Flashlight shows absolutely nothing, head retention is minimal, smells of black coffee and smoke. The taste is crisp and bready as you’d expect of a stout, including the thick creamy body, but underneath are a few unique subtleties: fruity, smoky, perhaps the faintest hint of whiskey. The finish is moderately bitter from a blend of herbal hop and coffee flavors, with possibly some vanilla as well. Overall, this is a solid stout, very well made and worth the price paid. However, I really don’t get much of the oak barrel or Irish Whiskey flavors that the name implies.
