De Molen Hemel & Aarde (Heaven & Earth)

Brewed by Brouwerij de Molen
Style: Imperial Stout
Bodegraven, Netherlands

Serve in Snifter

Gushing volcano after the champagne style opening extravaganza. Big pillowy tan head atop a black oil like substance below. Big roasted malt aroma, hint of burnt rubber and band-aid like smoke aroma. Sour flavor with subdued chocolate and smoke. A little tart and not to style. But close to the description. Should be classed as a smoked beer with IS as the base. Decent though.

UPDATED: FEB 10, 2012 Bottle. A real gusher. Dark brown/black liquid with huge tan head. Aroma of peat, coffee, chocolate, licorice, smoke, wood and earthy hops. Taste is light to medium sweet, light to medium bitter and roasted with notes of coffee, peat and chocolate. Medium bodied with too much carbonation. Nice but a bit too much smoke for my taste.

This was not my cup of tea. The beer looks ok but has short fine brown head and then almost black color. THe aroma is loaded with smoke, chocolate but also wet dishrag that makes it unplesent. In the taste you are assalted with loads of dark roasted malts. The taste is also sweet and has a big body but lacks complexity.

Pours black with some brownish edges and a tight light brown head. Aroma is oak smoke, heavily roasted coffee, olives. Taste is leather, bacon, smoke, dark chocolate, some abv, ham. Body is medium-heavy, low carbonation, bitter burnt finish. Overall, pretty good if you like smoky stouts.

Currently drinking while typing. The aroma is heavy and pungent, full of prominent peats, smokiness, dark soy sauce and subtle sweetness. Dark black colour which blacks out most light, minimal head which swiftly dissipated. Lovely dark and deep taste of peats, dark chocolate, smoke, earthiness, soy sauce and burnt edge which leads into a long lasting smokey aftertaste. Huge presence in the mouth, thick and smooth texture with a gentle scrape of carbonation but very, very, very little carbonation. A very good brew on basis of style, massive flavours and another great beer from De Molen!

Bottle at Håndtverkerstuene. Pours black with a light brown head. Aroma of smoky, roasted malt, dried fruits, coffe and chocolate. Lovely smell for those of us that loves Islay whisky. I think this is an excellent Imperial Stout! Sweet with a lasting peaty and smoky taste, just like my favourite whiskies. Alcohol is noticable and bitterness is low, but this is a very good beer!

Tap. Pours black with a high foam. Aroma chocolate, peat. Burnt malts. Strong palate. Not Bad.

Draft. Pour is pitch black with a small tan head. Some retention/lace. Aroma of peat, chocolate, coffee, roast, licorice. Taste is slightly ashy, heavy earth/peat, chocolate, roast, tobacco. Palate is soft, oily, big earthy/peat finish.