The Duck-Rabbit Pauls Day Off

Brewed by The Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery
Style: American Strong Ale
Farmville, North Carolina USA

Draft at Capone’s. Pours mahogany/deep ruby with 1-finger off-tan head and great lacing. Nose is dark malt, vanilla, dark choc, hops, oaky, earthy. Tastes rich, oaky and bourbony, earthy, peaty, with heavy dark malt, dark choc, slight black cherry, backup hops. The flavor in this is very complex and layered, but subtle, and the palate is hefty and very well balanced for a beer this big. I had nop idea the ABV was this high on this one, and will gladly take the high outlier position on this. As unique a beer as i have ever had, starting from a 4 ounce sample at Capone’s, then moving to a pint, then saying to my wife, "I have to growler this!" Another marvelous beer from Paul and Duck Rabbit. Paul, it was a pleasure to meet you tomight, and keep up the good work, man!

Tap at Capones. Pours a deep brown with amber notes and a smaller creamy tan head. Aroma of toasted malt, caramel, oak, touch of bourbon, citrusy and piney hops and vanilla. Flavor of toasted malt, caramel, buttery toffee, pine and grapefruit hops,, light roasted malt, vanilla, oak and a touch of bourbon. Barrel aging did wonders. Bourbon and woody but not overdone.

On tap at the brickstore as part of their 12 kegs in 12 hours, or was it 12 hours of 12 kegs, I don’t know. Pour was a dark brown, opaque, with a nice tan head. Paul, you take a tasty day off. The pappy aging gave it a nice vanilla aroma. Past that you get a waft of some roasted malt and cocoa in the bacground. The vanilla comes through to the flavor a tad but mostly you have roasted chocolate malt. There is some wood character from the ageing and a bit of hotness from the barrel ageing as well. Light english style hoppiness mid palate. The finish is cocoa and chocolate. Would love to drink this all day today but smartly the pub put me on a one of each keg minimum.

Draft. Pours clear dark brown with garnet highlight and the thin whispy head of a strong ale. Aroma of oak, pine, some peat and smoke, chocolate and a dollop of sweet maple syrup. Similar flavor; quite malty with flavoring and finishing piney and citrusy hops, vanilla sweetness and some smooth warming booze. Finishes just a hair dry. Medium full bodied, very smooth with moderately low carbonation. Excellent ale.

Appearance: Very dark brown, near black body with a half inch of light tan-colored foam on top. Smell: A true bounty of dark malts and pungent hops and a full-on bourbon barrel notes. Loads of chocolate, deeply scorched grains, roasty coffee, citrus, and bourbon (oh, the bourbon!). Taste: Roasty, blackened malts with full tastes of bittersweet chocolate, licorice root, and coffee-flavored ice cream. There’s a bold sweetness without too much sweetness, you know. Light touch of dark fruitiness. Citrusy, earthy hops, and, along with the roasted malts, provide a moderate amount of balancing bitterness. Fair amount of vanilla-infused oak. Finishes dry and bitter with some enduring hints of spicy resin and black malts. Mouthfeel: Medium-plus body. Medium carbonation. Drinkability: Flavorful and loaded with rich, malty nuances and hop complexities, to say nothing of the fine barrel-aging. At times I was reminded of Avery Fourteen and New Holland’s Dragons Milk, though, having said that, I’ll take this over them. A very pleasing brew and a fine way to kick off the Brick Store Pub’s Anniversary Event! Paul needs to step out of the office more often.

Brick Store - THIS WAS AWESOME! I just had to get that out of the way. I think I started smelling the bourbon before the server even sat the glass on the table. Lots of bourbon notes, butterscotch, candied fruits and brown sugar, light fruits and that ever warming alcohol in the finish.

On draft at Capones. Pours a black with a small light brown head. Aroma of light vanilla, bourbon, hops and chocolate. Taste of light vanilla, bourbon, malt and piney hops. Excellent.

Bottle at PilsnerPeter’s Spring Ratebeer Gathering. Brown pour. The aroma is pretty nice. Soft and chewy with a touch of light vanilla oakiness. Sweet chewy finish. Rich, deep crystal malt character. Heavy stewed fruit and a long lingering oakiness. Light cookie dough sweetness and more sweet oak. Really pretty tasty.