I love the saying "Go Big or Go Home". Lucky Bucket has definitely gone big with the Wicked Joe! This beer is big in coffee flavor that remains throughout the full sip. The Certified Evil Imperial Oatmeal Stout takes on a whole new set of characteristics after being aged in the Cut Spike Single Malt Whiskey barrels. For those of you not familiar with Cut Spike Whiskey or Certified Evil, I recommend trying them first individually. The reason I say this is when you then have a drink of the Wicked Joe you will really appreciate what the barrel aging has done for this beer! I have a hard time truly describing how rich the flavor of this stout is. The Cut Spike Whiskey barrel adds a very slight sweet flavor that when combined with the bold coffee flavor is pure nirvana in my mind.
Beautiful 10 ounce pour is how the Wicked Joe is served in the taproom. Cut Spike Whiskey barrels age this beer to perfection in less than 6 months.
The Cut Spike Whiskey is a wonderful single malt whiskey. Amazing to have a distillery and brewery together!
When talking to a couple of folks that were in the Lucky Bucket taproom, one other thing stood out for everyone was the fact that even though this is a barrel aged beer, it is not over boozy. The ABV is at 9.3%. This is truly a beer that will be best served in that 35 to 45 degree range. So as you sip on it, don't worry if it warms up just a little bit because it will tend to just have even more flavor as it warms. I know that this beer also has some vanilla bean added to it. The vanilla flavor for me is very subtle. The texture is silky and creamy in your mouth.
From Archetype in the Blackstone District of Omaha...
For the coffee side of Wicked Joe, it is Guatemala and Ethiopia blend that is bold but yet very balanced in this beer. The coffee comes from Archetype Coffee which is a local coffee house in Omaha. If you like a great cup of coffee, check them out in the Blackstone District of Omaha.
Kicking the year off for me with a Perfect 10 on the Holy Grail Scale of Coffee Stouts! Better make sure to visit Lucky Bucket soon to try the Wicked Joe and all of their other great craft beers.
Cheers!