Ottos Bourbon Aged Jolly Roger Imperial Stout

On cask at the brewpub. Poured into a nice big brandy snifter filled a bit more than halfway. Nice deep black with some ruby clear highlights and a fluffy cloudy dark tan head which fades to an oily lasting film and great lace. Aroma is light but noticeable bourbon which doesnt cover up or dominate the other powerful stouty aromas or roasted barley, coffee, Thcik dark chocolate, sweet caramel, tons of toffee and nice dried fruity esters. Flavor have a moderate amount of bourbon, roasted barley, chocolate and caramel malts, lightly smokey, toffee, molasses, tobacco, and a nice acrid burnt malt and bitter finish. Mouthfeel is thick, slightly syrupy and a sticky finish. Rich, full bodied and everything working together. One of the best Imperial stouts I have had.

This is the most impressive thing I have had from this brewer. Sampled on draft at the brewery this beer poured a dark black color with a large creamy dark brown head. The aroma is sweet and vaguely spicy with notes of bourbon, sugar and port wine. The mouthfeel is smooth and creamy. The flavor starts with port wine and ripe fruits the evolve slowly to roasty malts followed by definite notes of bourbon, wood, spice and a roasty finish. The flavors are complex and constantly changing as they wash over you. Marvelous.

On cask at brewpub. Pitch black pour with a rather odd looking creamy and blotchy covering of dark brown head. Served really effin’ cold for a cask beer, not sure what was up with that. Aroma is heavy on the bourbon with some burnt malt, chocolate fudge, oak, and light alcohol. A little bit more depth than the Full Sail Bourbon Barrel Black Gold. Flavor is a mix of bourbon, vanilla, oak, chocolate, and roast. The alcohol makes itself known on the finish but very lightly. Great balance and just the right amount of barrel influence. Mouthfeel is full bodied with great cask conditioned mouthfeel. Minimal to no carbonation yet still raises a a great head with a gentle swirl. Just shy of oily in texture. Overall, this was very well done. Perfect amount of bourbon, and the cask serving method puts this over the top for me.

When I saw mjames review of this, and confirmed that it was still vaailable, and knew I’d be visiting my parents over Labor Day, who live 45 minutes from State College, I knew the planets had aligned for me, and with Pluto’s sacrifice comes my gain. This one, which I got a double sample of followed by a goblet, pours ebony, raven black, with a uniform tan head. Great look. The aroma is roasty malty, with heavy oaky bourbon, matched by a huge chocoffy smell, plus loads of molasses. The palate is hefty, complex, and balanced, with flavors of initial chocolate syrup, followed by roasty malt, then the oaky bourbon, then some nutty ovaltiny hints. The whole thing goes together masterfully. This one is so good that I’ll be going back tomorrow for more.

Cask at the brewery, August 31, 2006. The appearance is not as nice as the regular Jolly Roger, since the head is mal-formed and is composed of large cola-like bubbles sitting on a thin film, rather than a creamy layer. The nose on this beast is just phenomenal, if you like bourbon, oak and cedar muddying up your imperial stout. The aroma matches Full Sail BA Black Gold, and comes close to 2005 Great Lakes BA Blackout, meaning it’s sharp and fresh bourbon, lightly hot, very peppery on the nose, but it’s also a little more creamy in the nose than those two, with a slightly stronger butter note. The oak and cedar wood notes are great, though. Flavor-wise it’s solid, but it’s a little too heavy on the bourbon and wood. Palate is smooth, carbonation is low, since it’s cask ale, and the flavor has a little bit of milk and cream sitting atop the bourbon, chocolate, coffee and oak wood. Very good stuff, just slightly better than the regular Jolly Roger.

Not made in 2007 due to bottling line installation. Should be back in summer/fall 2008.