BLACK SCHOONER, BARREL-AGED IMPERIAL STOUT

Origins

In the early 1900s, when Prohibition swept the nation dry, ships known as “black schooners” slipped quietly along the New Jersey coast and up the Delaware River under cover of night. Painted dark to evade patrol lights, these fast, low-slung vessels ferried Caribbean rum from Jamaica to hidden ports, including Burlington City, where barrels were offloaded in secret and distributed through riverfront taverns.
 

Those runs became the stuff of local legend, stories of craft, courage, and the pursuit of forbidden spirits. From that history sails our own Black Schooner, an imperial stout aged in authentic Jamaican rum barrels.
 

Waves of oak, dark chocolate, and subtle molasses rise from its jet-black body, mellowed by notes of vanilla and roasted malt. Each sip carries the warmth of the islands and the quiet defiance of the rumrunners who inspired it, a reminder that some treasures aren’t found… they’re brewed.

Full-bodied and complex, Black Schooner delivers depth and balance. The rum-barrel aging imparts flavors of dark sugar, spice, and oak, layered atop roasted malt and cocoa. It’s smooth, warming, and rich, a stout that honors both Burlington’s river history and the island spirit that once traveled its waters.

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Food Pairings

Best enjoyed with rich, caramelized, or smoky dishes that mirror its dark character. 

 

Suggested Foods: Grilled Ribeye, Smoked Brisket, or Caribbean Jerk Chicken
Cheese: Aged Gouda, Stilton, or Espresso Cheddar
Dessert: Chocolate Lava Cake, Rum Bread Pudding, or Bananas Foster

 

Glassware & Serving Temperature

Snifter or Tulip — Best for releasing its complex rum-barrel aromas.

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Best served at 55-60°F

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