 hopscotch (4576), Vero Beach, Florida, USA
Oct 29, 2002 Updated: Dec 7, 2006
Re-rate... Bottle... 2003 (18%)... This beer rocks!... What a gem! So close to being "perfect"! Impenetrably black with a small, creamy, khaki-colored head. Good lacework. Light can’t even penetrate the cellophane-thin coating of beer on the side of the glass as the liquid within is swirled. Poor retention, but a thin layer of wispy, stratus-like head remains atop the beer throughout.
The nose is of shoe polish, tire rubber, used motor oil, alcohol and sweaty socks... but in a good way! ;-)
Extremely well-balanced by the hops and alcohol. More balance than most beers with less than half this one’s ABV.
Flavors of espresso, smoke, wood and earth. Ridiculously full-bodied with a fizzy mouthfeel. Lengthy, bitter, dry finish! As good as 2001’s batch was, this year’s batch kicks it’s ass... and mine too. Goodnight. It’s lights-out for me!...
<<>> Bottle... 2001 (18%)
This beer rocks!...
The aroma is malty and sweet. Espresso and dark chocolate. Slight burn in the nose from the ridiculously high ABV.
Total lack of color. Pitch Black. Medium sized, creamy, tan head. Completely lasting with excellent lacing.
Malty and "SIPPIN’ SWEET." An afterthought of bitterness. HUGE CHOCOLATE and WARM ALCOHOL. Notes of vanilla and coffee.
Creamy mouthfeel with lively carbonation. Full-bodied. Medium length bitter-sweet finish. Awesome Imperial Stout!
lithy (200), Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Oct 6, 2008 Rating #200. Bottled on 10/10/06 I believe, hard to read the date stamp, but green capped. Half of the bottle into the snifter yields a completely opaque black body with a modest tan head that disappears quickly to a lasting ring but a swirl will revive some carbonation temporarily. The nose is potent alcohol that is trying to hide behind a powerful sweetness with smaller notes of roasted malt and molasses. Not quite as viscous as I expected but certainly a thick syrupy coating brew. Very very sweet, but not offensively so. Goes down with a slight burn and notes of roasted malt, licorice, chocolate, sweet dark fruits, some soy sauce and vanilla. Very port like and vinuous. And very good though likely not for everyone. To me another winner from DFH. My other bottle is being put away for a few more years.
Imaena (259), Portland, Maine, USA
Oct 4, 2008 Bottle. I only got a small sample out of the bottle after my partner dumped a good portion of it in a chili by accident. It was a pretty serious catastrophe. Sweet fruits and and chocolate in the nose. Heavy body and thick viscous mouth feel. Unique as it should be at the price point.
BMan1113VR (905), Los Angeles (and Dallas, TX), California, USA
Oct 1, 2008 Bottle thanks to Suttree. Unsure of the vinatage (not date stamped, 2004?). Pours with a small dark brown head that leaves, covering a solid black body. Alcohol legs left on the side of the glass. Good lacing. Aroma is amazing, alcohol, brandy, chocolate, nuts, raisins, liccorice, soy, cinnamon, vegimite, port, rich, complex and boozy. Taste is, unbelievable, wow! Chocolate and booze decadance, immediatly warming, with a astoundingly long (several minute) duration, with raisins, vanilla, port, and chestnuts in the trailing end. Like a fine chocolaty cognac. Syrupy with light carbonation. If you can drink a fine port you can drink this. Amazing stuff!
PeaceRich (1), helsingborg, Sweden
does not count  Sep 29, 2008 Sep 25, 2008
Botled 2004.
chocolate, coffee, toast, roasty, leather, alcohol, licorice, raisin, soy sauce, vanilla, smoke, black, hazy, brown foam, heavy cloying sweetness, very bitter, medium sourness, full body, thick feel, soft carbonation, long finish.
This beer is close to perfection, the alcohol level is very well balanced.
Thanks to Andreas for buying this masterpiece at Oliver Twist in Stockholm.
paytoplay (56), , California, USA
Sep 29, 2008 Dark rich and the alcohol is so high it seems to lift and brighten the flavors. I’ve shared 2 bottles over the past month, consistant notes, 2007 version. Unique aroma and dark fruits, wood, richness and like nothing else I’ve ever had.
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