DuClaw Oak Barrel Aged Black Jack Stout

Formerly brewed at DuClaw Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Abingdon, Maryland USA

On cask at the RBSG RFD Tasting. Black, indeed! No head at all. Nose is lovely! Bourbon, vanilla, wood, roasted malts, dark chocolate and a hint of molasses. Taste is equally as attractive. Lots of vanilla, bourbonny flavors, wood, roasty and sweet malts, and dark chocolate. Body is slick and smooth withfaint to no carbonation. Finishes with more similar flavors along with a noticeable fruit flavor. Very nice!

On cask at RFD’s prior to RBSG ’06. Black with a small tan head. Mild bourbon aroma with lots of vanilla, some oak and dark roasted malts. Flavor is again bourbon initially, followed by sweet roasted malts, vanilla, oak and a bit of soy. Full bodied, with very little carbonation that made it start to get cloying after a while.

RBSG06: Dark blackish beer. No head. Rich heavy dark oak. Almost drinkable (regularly). Heavy and very sweet.

On tap, 2006 RBSG RFD tasting. Completely black pour, very thick, with a minimal dark brown head. Aroma is very burnt malt with vanilla, oak tannins, alcohol, light soy, and bourbon. Flavor is full of burnt malt, lots of vanilla, oak tannins, alcohol, and a light touch of soy on the finish. The bourbon is nicely under control. Mouthfeel is medium to full bodied with minimal carbonation due to cask conditioning. Texture wavered between velvety and oily as I went thru the glass. Overall, the best of the evenings offerings. Nicely balanced with a restrained barrel aged character.

Served on cask. Black with a big-bubbled head. The aroma is a bit of bourbon, wood, coffee and anise.

Firkin at the RBSG Tasting at RFD. Deep rusty, dark brown body with a soapy tan head. Aroma of toasted vanilla bean, some earthy peat qualities, pleasant roasted barley, toasted marshmallow, and black cherry. Flavor is rich and deep like an excellent dark chocolate with a creamy vanilla balance. Perfect silky smooth texture. I enjoyed the added character relative to the regular Black Jack Stout, both from the bourbon barrel and cask-conditioning.

Cask - Dark with a minal cask head. The aroma is all about bourbon, alcohol, and chocolate. The flavor is much the same. Works better then some barrel-aged beers I have had but still a bit too heavy on the bourbon. Full bodied even with no carbonation.

Thanks to the person who brought this to share at kp’s Cellar Party. We debated whether the tall, flip top bottle was filled as a growler or bottled as a regular bottle by the brewery. Black pour with a long lasting, creamy, tan head. Complex aroma of sweet and roasted malts, a bit of licorice, some coffee and vanilla. The flavor was complex like the aroma and came across the tongue with a creamy dryness that was a bit chalky.