Barley Johns The Dark Knight (Returns)

Brewed by Barley Johns Brew Pub
Style: Imperial/Strong Porter
New Brighton, Minnesota USA

Serve in Shaker, Snifter

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BOURBON!!!! Sticking my nose in the glass, that’s pretty much the only thing I could smell (though I thought it was wonderful). Bourbon was the predominant flavor too, but bourbon doesn’t have a malty, chocolatey finish. The mouthfeel was unbeatable, the color was pitch black, and the tan head was enticing. The alcohol was hot, but I didn’t think it was overpowering at all. Sorry I’m not as descriptive as you other guys...

Dark Black Coloring. Espresso Coloring Head. Earthy, Pine Aroma. Wonderful Flavors! Tasted Vanilla Bean, Earthy...resolved it tastes very much like a homemade Kahlua...warming from the high alcohol. Very Thick... One of the beers I’ve had overall!!

Oh my... The Knight gallops to the table in a small 5 ounce snifter, and though his stature may appear small, it is only a matter of time before he runs you through. It appears like blackest death with a solid tan head that slowly disappears. The aroma of pine struck me quickly, as well as hints of earth, vanilla, and raw alcohol. The taste is a blast of vanilla bean, whiskey, and malt. There is much more going on, but a second trip is required. The summation suggested kahlua. Just an incredible experience. I wish more could taste it.

Snifter at the brewpub. Still and chocolate liqueur-like in the body. Incredibly intense acoholic chocolate-cherry liqueur dominates an unbelievable aroma that manages to also encapsulate oaky bourbon, and touch of bitter orange, and caramel creme. Cherry cordial at the front of the equally powerful flavor, sublime subtle alcoholic warming, bittersweet and milk chocolates melded in ecstasy. Alcohol could be just a little less obtrusive, but this is nonetheless a masterpiece and easily the best new beer I had in 3 weeks touring the midwest. Future Top 50 without question.

What a huge beer. My initial reaction to this was like the reaction I had when I was one of the fairly early people to "discover" the Free State Owd Mac--like, "oh my, I’m ahead of the curve again!" Later I wasn’t so sure. First, there is no question that this beer comes to your table with all the marks of quality. Poured into small snifters, it is 100% opaque and oozing with richness. The aroma is not quite as complex as other top-notch beers--I thought the vanilla notes were overpowering, though there were heavy notes of fruit (raisins, grape) and the bourbon, though without much pure-alcohol notes effervescing into my brain. There were a lot more flavors--more grape, coffee, fruit, roasted, vinousness/port, and more, but it was not stinging on the palate. There was more carbonation than I generally like here. Still, this is a triumphant brewpub beer, a real accomplishment and a beer to be sought out if you’re in the Twin Cities.

Served in a little snifter, about 5 ounces. Total blackness, ebony’s epitome, with a tiny ring of burnt brown espresso-toned foam foam. Aroma is incredible, a bold, blatantly alcoholic cornucopia of flavor: dark rum, molasses, carob, plum, fig, a myriad mix, laced with whiskey and maple syrup. A nose I plunged mine into for as long as I could. Taste: again, incredible. Here, I wish there was a larger serving, or that the growlers weren’t so damned expensive, for I needed more time with this rich and ever-unfolding flavors. Thick mouthfeel, bottomless, vast, stretching on and on...same flavors from aroma return on the tongue, dark, twisted, utterly delcious, like chocolate and licorice and a jolt of Jack Daniel’s on the side, with bitter bites of espresso tones to match the abysmal texture (in this context, I’m using the good definition), and wickedly sweet nature of the flavor. Long finish, never-ever-ending. An amazing beer, one that would start a riot if they put it in bottles!

UPDATED: DEC 5, 2008 Tiny snifter is black in appearance, with a brown surface haze, lace ring, and lace spots as the beer goes down. The aroma is roast, caramel, dark fruits, bourbon, sweet, Ale like fruitiness, and tangy hops in the finish. The palate is fairly rich with low carbonation. The Porter is somewhat warming. Overall, quite a nice Porter.

Aged in a bourbon barrel and double fermented - Yum! Color is a solid black with some brownish highlights around the bottom. Small tannish head fades super fast and leaves very thin sheets of lace. Smell is like a chocolate-chocolate chip cookie soaked in cough sryup. It has a good strong sense of alcohol, with a really nice woody/earthy deep dark chocolate, with complex notes of molasess, black licorice, dried smokey plums, raisin, vanilla, and fresh wild flowery notes. Its what I would imagine a chocolate factory in an open wet forest would smell like with one nostril while the other nostril is under a cup of Nyquil. I could smell this all day. Quite an intoxicating aroma, no pun intended. Taste is complex, rich, and invigorating with a ton of deep dark chocolate, some molasses, fruity-like alcohol with a dark earthy quick bite of woodyness finding some hold about midway finishing with more complexing woody earth features of sweet malty tang and bitterness with notes of flowery spice like that of dulled mustard or ginger. Wow! The bourbon barrel worked its wonders on this brew. Fantastic! Very port-like in its character. Packs a big punch in flavor and alcohol, you can tell the alcohol is there but is mildly mellow and lends the feel to be smoother then you would think. Very rich, nearly full overall in mouthfeel with a welcoming smoothness that makes this dark knight a deadly easy drinkin' Porter. Super Yum!