FiftyFifty Imperial Eclipse Stout - Brewmaster’s Grand Cru Blend 2011

Formerly brewed at FiftyFifty Brewing Co.
Style: Imperial Stout
Truckee, California USA

Serve in Snifter

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very good beer. i am, happy with it. i havent had every single version of eclipse this year, but i was able to pick out at least 4 of the versions here melding together oh so nicely. the aroma is nice but not as distinguishable as the flavor. its really nice and complex, i got some buttered popcorn from the buffalo trade, some spicyness from the rye, some bright classic bourbon notes from the EC barrels(likely the 18), and then some smooth tingly richness in the finish from the brandy version. i was really impressed that i was able to pick out any of them, much less several, and that they all worked well and were not just muddled into a mess. extra point for execution. well done. i would try this last after trying as many other varieties as possible, but at the same time i think fresher is better on this one complexitywise. itll probably get smoother and lose the traits of some of the barrels over the next year or two.

Bottle at Stone. Black with a short lived creamy tan head. Aroma of bourbon chocolate dark fruit and leather with vanilla notes. Palate is smooth almost silky but tending toward oily. Taste is bourbon vanilla caramel and chocolate up front followed by dark fruits leather red wine and brandy and finishing with light citrus coffee vanilla and candy with lingering alcohol roasted coconut and floral perfume characteristics on the far back end. Nice complexity. Nice transition of flavors. Excellent.

2011 copper waxed bomber, #2346, from Frank Smith’s. Pours thick dark black with little head. Nose is huge oaky bourbon, vanilla, plum and blackberry and port. Tastes rich, thick oily, with big notes of molasses, cacao, some coffee, roasty malt, black licorice, and a complex finish. This one is outstanding.

Aroma- marshmallow, coffee beans, milk chocolate, bourbon, oak, molasses Appearance- pitch black, thin white head Taste- soft, velvety bourbon burn upfront, followed by some chocolate, roasted notes, caramel, more bourbon, roasted notes and an insanely smooth finish blending all of the components together Palate- not as thick as I normally like but the mouthfeel on this thing is unreal, smooth and coating without being cloyingly thick Overall- A perfectly blended BA imperial stout. Everything is there making this one of the best beers I’ve ever had.

Bomber, 2011 #1806. Poured deep brown with a lovely, rich, deeper, swirly, yellowy-beige head.. settled down a little too quickly. The aroma picked up sweet bourbon and vanilla overtones, with well-roasted black malts and blackstrap molasses supporting.. a little aquavit and juniper accented.. very interesting and complex. The flavor found tangy bourbon and oak on the tip of the tongue, with warm, well-roasted cocoa and molasses following.. more of the bourbon and just a touch of gin character over sweet, tasty, toasty malts on the warm finish.. loved it! Medium-plus bodied with moderate-plus carbonation on the palate.. buttery-smooth across the middle, with welcome acidity on the front and back.. excellent blend, and excellent beer!

Amtran87 with the hookup! Dark brown pour, tan head. Coconut, vanilla, oak, bourbon. Flavor is sweet, vanilla, light roast, awesome shit!!

Huge props to hopscotch for sharing bottle # 659. One hell of a 900th rating. Dark brown/black pour with a tan head. Big fudge, booze, and dark roasted malt aromas. Just an outstanding imperial stout with all kinds of fudge, mellow booze, caramel, dark roasted malt, and maybe even a little brandy. Simply delicious...

Aroma of sweet caramel, molasses, cherry chocolate and slight meat. Pours black with a red head. Taste is all chocolate cherry notes. Finishes with french vanilla coffee. Very amazing.

Bottle shared by Doug, thanks
Appearance: Dark brown with medium sized brown head some and good lacing, good legs
Aroma: Roasted malts, bourbon, vanilla and woody
Taste: Roasted malts, bourbon, leather, oak and some hot alcohols with a dry finish
Very good and tasty. Complex.

Near squid ink pour with a small copper head that diminished quickly. Fragrant aroma of sweet bourbon, vanilla, oak, cocoa, and cashew. Loads of molasses, Godiva chocolate, maple, toffee, and again a nice dose of bourbon. Chewy, delicious!