V.S.O.J.
Revolution Brewing Company in Chicago, Illinois, United States 🇺🇸
Barley Wine - Barley Rotating|
Score
8.68
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A celebration of malt, oak, and patience, Very Special Old [Straight] Jacket is a cuvée of English Barleywines aged between two and four years in our favorite bourbon barrels. Lusciously sweet and colossally complex, V.S.O.J. is equal parts refinement and excess. Enjoy now or store cold.
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9.5/10
Tried
on 23 Sep 2025
at 11:01
8.8/10
LCI. Vertical of VSOJ—‘18, ‘21, ‘25, ‘24, Double barrel. This is still a touch young. Sweet oak, lots of barrel, plump raisins.
Tried
from Can
on 08 Sep 2025
at 23:06
9.2/10
LCI. Vertical of VSOJ—‘18, ‘21, ‘25, ‘24, Double barrel. This is smooth, lots of stewed fruit. Rich, not overly boozy. Molasses
Tried
from Can
on 08 Sep 2025
at 23:02
8.8/10
LCI. Vertical of VSOJ—‘18, ‘21, ‘25, ‘24, Double barrel . Super smooth, vanilla, nutty maple.
Tried
from Can
on 08 Sep 2025
at 22:57
9.8/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 9.5
Flavor 10
Texture 10
Overall 9.5
Can with thanks to homer! Pours hazy mahogany, medium beige head, good lacing. Aroma is straight werthers, toffee caramel, bourbon, vanilla, oak, marzipan. Flavor is medium plus sweet, light plus bitter. Medium body, silky mouthfeel. God nectar
Tried
from Can
on 28 Jul 2025
at 01:31
9.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 10
Flavor 9
Texture 10
Overall 8.5
Canned 7/9/24, drunk 8/3/24. Clear mahogany-umber-burgundy. Small, beige head, spotty. Wow this IS somehow better than VSOR...more intensity of malt, deeper, richer bourbon and rye. Cherry, vanilla, soft lead, caramel, fruity raisin. Jesus. So sublime. No booze. Oh my God. Liquid gold. Soft, rich, juicy, cherry-vanilla...pepper, oak, hugely spicy bourbon. Reasonable body, rich but not too thick or cakey. Mellow and woody. This is absolutely insane for less than a month canned. A year from now this is going to be bonkers.
Tried
from Can
on 20 Jan 2025
at 16:35
8/10
Sweet syrupy malt overdose with some barrel and oaky raisiny notes, caramel, toffee and oaky woodiness. Quite balanced and tasty slow sipper.
Tried
from Can
on 03 Jan 2025
at 19:46
8/10
Tried
from Can
on 02 Nov 2024
at 23:44
8.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8.5
Flavor 9
Texture 9
Overall 9
Canned, 355 ml, at the brewery. Dark brown with beige head. Caramel, malty, toffee, some dried figs and dates, raisins. Smooth and full bodied.
Tried
from Can
at
Revolution Brewing Company - Kedzie Ave Taproom
on 02 Nov 2024
at 23:00
9.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 10
Flavor 10
Texture 10
Overall 9.5
Can. Red bronze and garnet color, almost no foam, clear. Aroma: very rich, bourbon and rye whiskey, vanilla, liqueur, toffee, jam, caramelized pear and fig, sherry, candied fruit. Taste: sweet, very rich, raisins, candied fruit, vanilla, bourbon and rye whiskey, very warming, sherry, warming, excellent brew.
Tried
from Can
on 16 Oct 2024
at 18:49