Ottos Bourbon-Barrel Aged Jolly Roger Imperial Stout

Brewed by Ottos Pub & Brewery
Style: Imperial Stout
State College, Pennsylvania USA

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.

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 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 doesn’t cover up or dominate the other powerful stouty aromas or roasted barley, coffee, Thick 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.

Cask at the brewery, August 2006. Black. Creamy. Nose is just phenomenal. Bourbon, oak, cedar, cream. Sharp, fresh, intense bourbon with a ridiculously smooth and rich soft-serve body. Lightly hot, somewhat peppery and creamy in the nose. The oak, cedar and smoked wood notes are an intense blend. Smoked malts and bourbon and wood, it melts in your mouth.

Multiple cask pours on a visit in May 2009: as good as ever. Luscious, decadent, creamy, filling, rich, simply amazing.

One of the best imperial stouts I’ve ever had.

# 1200 !! On cask at my favorite brewpub. Pours a dark cola with a creamy and thick brown head. Aroma of warm bourbon, milky chocolate and roasted malts. Taste of warm bourbon, milk chocolate, roasted malts and cream. Warms the nose and clears out the sinuses. SUPERB !!!

On cask at Otto’s. So glad I got to try this while available. Great aroma on this one - oak, vanilla, dark chocolate, molasses and a bit of smoke. A little boozy with smooth alcohol vapors. Smooth and luscious. Dark brown-black with thin head. Oily body with light cask carbonation. Starts sweet and viscous with tons of chocolate and molasses and a little Twizzlers. Oak and vanilla, dry woody bitter character and sweet but not cloying malt body. All the best of the Jolly Roger but with more barrel goodness. Light bourbon after taste - smooth and silky. This stuff is terrific.

On cask: Pours an opaque, oily black with a thick, creamy dark tan head. Has a rich dark chocolate and bourbon nose with some oaky complexity and dark fruitiness with a touch of molasses and some warming alcohol. Starts rich and creamy with nice dark chocolate and bourbon oak flavor along with vanilla and brown sugar, finishing bittersweet and slightly warming, but with good complexity. Nicely balanced and very enjoyable. Reminds me a lot of Great Lakes Barrel-Aged Blackout Stout.

Cask at Otto’s. Poured a dense black color with a one finger brown head that only slightly reduces in size. The aroma was chcolate, oak and caramel, with slight hints of coffee and vanilla. Maybe a dark fruity character present as well. The flavor was bourbon, vanilla and chocolate. The bourbon is present, but doesn’t overwhelm the the rest of the beer. The part I like the most about it was that there was nothing that was out of place. Nothing potentially offensive. This is a spectacular beer.