Damson Stout - Barrel Aged
Vocation Brewery in Cragg Vale, West Yorkshire, England 🏴
Stout - Imperial Special Out of Production|
Score
7.65
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A combination of Pedro Ximenez and Oloso sherry barrels creates an unctuously sweet and sticky stout with aromas of rose and damson. The 15 months spent in barrel makes the sherry character the star of the show.
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8.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8.5
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
26th August 2026
Near opaque dark brown beer, a decent bubbly tan head that dies back in short order. Good plum permeates the air as soon as the lid is flipped. Airy smooth palate, a very mild dryness, decent fine carbonation. Smooth dark malts, soft dark malt cream and mild chocolate. Rich but rounded plum dominates the mid, a plum liqueur adds to the fun. Juicy rich plum. A fair parma violet streak after the rush plum, fits in perfick. The sherry barrels are quite light touch (or are in the shade of the stellar plumminess) but add a lovely richness on the back end. Mild caramel and layered sherry ripe fruits. Smooth finish. A total delight. One of those occasions when a brewer comes up with something new or rarely tried and absolutely bloody nails it! I just wanted to smash this and, whilst that is impressive brewing, not good for my Wednesday evening!
Near opaque dark brown beer, a decent bubbly tan head that dies back in short order. Good plum permeates the air as soon as the lid is flipped. Airy smooth palate, a very mild dryness, decent fine carbonation. Smooth dark malts, soft dark malt cream and mild chocolate. Rich but rounded plum dominates the mid, a plum liqueur adds to the fun. Juicy rich plum. A fair parma violet streak after the rush plum, fits in perfick. The sherry barrels are quite light touch (or are in the shade of the stellar plumminess) but add a lovely richness on the back end. Mild caramel and layered sherry ripe fruits. Smooth finish. A total delight. One of those occasions when a brewer comes up with something new or rarely tried and absolutely bloody nails it! I just wanted to smash this and, whilst that is impressive brewing, not good for my Wednesday evening!
Tried
from Bottle
on 26 Aug 2026
at 17:26
8.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 10
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
10/6/2023. Bottle shared at SBGP3. Bought direct from the Brewery. Pours thick almost black with a small tan coloured head. Aroma is big damson, plummy jam, milk chocolate, roasted malt, sweet toasted bread, touch of liquorice. Super heavy sweetness, light bitterness with slowly developing barrel aged elements. Medium to full body, sticky, soft carbonation. Quite delicious.
Tried
from Bottle
on 11 Jun 2023
at 13:09
8.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Bottle online from the brewery. Pours pitch black with a tan cap. Aroma: sugary sweet berries & dark fruits, dark chocolate. Taste: moderate to heavy sweet & light to moderate bitter, damson jam, dark fruits, berry compote, demerara sugar. Medium to full body with fine carbonation. It's very sweet but super tasty.
Tried
from Bottle
on 20 Jun 2022
at 20:18
7.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Panda 🐼 at home thanks to Colin. An opaque black coloured pour with a swirl of tan head. Aroma is big sweet jammy berries, fruit cullee, perfume, little artificial no the nose, pop tart, brown sugars, blueberry. Flavour is composed of medium sweet, big jammy berries, bluebery flavour, brown sugars, cakey malts, white grape, perfume. Palate is medium sweet, sticky, oily, mellow carbonation. Not much BA flavour, Bit too much adjunct for me.
Tried
on 13 Jun 2022
at 21:11
7.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Bottle at home, from HOTM online, 29/05/22. Pitch black with a decent tan covering that dissipates to a swirl. Nose is sweet berry fruits, figs, raisins, prunes, sherry nip, dark malts, fruit cake mix, sugars. Taste comprises damson jam, figs, sweet berry fruit compote, brown sugar melt, spike of alcohol, floral notes, hint of Turkish Delight, sherry barrel. Full bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close with a balanced rising boost. Decent enough BA affair ... just runs overly sweet for my palate and lacks a bit of balance.
Tried
from Bottle
on 29 May 2022
at 20:18