Kevin (1917), Colorado, USA Dec 13, 2005 ruby brown pour with a dark grey head. aroma is kind of empty. some dusty hints with oak huisks. taste is strawberry chocolate with dandelions. finish is rhubarb and orange kiwi. BigBen2120 (688), Derry, New Hampshire, USA Dec 12, 2005 Updated: Aug 18, 2006FIRST RATING (12-12-05): Very good stout. Thick-headed. Does not have the burnt or bitter quality some micro-brew stouts have. Rather sweet. The flavor is a little overpowering at first, but after a few sips it is less so. Not something I’d have everyday, but a very good stout... I had it in a 22 oz. bottle, but I bet it is much better on tap.
RE-RATE:
Figured I’d re-rate this for old-time’s sake and since I’ve tried so many more beers since, and I know what I’m doing a little better what I’m doing now than I did a year ago (though some may argue otherwise). Black opaque body withi initially thick, slow to dissipate tan head. Smells sweet, chocolaty or coffee (I can’t decide), with hints of hops and yeast. Tastes initially sweet and roasty, but has a hoppy aftertaste. A very good stout, but would be better if the hop bitterness weren’t quite so pronounced. Still very good. Glad I got it again, I’m more impressed this time. If I were smart, I’d go to the coast and get it on tap... ElPresidente1984 (173), Maine, USA Dec 9, 2005 damn, i realy like this beer. pours black with a nice dark tan head. aroma is of roasted malts and coffee. i really liked the taste here, lots of malts, caramel, coffee, slight sweetness. very smooth, i think that is what realy did it for me, this was super creamy and went down so easy, felt so nice to drink. great beer, i think this is one of my new favorites. blows guinness out of the water. beervana (781), Libertyville, Illinois, USA Nov 22, 2005 Impromptu beer tasting session at a backroom in Armanetti’s, thanks to Scott L. and Tony C. Brown bottled. Black hued stout having small diminishing tan head with fair lacing. Aroma bouquet of coffee, chocolate and roasted malt. No discernable carbonation. Medium-to-full bodied with creamy texture that starts with a creamy smooth sweet malt having hints of chocolate, expresso, and toffee. Finishes with light lingering bitterness. An excellent stout made even more enjoyable in the company of people who really appreciate beer and beer culture. MartinT (5030), Montreal, Quebec, Canada Nov 21, 2005 Updated: Jan 4, 2006The Lure: Luxurious dark chocolate and malt roastiness combine over a profound molasses-like sweetness. Simple and authentic, evidently a lip smacker of a good pint. Carbonation levels might be a little too high, but that is still to be tested.
The Festivities: Roasted and chocolate malts form cookies on which I’d love to chew all day. Raisins and fresh figs complexify the sweetness which precedes the diplomatic roasty bitterness. Carbonation is indeed a little too agressive early on, but once you start getting halfway through the pint it’s fine. A top notch stout, ideal for sessions as well as tastings.
Transcendence: Lungs full of pure air. SuIIy (1406), Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, USA Nov 13, 2005 22oz. pours a simple dark brown with a small off white head. Nose is chocolate and coffee. taste is mostly chocolate with some light coffee notes and a bit of roasted malt. Ungstrup (14758), Frederiksberg, Denmark Nov 5, 2005 [At RBSG 2005] An opaque brown beer with a small brown head. The aroma is sweet chocolaty with slight hints of alcohol. While the flavor is sweet roasted with notes of chocolate and coffee, leading to a very dry end. jimhilt (1664), Bow, New Hampshire, USA Oct 30, 2005 Pours a light tan, five finger head, fades slowly and leaves a good lace. Light-medium carbonation and medium bodied. Virtually black color. Nose is coffee. Starts with hints of chocolate and coffee, finish is smooth but a touch of bitterness. $4.79 for a 22oz bottle from Otter Creek Market Otter Creek, Me.
|