Durham Temptation

Brewed by Durham
Style: Imperial Stout
Durham, England

Serve in Snifter

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A-- Poured a dark cola color and settled black. Pour got a pretty big 2 finger head that quickly receded to film and bubbles. On swirling the glass got a half a finger that did the same. Kind of expected a few gurgles with it. No lacing except alcohol legs that left a few circles. S-- Soft,light licorice and coffee smell. Not real imposing at all. Also get some dark fruits as well. Plum mostly. Mind keeps thinking Belgian Strong Dark Ale. T-- Licorice, coffee and roasted plumbs. A little medicinal but not a bad taste at all. More syrupy than anything else but not overly sweet. M-- Lots of black licorice with hints of coffee and plumbs. Medium high carbonation and actually a light feel for the style. Hops are very prickly and active. On the syrupy side but more than workable. Soft licorice finish to this and on the dry side. D-- ABV is well hidden for 10%. Think of this more of a cross of a Belgian style with a RIS. This is not big or massive at all. Pretty easy to drink

500ml bottle - what a nice beer! A classic Russian Imperial, although it lets itself down with the appearance. The head is short-lived, but gives way to a great aroma - smoky and robust nose, with hints of liquorice coming through. A thick oily body gives a memorable mouth feel, a rich bite of alcohol on the tongue and some real dark fruits in there. Excellent and worth every penny.

2007 Vintage. Trade with TheWolf. Pours black with a small creamy lasting brown head. Nose is roast, chocolate, a bit of dark fruit and port. Flavor is smooth and mellow. Port, liquorice, roast and chocolate. Really well aged.

Bottle, shared with my wife. Initially the pour appeared still, then a thin tan head roiled up from the depths and stuck around as a swirly whispy cap. Aroma of burnt malt, dusty peanut shells, molasses.Bitter roast flavour dominates, with sweet molasses, liquorice, light clay, dry dusty wood all wrapped up in there. Finish is moderately bitter, pithy, dry. Body is oily with soft carbonation. Not mind-blowing, but decent and warming.

Bottle. Jet black with a lively tan tight-bubbled head. Powdered chocolate, coffee, roast sugar and some slight alcohol. Oily in the mouth, resinous, coffee, licorice, quite a chunk of alcohol, finish is quite red-winey and vinous with a deep bitter kick in the throat. It’s got "Russian Stout" written right through it. Not my favourite of the Durhams, but still a good beer.

Bottle. The guy in Ninas said it’d be flat but it wasn’t. Dark brown black with a fairly lively tan head. Roasted chocolate and coffee with prunes and burnt sugar. Very nice.

What a waste of time Black, no head.Nose of lt roast,brown sugar,alcohol.Thin unblended palte,mostly alcohol, faint roast.Harsh alcohol bitterness

50 cl bottle, Sheffield, UK via The Dram Shop. Deep opaque black, massive head (result of overzealous pour). Quickly settles. Liquorice, coffee and some green veg aroma. Something sweet but resiny in there too. Thick, oily, sweet and bitter resin battle it out. Some alcohol on the finish, though not very little for the strength. Really nice.

Bottle at home. Pours opaque black with a surprisingly fine and audible fizzyness. No head retention at all as a result. Really nice chocolate raisin character on the nose, with an aniseed hint which becomes more apparent in the flavours, along with a sticky toffee and black treacle presence. The carbonation is a bit abrasive, however this is a lovely beer overall.

Bottle at home. Pitch black pour, thin layer of tan bubbles fades to absolutely nothing. Nose is big liquorice, dark chocolate, some cocoa. Front is rich chocolate, aniseed on the palate, more liquorice, sticky and viscous. Slight spicy hop linger. Bit too fizzy but the flavours are great.