3.9 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20I have had the good fortune to have several bottles of this beer come into my possession over the past few months, so I figured it was high time I opened one - this particular bottle (bottle #7600) was sent my way by one beastiefan2k - many thanks, Eugene - this is really want you want an IS to look like - thick dark pour, with a substantial tan head that clings to the glass - the nose is quite vinous, with some bourbon-ish character, alcohol warmth, roasted malt, anise, the faintest hints of oak - smooth, creamy mouthfeel, the familiar texture of oats used in the brewing process - the flavor is quite roasty up front, with notes of licorice, cocoa - this is followed by light vinous character, very subtle hints of the barrel - finishes with espresso-like bitterness and warming alcohol - fairly smooth and balanced for its strength - not world class, but damn close.
4.4 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 18/20
Bottle # 5834
A - Pours completely opaque. On top is a dense and creamy 1 finger nitro-bubbled head that’s a light mocha color.
S - A strong waft of sweet milk chocolate up front. The whiskey barrel is very apparent and provides nice charred/roasty aromas. Lots of roasted malts, rum cake, toasted rye bread, molasses. One of the best smelling stouts I’ve come across.
T - Roasted malt enveloped in dark cocoa and sugary espresso. Some roasted marshmallow sweetness as well as some dark fruit-mostly raisins. The wood is not shy and contributes strong bourbon and vanilla flavor. Some smoke and caramelized sugar. Quite a bit of hops add bittering overtones.
M - Soft carbonation, full bodied, thick, sticky, tenaciously velvety, rich, viscous, incredible! A robust smokey sweet finish leads to a roasty wood aftertaste.
I noticed no infection. I thought I smelled a tiny hint of brett right when I poured it but it could have been in my head.
This beer is BIGTIME! The aroma alone is worth the buy. It’s unexplainable. The incredible texture is the 2nd best thing, and the flavors are bold and robust.
I’m going to pick up another bottle and age it because as awesome as this beer is now, it will be even better with some age on it.
Serving type: bottle
04-28-2011
3.8 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
750ml bottle - pours dark brown. Nose is sweet chocolate with bourbon. Flavor is similar to nose. Boozy. Dry. Creamy.
3.9 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
750 ml. bottle, shared. Pours black with a decent tan head. Aroma of roast, chocolate, fruit, and wood. Taste is roasted malt, dark chocolate, tart fruit, oak, and vanilla. Chocolate and tart fruit at the finish. Nice.
4.3 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 17/20
Bottle from Mane Liquor. Pours jet black with a thick, tan head which leaves great lacing and stays for the duration. Nose shows thick fudge-like chocolate and a perfectly balanced note of smoke - not peat, just light smoke which doesn’t overpower anything. Taste comes through with heavy dark chocolate - not overly bitter like some, light liquorice/molasses, fudge-like chocolate and vanilla notes. Everything is in great check. Balance is superb. Very creamy mouth feel with a lengthy, yet not over the top bitter sweet finish. Really good stuff
3.2 AROMA 1/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 3/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 19/20
Aroma: Robitussin. Not appealing at all. Byproduct of the yeast strain infection. Appearance: jet black with creamy beige head. Taste: the malty stout and whiskey flavors struggle a David v goliath battle against the dominant, cough medicine bile of the yeast. Definitely complex and interesting as it dramatizes a narrative in your mouth, but this is one story in which you don’t want the bad guy to win. And he does. Palate: great airy mouth feel. Soft and diffusive, as though it turns to gas and the villainous yeast sneaks away into the ether. I give this a 19 in the overall category solely for the complexity and mouth feel. The Brett yeast is, indeed, an unfortunate accident here.
4.1 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20
2011 bottle. Pours black with faint cherry red hue...aroma is the most unique kind for a stout....aroma is dark fruits and funky almost like a belgian...i heard the 2011 batch got infected with brett yeast...so i think thats what i am noting. Taste is awesome...if brett was an accident i say do it again heavy full bodied roasty and funky...very different ...chocolate and dark fruit come through on finishh enjoyed this one !
3.7 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
Aroma has a bit of a tart fruity cherry note to it. Some balanced roast and chocolate notes. Also some apricot and plum. A light vanilla and oak character. Not much alcohol or hops in the aroma.
Pours a dark brown, not quite black with little to no head that quickly recedes quickly. No lacing and little legs.
Flavor starts with sweet chocolate and lots of fruit. The fruit is plum, cherry and a bit of grapes. A light roast character with a lot of sweetness. No hop flavor and light hop bitterness. No astringency at all. Light alcohol spice in the finish.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied with light carbonation. Astringency is very low and alcohol warmth is medium low.
Overall this beer has a bit of a thin mouthfeel but has a really nice flavor. Very fruit forward with some chocolate but not much bourbon notes.
---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone
3.4 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 13/20
bottle. pours black with not much head. aroma of ash and chocolate cherry. taste is kinda thin bitter chocolate not much barrel flavor
3.9 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
75cl, Vintage 2011, Batch 2, Bottle N° 17393, exclusive American brew, from De Bierkoning Amsterdam, very complex Stout, roasted/malty and slightly spicy/woody, not too heavy, balanced, cloudy, good head, very good brew, yet expensive!
4.1 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 16/20
Bottle. Pours jet black with minimal tan head, some retention/lace. Aroma of chocolate, espresso, vanilla, oak, tobacco, roast. Taste is very rich; baker’s chocolate, vanilla, molasses, prune, bourbon. Palate is super soft, creamy, rich finish.
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