 StewardofGondor (1934), Washington Heights - Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Oct 10, 2005
Moderately thick pour and impenetrable black in color. A once dark tan head has left a sparse web in its place. Aroma has all indication of an impy: deep, dark rich chocolate, roasty, burnt almonds, singed bark, scant trace of ABV and pervasive cocoa espresso. Flavor heavily zings. Like a bitter espresso oil spill. Next sip, and it zings again, imitating a lick from a French roast press. Delinquent dark chocolate twirls from the flames and happily wreaks havoc on the palate. This bitch is rich. Burnt breakfast toast adds a new layer of nuance, closely followed by yet another, this time in form of blackened oats clinging to the sides of Calphalon. Oily blanket and bitter unfoldings on the palate. Amped up and ready to play with a prolific hopping profile. Finishes like maple and brown sugar oatmeal that took liberty in its preparation by substituting espresso for water. A spawner of adjectives in its present youthful form, and destined to take on additional descriptors over time.
JaBier (84), Capital City, Ohio, USA
Nov 29, 2008 12oz bottle. Dang, I forgot to write down the batch number on the back label (he he). Pours pitch black with a huge tan head. Aroma of bourbon, dark fruit, chocolate and coffee. Flavor is pretty much the same, with the alcohol presence being just a tad too much. Surprising, seeing as this stuff was bottled in ’05. Wonder what another year or so might do. Still an amazing beer.
Hophead22 (365), Redlands, California, USA
Nov 26, 2008 12oz bottle from pantanap, thanks Kan. Pours like oil, dark tan head. Great aroma, dark roasted malt, dark fruits, very rich. Nice little bitterness to it, coffee, dark bittersweet chocolate. Very tasty brew.
antisnobJP (271), St. Michael, Minnesota, USA
Oct 22, 2008 Bottle. Had first one almost 3 years ago, and last one now. I remember the first one taking an hour to drink. I spilled a drop on my sock and the spot never completely faded in the wash in two years. That should tell you all you need to know about the depth of blackness in both color and flavor of this beer. Intensely flavored and mind-numbingly viscous. Actually feels like you are drinking evil. Good evil.
cgarvieuk (2614), Edinburgh, Scotland
Oct 16, 2008 Bottle at home ... <br /> Thanks to one of my traders for this ... sorry i kept forgetting who ... </b> WOW this is a Stout.!!!! ... Maybe a Stout crossed with a Barley Wine ... Saying that mmmm .... Deep black ... no head ... sweet caramalised toffee barley wine malt nose ... Sweet juicy deep and rich ... low carbonation ... medium to full body ... rich vineous fruits ... litttle spirit ... some deep roast malts ...little chocolate ... quite sweet.
PilsnerPeter (1631), Flushing, New York, USA
Oct 13, 2008 Bottle: Shared by beastiefan2k back at the hotel during G.A.B.F. 2008. Opaque pour with a deep khaki dense lacing head. Very pungent and sweet nose. Chocolate syrup, espresso, boozy and burnt. Slick and thick texture. Sugary sweet flavor with burnt espresso roast and chocolate liqueur. Extremely rich and hard to drink.
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