sweet vanilla and coffee...Taste was sweet vanilla, coffee, and just a tad oaky...This was VERY VERY good, and not your typical home town bar brew. Very drinkable dark beer...Would be an excellent "Starter" beer for someone! YUM!

coffee flavor is very dominant. oak flavor very present. somewhat reminiscent of an american bourbon.

Charred milk and toast nose, light chocolate and coffee. Texture is a little coarse, a little dry, otherwise it’s moderately thick and feels fine. Tastes lightly of cold coffee, light wood and more of dry milk chocolate, quite dusty as well. An ok beer, and I really didn’t see much difference between this and the brewpub version, but it’s been a long time between having the two.

12 oz bottle. Very interesting and flavorful version of stout, inspired by the draught only, brewpub only version of Oak Barrel Stout. To reach a lager audience, this beer is not aged in oak, rather a mesh bag containing vanilla beans, and toaste oak chips are steeped in the stout as it conditions. This simulates the oak aged flavor, and makes for a very enjoyable beer. Oak Barrel Stout pours to a jet black color, with a thick, creamy, tan head, and a moderate to soft carbonation. The nose on this beer is excellent, with lots of big aromas of chocolate, coffee, vanilla bean, and some oak notes. The palate is silky smooth, with lots of good chocolate malt and coffee flavors, paired with some hints of currant, and good vanilla and toasted oak flavor. The beer finishes with good dark chocolate flavors up front, then ends with a vanilla/oaky flavor that lingers. Very well done beer, with lots of good chocolate, coffee, vanilla, and oak aromas and flavors. Makes for an excellent after work beer, and is a phenomenal match with deserts.

It pours thick, black and almost opaque. The head is solidly brown, quickly dissipates and laces the glass well. The aroma is not strong, but dark fruits and charcoal are detectable. The first sip is powerful and brings the taste buds alive. There is a complex mix of bark and coffee, with a smoke trail. Nicely balanced hops are present throughout.