Left Hand Oak Aged Imperial Stout

Dark dark brown, not black enough with a small beige head. Aroma is brandy, light chocolate and unpleasant phenols of burnt plastic. Flavour is better but still has some of those nasty phenols alongside the more pleasant caramell, chocolate and candy-like brandy flavours. Mouthfeel is rather light, clean, slightly creamy and very pleasant. I like the use of the brandy barrel but the base IS is just not good enough here.

On tap. Pours black with a beige head that doesn’t last long. Aromas of oak, alcohol, smoke and chocolate. Tastes of chocolate, toasted oats, roasted malt and oak.

Pours dark from the 355ml. bottle into a pint glass: Sinfully sweet of caramel malts, roasted marshmellows (faint), licorice, nuts and toffee. Pleasantly bitter of burnt toasted hops. The alcohol content is masked very well. Drinkability: Malty and sweet mixed with a doughy taste from the oak barrels (a JP signature). Rebuy: Right away! #159 on 24102009, DG.

Thick, dense light beige head. Lots of chunky lace on the glass Graham cracker and cocoa aromas. Slightly chalky with a touch maple sugar and chocolate milk. Oily and thick, the body has definite elements of a fortified wine like a port or brandy. Light carbonation, given the richness. The flavor is weak in the beginning. But the swallow and aftertaste are powerful. Strong burnt toast with a honey sweetness. Small level of bittering hop. Lots of alcohol warmth throughout. The aftertaste lasts a very long time with a strong notes of a fine brandy. This is a potent beer. It’s easy to sip, but hard to drink an entire 22 ounce bottle. Find a friend and share!

2009 bottle shared at the Metro Detroit ’09 tasting. Dark brown pour with a small, off-white head. The aroma is very alcoholic with notes of dark fruit, lots of molasses, caramelized brown sugar and a hint of cocoa. More molasses, brown sugar and cocoa in teh flavor with some ligth oak, boozy brandy and a long vanilla finish. Sticky medium body with soft carbonation.

22 oz. bottle from 99 Bottles in Federal Way, WA. Colour... very dark brown, but garnet when held to the light. Nose... very boozy, oaky and phenolic. Palate... creamy, frothy, highly phenolic like an Islay Scotch, ultra smoky with dark chocolate, cherry, raisin, anise, hops and spice. This baby is like a vintage port: it needs time in the cellar to round off the edges and ease up on the grip. This’ll be really bitchin’ in a year!

750 ml bottle - 2007 vintage; thanks jimbowood for the trade; black with thin light brown head; coffee and vanilla; drinks on the sweet side with thin, smooth texture; pretty much flat and lifeless; pretty nice but seems to be missing something; stout is quite light and lots of oaking is evident; flavor on the mild side

2009 bottle. Pours dark and inky, with a medium tan head, very fine and lasting lacing. Aromas of coffee, chocolate, and vanilla, with a woody undertone. Thick body, velvety, dry and slightly chalky. Flavors of dark chocolate, coffee, molasses, oak and cherry; rich and warming, with a medium dry, piney finish.