 HogTownHarry (3118), Toronto (Harbourfront), Ontario, Canada
Dec 31, 2006 Updated: Jan 5, 2007
Bottle (12oz). Rating #2000 - New Year’s Eve 2006, 19 months after joining RateBeer - and a big thank you to Mike mds for the gift of this bottle with my name on it - I just HAD to use it for #2000. Here goes. Poured deep black walnut with a tiny fizzy off-white head. Very nice sweet overroast malt aroma, nuts, coffee grounds, molasses, pungent spices, tart redfruit and herbal hops, quite a spicy, tangy brew as it warms. Taste is a bit sour, really - persimmons & yeast, cold weak coffee and dry hops, mildly boozy in the tart finish, nowhere near as sweet or roasty as the aroma. The body is a little weak, more porter-ish than stout, a touch acidic and while it isn’t super carbonated, there’s plenty of residual liveliness to it - no aftertaste. Perhaps it’s thinned out a wee bit (it is retired), but the backbone is a solid stout, if the finish is a little wan ---- once again, big thanks go to Mike for this one - and thanks to all the regular crew for sharing and helping me to this milestone - blankboy, tupalev, GregClow, jerc, mds, beigaman, mabel - drink up, boys! (and girl) ... now onward to 3,000!!!!
SpringsLicker (1751), Tennessee, USA
Jun 22, 2008 Pours black with a fleeting off-white head.
Spiced coffee aroma, this has aged well.
The flavor is tart roast malts delivered in a smooth body.
Solz16 (4), Illinois, USA
does not count  Jun 21, 2008 Got two of these from my brother. Aroma reminds me of a fall beer. Lots of spices, I detect a hint of nutmeg. Apearance is a silky dark brown with a small amount of tan head. Goes down very well, very smooth. You can not tell it has 8 percent alcohol. One of the best stouts I have ever had.
polomagnifico (378), Saginaw, Michigan, USA
May 11, 2008 300th rating!! Found 2 of these beauties at the steinhaus in Bay City, MI. Vintage is unknown but 2006 is the very latest. From what I’ve heard these two are at least 4 years old. Aroma is so wonderful!! Very smooth chocolate, smoke, hard wood, roast malt, dark dried fruits like raisins and prunes. Sherry, port, and spice make up the tail end. Just phenomenal!! Pours black with an average sized creamy head that mostly diminished but left great lace. Flavor is divine. Nice roasted coffee and chocolate tones with hints of molasses, smoke and wood. Just incredible!! Palate is silky smooth with some soft carbonation and very very subtle alcohol on the finish. So incredible and so sad. One of the best beers I’ve ever had but also one of the rarest. Complex but simple, rare and special. What a story and what an experience. I’ll remember this brew till the day I die. The best aged stout of my life.
decaturstevo (1095), decatur, Tennessee, USA
May 2, 2008 btl shared by Springslicker. Spicy aroma with coffee and light chocolate. Dark brown with almost no head or lace. Very chocolate flavor followed by the coffee. Very good mouthfeel and carbonation. Overall very good. thanks Jay
dukefan (160), Aurora, Illinois, USA
Apr 17, 2008 Purchased six pack during the 12 Stouts of Xmas. Yikes - the spice in this beer just didn’t mix with the dark malts. Was not a fun experience.
|
