Oct 8, 2012

DuClaw Brewing Soul Jacker

Billed as a “fiendish blend” of two existing products from DuClaw Brewing, Soul Jacker combines the company’s Black Jack Imperial Stout and Devil’s Milk Barley Wine. I haven’t had either of these beers — though I did enjoy a bottle of the Oak Aged Black Jack — so I’m not entirely sure what I was expecting when I picked up the bottle. I suppose the idea of blending a stout and barleywine intrigued me a bit.

The 9.5% ABV concoction (American Strong Ale, perhaps?) carries the aroma leaning to that of a stout, but the flavor profile more akin to a barleywine with stoutish qualities. Being a blend of two styles, that’s to be expected to a degree. I was hoping that one or the other would dominate both senses while the other portion of the blend would give it a uniqueness that the style would otherwise not have. When all was said and done, Soul Jacker is an interesting brew, but one that is rather tame on the palate despite it’s big beer presentation.

Appearance

The brew pours a near black with a light brown head that fell quickly to a thin collar.

Aroma

The beer actually smells pretty deep and rich with elements of espresso, dark chocolate, plum and alcohol. It smells pretty darn good.

Taste

I’m not sure what the percentage of each brew used in the blend was, but the flavors are definitely that of a barleywine. The solid hop bitterness of an American barleywine demands your attention as caramel malt, hints of roast coffee and traces of dark fruit fill your mouth. The beer doesn’t hide the alcohol too well as is makes an appearance in the pleasing finish that lingers a good long while. The brew is fairly full bodied with a moderate level of carbonation.

Overall

All in all, Soul Jacker is a pretty darn good beer. I’m curious as to how much of both beers went into the blend to see how my palate aligns with what I should be tasting. The beer certainly is big and fairly bold, but not as complex as I was hoping. That said, I can see myself picking up another bottle or two of this one in the future.

Rating: 3.75/5

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