Jackie O's Bourbon Barrel Black Maple

This 11% ABV imperial porter is from Jackie O's Pub & Brewery in Athens, Ohio. It is brewed with maple syrup and aged in bourbon barrels.

The beer pours black, lightly carbonated, with a short and thin tan head. The aroma is sweet, molasses, maple, dark roast, char, dark raisins, with a mild bourbon note. The beer drinks sweet and dark. The sweet, syrupy notes merge well with the smokey char of the dark roast. A bit of dark cherry comes through on the end. The bourbon is present but light, with just a bit of oak astringency from the barrel, and some vanilla as it warms. The beer drinks smooth, full-bodied, but not heavy. There is much sweetness, but the finish has a moderate bitterness.