Jackie O's Inner Source 375ML

Jackie O's Inner Source 375ML is a bourbon barrel-aged imperial Belgian-style stout brewed with Trappist yeast, bottled at 15.4% ABV in a 375ml format. A collaboration between Jackie O's Brewery and Oxbow Brewing Company, this release spent 16 months in bourbon barrels and carries an Untappd rating above 4.2 out of 5, signaling strong enthusiasm among craft beer drinkers.

Quick Facts: ABV: 15.4%  |  Origin: Athens, Ohio, USA  |  Imperial Belgian-Style Stout  |  Brewery: Jackie O's Brewery (collaboration with Oxbow Brewing Company)

Production & Heritage

Jackie O's Brewery, based in Athens, Ohio, has built a devoted following for ambitious barrel-aged beers and farmhouse ales. Inner Source was conceived as a collaboration with Newcastle, Maine's Oxbow Brewing Company, channeling a jazz-fusion-inspired ethos by blending Belgian brewing traditions with American barrel aging. The base imperial stout was fermented with expressive Trappist yeast and brewed with Belgian candied syrup, then aged for 16 months in bourbon barrels — a combination that layers the dark malt backbone with bourbon-derived vanilla and oak while the Belgian yeast contributes fruity esters and spice complexity rarely found in standard barrel-aged stouts.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Bourbon-soaked vanilla and cacao lead, followed by waves of dark dried fruit and a subtle warmth from the high ABV. The Trappist yeast adds a distinctive peppery, fruity lift beneath the roasted malt.

Taste: The entry is fudgy and dense, with bittersweet chocolate and Belgian candied sugar coating the palate. Mid-palate, rye-like spice and dried fig emerge, intertwined with the yeast's phenolic character. At its peak, caramel and warm bourbon notes take center stage, supported by a syrupy body that carries the 15.4% ABV with surprising grace.

Finish: Long and warming, with sweet sugar syrup, residual bourbon heat, and lingering dark fruit. A thread of spice from the Trappist yeast keeps the finish from becoming cloying, pulling it toward a dry, slightly tannic close.

How to Drink Inner Source

Best served in a tulip glass or snifter at cellar temperature (50–55°F) to allow the complex Belgian yeast aromatics and bourbon barrel layers to open fully. At 15.4% ABV, this stout rewards slow, deliberate sipping — warming slightly in the glass reveals additional dried fruit and spice nuance. Inner Source is not a typical cocktail ingredient, but it excels in beer-centric applications: use a small pour in a Beer Float with quality vanilla ice cream for a decadent dessert; incorporate it into a Black Velvet variation topped with sparkling wine to contrast the richness with effervescence; or try it as a component in a Boilermaker alongside a clean rye whiskey to amplify the shared spice notes.

Best For

• Sharing after a dinner party as a dessert course substitute
• Gifting a barrel-aged beer collector who values limited collaborations
• Cellaring for special occasions — the high ABV supports aging potential
• Pairing with a cheese board featuring aged, bold selections

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Inner Source taste like? Inner Source delivers a fudgy, bittersweet chocolate base layered with bourbon vanilla, dried fig, rye-like spice, and caramel, all shaped by a distinctive Trappist yeast fermentation that adds peppery, fruity complexity.

How does Inner Source compare to Jackie O's Bourbon Barrel Dark Apparition? Both are high-ABV, bourbon barrel-aged imperial stouts from Jackie O's, but Inner Source distinguishes itself through Trappist yeast fermentation and Belgian candied syrup, which give it a more pronounced fruity ester and spice profile compared to Dark Apparition's more straightforward roasted malt and bourbon character.

Is Inner Source good for sipping neat? Absolutely — its 15.4% ABV, dense body, and layered barrel character make it an ideal sipper served slightly below room temperature in a snifter or tulip glass.

Where is Inner Source made? Inner Source is brewed at Jackie O's Brewery in Athens, Ohio, in collaboration with Oxbow Brewing Company of Newcastle, Maine, and aged for 16 months in bourbon barrels at Jackie O's facility.

What foods pair well with Inner Source? Aged Gouda complements the caramel and bourbon sweetness; dark chocolate truffles mirror the cacao notes; smoked brisket stands up to the beer's intensity; blue cheese contrasts the residual sweetness with sharp tang; and pecan pie echoes the nutty, caramelized barrel character.

What sizes does Inner Source come in? Inner Source is available in 375ml bottles, a format commonly used for high-ABV, barrel-aged craft beers intended for sharing or cellaring.

Is Inner Source worth the price? Inner Source positions as a premium limited-collaboration barrel-aged stout — its 16-month bourbon barrel aging, Trappist yeast fermentation, and collaborative pedigree place it squarely in the upper tier of the barrel-aged stout category, where pricing reflects time, ingredients, and scarcity.

Why Inner Source?

The 16-month bourbon barrel aging combined with Trappist yeast fermentation sets Inner Source apart from the vast majority of American barrel-aged stouts, which typically rely on standard ale yeast. That Belgian-American hybrid approach — amplified by the addition of Belgian candied syrup — produces a stout with genuine complexity rather than brute sweetness. The Jackie O's and Oxbow collaboration brings together two breweries with deep experience in barrel programs and mixed-culture fermentation, lending credibility to the experiment. For drinkers who find conventional barrel-aged stouts one-dimensional, Inner Source offers a genuinely different frame of reference within the style.