Dominion Oak Barrel Stout

My first review was Yuengling Traditional Lager, which is a beer I know well. This time I felt I needed to challenge myself a little so I picked a beer I never heard of before called, Dominion Oak Barrel Stout.

It’s brewed by the Old Dominion Brewing Company located in Washington DC, which has been around since 1989. The Oak Barrel Stout was originally only available at their Brewpub, but in 2003 they reformulated it for bottling. It’s an American Stout with a ABV of 5.2 percent.

Appearance (4/5): It comes in a brown bottle with a deer on the cap. When I poured it into a pint glass it was very dark (black) with about one inch of brownish red head. It looked amazing, but then quickly faded away.

Smell (3.5/5): As soon as I opened it I could smell oak, spice, and vanilla. I took a few more deep sniffs because I swore I smelled something smoky that reminded me of bacon. Sadly, I only smelled it right after I opened it, so I am not sure if the smell is even there.

Taste (3/5): It had a very light taste and seems a little watery, but that’s not always a bad thing. There was just enough of the flavors your would expect: oak, vanilla, and sweet malts.

Mouth Feel (3/5): It may look dark but it was not a thick beer. Also, even though there was no sustaining head or noticeable carbonation, it still had some bite to it.

Drinkability (4/5): This would be a good beer in the summer. Since it had a light taste with a nice bite to it, it was actually refreshing. It kind of reminds me of a pale ale.

Overall, I give this beer 3.5 out of 5 bacon strips. You can read other reviews about this beer at BeerAdvocate.com.

Feel free to comment with your own review of this beer. You should be able to find it at your local six pack shop.