4.2 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20 iwantalambic (1478) - St. Louis, USA - OCT 13, 2005
UPDATED: NOV 24, 2009 12 oz bottle (sampled November 2009): same pour as I remember...thick and black, seemingly missing any semblance of head and then an abundance of brown bubbles start at the center and quickly form a huge 3 inch dense, thick and lasting head...almost overflows my Duvel glass...the hop resin has died into thick, sweet caramel aromatics and flavours, increasingly sticky and overly bitter and acidic in the finish. Still incredibly thick and gooey. Doesn’t compete in my opinion with an Expedition stout from the same year aged the same amount of time, but still tasty and very drinkable. Cheers!
12 oz bottle (fresh in October 2005): deceptive pour – initially it looks flat, but suddenly a huge, dense, fluffy ruby brown head rises out of the black abyss that is the body. Eventually the froth diminishes, but I am left with a half centimeter of thick foam. Aromatic hop resin with burnt rye, freshly cracked pepper, toasted (though moist) tannins, and apple butter. Creamy, vinous, hop laced palate. Thick cherry and raisin soaked flavour with flecks of carbon, gooey alcohol, and bitter hop flowers and citrus rinds. After trying a variety of Bells’ beers with several having characteristic yeast and hop flavours, this one however is unique, this one is special in its own right, well done guys!
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20 jeff789 (1277) - West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA - MAY 9, 2012
Black, small tan head, light lacing... burntish earthy very very dark fruity aroma raisin prune fig and the like... licoroce smoke burnt very earthy a little dirty tasting dark fruits... full bodied quite lively...
3.8 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20 watson1977 (1244) - The dub c, Pennsylvania, USA - APR 25, 2012
Pours black with ruby hues and a medium mocha head. Aroma is a bit boozy and has dark fruits, candied fruits, fig, raisin, and some sweet coffee. Flavor has a distinct dusty taste...almost mushroomy...and also espresso and nice burnt notes to go with dark fruits...tobacco...now that jeff mentions it i get some licorice. Mouthfeel is full and the finish lingers and warms with dark fruit and coffee...lt tobacco.
4.4 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 17/20 ryanfolty (754) - Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA - APR 21, 2012
UPDATED: APR 22, 2012 Date: April 21, 2012 Mode: Bottle Source: footbalm Description: Pour was opaque black with some head that faded quickly and lacing. Aroma is wood, alcohol, red wine, caramel, roasted malt and vanilla. Taste is relatively consistent with aroma, but the wood and alcohol were most prevalent. Palate was thick and very smooth. Still holding up well after all these years. Thanks to Eric for this tasty brew!
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20 djd07 (1704) - Houston, Texas, USA - FEB 25, 2012
Bottle. Pours a dark brown with no head. The aroma is smokey malt and roast. Thin mouthfeel with a chocolate roast and smokey finish. A very good Imperial stout from Bells.
2.6 AROMA 5/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 5/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 10/20 womencantsail (3927) - Home of Rebecca Black, California, USA - FEB 14, 2012
The pour is just about black in color with no head and very minimal carbonation. Strong notes of soy sauce and licorice. There is definitely some booziness to it and lots of roasted malt, maybe some dark chocolate. Quite oxidized. Things don’t change much on the palate. Heavy on the soy sauce with a strong sweetness. Licorice, roasted malt, and a hint of toast. Really just oxidized and old.
4.6 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 18/20 dmschefke (526) - Macomb, Michigan, USA - FEB 2, 2012
Old notes. Pours a deep thick black with very thin tan head. Aroma wonderful of chocolate, slight floral hops, molasses, roasted malt, mild espresso, and a little bit of heaven. Flavor matches all too well and makes for one hell of a brew. I really wish I could get my hands on a ton more of this.
4 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 17/20 kylefleeger (100) - Tempe, Arizona, USA - DEC 30, 2011
Smokey, strong, toasty and full of chocolate! Thanks daknole for nearly every dope beer I’ve had. Caracurtis, thanks for the rest!
4.2 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20 Strykzone (3132) - Wood River, Illinois, USA - DEC 22, 2011
Sampled at an esbls tasting. Black! No head. Pours like used motor oil. A nose of whiskey and char. This tastes what I want an imperial stout to taste like. Raisins, whiskey, soy. So good.
3.9 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20 hbmason (1036) - Shoreline, Washington, USA - DEC 5, 2011
12 ounce bottle pour. Thanks madvike! Pitch black pour with a little tan head. Booze and black licorice aroma. Thick chewy chocolate taste. Real deal.
3.8 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20 adnielsen (3750) - Fort Collins, Colorado, USA - OCT 21, 2011
Bottle @ home, courtesy of daknole. Huge thanks! Deep black appearance with a very deep brown head. Deep chocolate malty, caramel, slightly syrupy, a bit boozy, rich malty aroma. Thick, very roasty, deep rich malty, caramel chocolatey, slightly boozy, super rich flavor. Roasty chocolate aftertaste. Thanks again Dak!
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