 Aubrey (2554), Denver, Colorado, USA
Apr 14, 2008
2008 Strong Ale Fest (Boulder, CO): Deep burgundy with a nice head. Intense aromas of coffee wafted up. Creamy smooth; full body. Drenched in sweetness (syrup, caramel, chocolate). Big, bold flavors and aromas of espresso and cream. Lesser notes (but still strong) of vanilla bean and dark chocolate. Mild bitterness fecklessly tried to keep up. Very tasty beer, albeit a bit too sweet for me.
bb (2001), Martinez, California, USA
Jul 26, 2008 Bottle. Dark mahogony beer with a brown head. Vanilla, chocolate, light roast aroma. Big caramel, chocolate, vanilla, coffee, and bourbon flavors. Bourbon complements in background without taking over. Alcohol noticeable, but not overpowering. Medium-plus bodied. Chocolate, bourbon, vanilla, and big malts linger.
JohnnyJ (639), Reno, Nevada, USA
Jul 26, 2008 Pours a dark black with tan head. Another great dessert beer, one of many that I have had recently. Very sweet and chocolaty. The aroma is a little to boozy, but time should help that out. Cocoa, coffee, sweet toasty malt, creamy chocolate, vanilla,and definite yet restrained bourbon and oak. Very nice creamy mouthfeel. This is a nice beer and should age well.
bleeng (267), Spring near Beersel, Texas, USA
Jul 25, 2008 Bomber. Dark black with a small white head. Nose of chocolates, maltiness, burnt wood, and lots of alcohol. Not subtle. Taste is sticky and very alcoholic and hot. The chocolate is subdued after the strong nose. This needs to sit and calm down-it’s way too young and the rating should go up past 4 if it ages properly.
after4ever (1652), Brier, Washington, USA
Jul 25, 2008 22. Thanks, Terry! Solid black. Thin, burnt tan head. Rich roasty chocolatey nose. Creamy thick body. Some carb, but very restrained. Roasty, even a bit acrid, but just in spots--you really have to nurse it across the tongue to notice that. Some rich herbal hop notes bite a bit at the end. Rich, smooth, roasty, chocolatey.
rkuhnel (980), Eureka, California, USA
Jul 25, 2008 After prying off the wax seal, which was a bit of a pain, this 22 oz bottle opened with a satisfying hiss, and poured a jet black into the glass. Some beers are dark, this one was like a black hole. The head was large and creamy, and very long lasting, in fact so long I got impatient waiting for it to settle so I could check the lacing. But what appeared at the top of the glass looked good. The nose on this one is mostly of coffee and chocolate, with distinct hints of the bourbon oak barrels this sat in. The palate was simply divine, being rich and creamy. Flavors are dominated by the coffee and the alcohol is hidden very well. The finish is dry and bitter. A simply exceptional beer. I drank this at about 45 degrees, and think had it been ten degrees warmer it might have been even better.
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