North By Northwest Blackjack Ale

Brewed by North By Northwest Restaurant and Brewery
Style: Schwarzbier
Austin, Texas USA

Draught. Nose is all bourbon with just the slightest hint of chocolate. A gorgeous scarlet beer in its thinner areas, black where it pools more heavily. Flavor opens with mellow, smooth whisky and folds into chocolate notes that accent it perfectly, followed by an even more complimentary raspberry presence as all three notes muddle together into the finish. Assertive but immensely smooth mouthfeel. Wonderful.

Aroma has the whiskey bourbon barrel wood on the nose. Black body with some amber red tynt when held to light. Flavor was smooth bourbon beer with some coco and caramel mixed in there. Easy on the palate. Good brew.

On tap at the brewery. Dark with no head. Nose of bourbon and malts. Body is very thin and taste has strong bourbon overtones with a decent malt background. Very drinkable and smooth.

on tap at NXNW. after tasting the Okanogan black ale,this was a pleasant surprise. The barrel aging (6 weeks) really adds depth and flavor to this black ale. you can taste the wood and whisky, and that makes for a tasty treat.

Almost opaque black pour in a tulip on draft. Color of black licorice after you bite into it with shades of chalky dark brown to black. Smell isn’t overly strong but is quite inviting and nice. Subtle deep roasty malt, & some bourbon as well. Taste is incredibly smooth. Rich licorice like roasty malt, and a nice hit of bourbon flavor without the boozy, hot feel. Better than the Okanogan schwarzbier itself, and the Barrel aging adds some nice complementing character to this beer. I’d recommend this, and I’m not a regularly a schwarzbier fan.

Tap. Great subtleties of vanilla and cola to go with the shady malts, and an excellent sweet finish of caramel. Seems like a simple bourbon barrel aged beer at first, but it gets a bit more complex with every sip. Good stuff that defies Texas brewing stereotypes, Well done, NxNW.

Pour is dark dark brown, but not quite black, with a thin tan head...smell is toasty with defintate hints of smoke, vanilla, cocoa...tast is just sweet...not overly so, sort of lightly sweet...very interesting...some sweet bourbonish notes at the back end, a tad cloying...tasty though it was I only really wanted one, at least tonight...a tad too thin to support the flavors, but very drinkable indeed...

Man oh Man , The name fits perfectly!!! This brew has a truly unique kick, is a cloudy mud colour and is kind of sweet creamy complex taste, has a chocolate honey smell, Good Stuff!