 fredandboboflo (633), East Setauket, New York, USA
Feb 3, 2008 Updated: Aug 11, 2008
Bottle. Aroma pretty sweet, black/candied cherry prevaling, like a gourmet candy, nutty notes. Flavor very much like a dark rum cake, cherry and berry flavors, coffee at the finish just like the description says, some chocolate sneaking in. Absolutely luscious combination. I felt this was the most unique brew I’ve ever had, by far, and in my book, that just bumps up the ratings. Not a stout, not a belgian strong, not like anything I’ve ever tasted. This was a meal and a dessert all in one, and I want more. Now.8-4-10-4-18/4.4
Rerate 8/11/08. Bottle. Wow, either my tastes have changed or I got a starkly different bottle this time around, maybe much younger or something. I actually think both. Aroma was rather weak, sweet semi-roasted notes and somewhat out of place light fruit notes. Flavor was stronger, with more gently roasted character and a good deal of nuttiness. Rather bitter though, I think from a lot of charred malt that really started to build up with me over time. We’ll see what happens when my path next crosses with this beer...
17thfloor (730), Chicago, Illinois, USA
Oct 13, 2008 Watch out, bottle exploded on me all over my tv remote and white carpet. Pours a viscous very dark brown with a little beige froth. Big sticky licorice, prune, rye bread, deep roasted malt aroma that blends well with the obvious high ABV. This stuff is very bitter tasting. Bitter bitter bitter burnt rye bread, actually very dry too. Light licorice, coffee and chocolate. Medium syrupy body that is highly carbonated. Dark.
tytoanderso (1201), St. Louis Park, Minnesota, USA
Oct 11, 2008 11.2 oz bottle. Slightly tart, vinous and seemingly roasty aroma. Bittersweet Belgian chocolate. Wisps of funky De Dolle yeast. Watered down espresso. Prunes and raisins. Not overly bitter roasted malt. Interesting mix of malt and tart yeast. Pours nearly opaque dark brown with a fleeting thick khaki head. flavor is fairly anise heavy. Bitter chocolate. Roasted malt. Some very earthy and slightly dirty hops. Espresso. A vinous yeast presence throught keeps things at least semi interesting. Medium bodied with distracting and mouth filling carbonation. Finishes rather short, roasty and a tad tart.
The bottom of the bottle with the yeast is worlds better than the top 7/8ths. Carbonation is toned down, yeast shines through, anise is tamed. The funkiness of the yeast work wonders with the roastiness of the malt. A warming alcohol presence lingers on the finish. Bonus points for the yeast pour, but the majority of the bottle just didn’t do it for me.
hirigalzkar (53), Stockholm, Sweden
Oct 10, 2008 Bottle. Black. Incredible "brownish" head. Smells like sour choclate (in a good way). Complex flavor. Dry. Lots of choclate. Little whiskey.
CharlesDarwin (1413), State College, Pennsylvania, USA
Oct 7, 2008 33cL Bottle. Light soft cotton, silk, toffee, and chocolate aroma. A really dry, dusty roast note. Maybe a bit of tangy, some Belgian esters, and a nice bit of truffle-liquer. Pours a murky dark brown, with a tall, sparse rocky khaki head. Oooh. Complex. A real rollercoaster of flavors. Starts of airy and explosive with signature belgian yeast profile, a bit spicy and backed with fruit. Then into the chewier caramelized malts, toffees and espresso beans. The darkness ramps up. The some mature complex alcohols and ruby red fruits. Finally, a quick flourish in brief hop and yeast juicyfruit. All of this over a rather light and delicate body. Well balanced, yet rich satisfying complex and delicious. Sorry Tsunami Stout, this is just too good. There really isn’t much wrong with this beer, it’s right on in many dimensions.
KnN (320), Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
Sep 14, 2008 Pours a deep rich brown with a huge tan head. Aroma is nutty, malty, with some chocolate and toasted nuts mixed with a hint of coffee.
Flavor is smooth as silk with just a hint of roasted coffee bitterness and just another little hint of alcohol. This is a very nice stout.
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