 kepano (239), Meudon, France
May 20, 2006 Updated: Dec 3, 2006
It is by sheer coincidence that Avery’s Mephistopheles became my 100th reviewed beer, but the chance was a definite paroxysm if not an éclat within the continuity of my recent pursuits. Acquiring this hell-born liquid was nearly as arduous as drinking it, though admittedly the latter was more enjoyable. From the crack of the cap you know you’re in for something different, the heavy scents of dark malts and alcohol emanate from what seems an open wound, and as the oozing obsidian ichor drips into the glass there is no wonder remaining about this beer’s satanic name. The soft feathery brown head becomes disfigured by craterous formations that remain after the burst of each large bubble, developing into what seems like an asteroid floating in the dark, tar-like void. The tenebrous chocolate aroma is accompanied by a cortège of rich, deep fragrances each more potent than the previous: coffee, Irish cream, soy sauce, dried figs, red wine and rum-soaked cherries. Nearly cacophonous to the nose, the flavor and mouthfeel are surprisingly harmonious though just as vehement. The cloying syrup-like texture provides a vivid substance for the poignant and pungent mixture to evolve as every sip sleekly slips across the tongue. Anise, espresso, Irish cream and cherry liqueur share the scene in a glorious orchestral rise that smoothly diminishes to a soft finish. An impressive feat and definite success but a brew that demands an appropriately grandiose situation as its potency will be of surfeit in any other case.
flutetokill (507), Fresno, California, USA
Jul 1, 2009 Opaque brownish black color with a medium brown head. Very nice sweet, rich dark fruit, chocolate and a bit of alcohol aroma and flavors. Nice soft carbonation.
italarican (83), Astoria, New York, USA
Jul 1, 2009 Batch 2. As dark as dark brown can be without being pure black with a light tan head. Aroma of chocolate liquer and dark fruit. Woah now, booze booze booze flavor. It’s not my thing and hard to get over frankly. There’s a lot going on here, but 16% that’s not very hidden is a bit too strong for my beer drinking tastes.
cprochak (161), , Washington, USA
Jun 25, 2009 Nov 2006, Batch 2 release. Bottle from Bottleworks. Tasted blind as 1 of 15. Pours a jet black with great mocha head and beautiful lacing. Incredible chocolate aroma with oak and molasses. Great sweet caramel and bourbon flavor with mild bitterness for balance. Very thick and full-bodied with good carbonation. Great complex bitter and sweet finish. Fantastically complex beer.
Pinball (2068), Allerød, Denmark
Jun 24, 2009 33cl bottle. Batch 3 2007. samped june 2009.
pitch dark,large thick smooth brown head. thick lacing and a nice colour play as the beer glides down the glass into the brown head. lovely. sweet brown sugar and licroice based aroma, also toffee, chocolate, hops (shows itself as a slight sour or acid note), you can smell i’ts strong, but i would not guess more than 10-11 pct.
flavor is fantastic. very strong and potent, and consisting of numerous flavors. licorice, roasted grains, coffee, malts, honey, brown sugar, vanilla.
ononews9 (11), Hanover, Pennsylvania, USA
Jun 18, 2009 strong flavor dark beer. intense taste of coffee, nuts, and carmel. very high alcohol content. very sweet taste.
Madsnp (290), Odense C, Denmark
Jun 15, 2009 Bottle from batch #4. Pitch black with a beautiful cappuccino coloured head. Aroma of roasted nuts, dried fruit, caramel, licorice and smoke. Flavour of burned malt, licorice, espresso, warming alcohol, dark cherries and bourbon. Heavy stuff. I think i will store some for the future.
Rune (2404), Tromsø, Norway
Jun 13, 2009 Bottle, batch 3, Nov. 2007, 16% abv, bought at Ølbutikken in Copenhagen and cellared properly for nine months. Comes with a red foil around the neck and pours an almost devil-black, oil-like content under a latte coloured, bubbly foam that left a few spotty lacings on the glass. Promising aroma of roasted malts backed up with raisin and dark chocolate. The flavour is at first marked by the emergence of bittersweet liquorice. The mid-part brings notes of black currant, oaky vanilla and rum-like hints. Halfway bitter, dark fruits to the ending, along with the lingering heat of subdued alcohol. Full bodied and well balanced. Maybe a little too sweet, otherwise superb (at home in Tromsø, 12.06.2009).
lumpsowers (235), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
Jun 11, 2009 Cellared for 1 year. Black motor oil pour, low head, some lace. All fruits and alcohol aroma. Yikes, lot of alcohol, this burns on the way down like a spirit. Smokey malt and wood fires, buttery dark fruits and alcohol dominate. Hard to differentiate between hops and alcohol. Very thick, I hope this mellowed in cellar. Mighty, mighty brew.
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