FiftyFifty 2011 Imperial Eclipse Stout (Brewmasters Grand Cru Blend)

Brewed by FiftyFifty Brewing Co.
Style: Imperial Stout
Truckee, California USA

Serve in Snifter

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bottle... dark brown, a bit of black, dark tan head, but not a ton of retention, no lace... pretty nice aroma, brownies, sweet malt, a bit of wood... the taste is a touch hot, lots of alcohol, bakers chocolate, a bit of char and rubber, but the chocolate is good enough to make me like this... pretty solid

Name: Eclipse Grand Cru
Date: March 24, 2012
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, HMOG
Appearance: black, wispy tan head, bits of lace
Aroma: sweet roasted aroma, caramel and vanilla sweetness
Flavor: rich chocolate and bourbon flavor, vanilla sweetness
Aroma: 8/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 17/20
Rating: 4.1/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: ***+ /4

2011 bottle (#2209) from GT2 from the free beer week...thanks GT! - Pours black with a thin brown head. Nice bready yeastiness with smooth whiskey and toffee. Very nice mellow booze, with butterscotch, big roast, and charcoal. Not tons of carbonation--pretty smooth and thin. Really liked this one overall--doesn’t have the sharp angles of booziness, yet it’s not overly sweet. Excellent.

22oz bomber shared...pours black with small oily head of cocoa color. the aroma is chocolate and coffee and vanilla...this was drank at room temp...the warm alcohol warmth all the down was phenominal...the chocolate and coffee flavors mixed with the vanilla and barrel aging process is mind blowing this is a great beer wish i had a few bottles of this one.

Out of the bottle at Gourmet Haus during a tasting of all 8 2011 Eclipse series. Amazing aroma of coffee, vanilla and chocolate. Beautiful black with dark brown head that lingers forever. Some nice lacing on glass. Silky sweet flavor with chocolate and well balanced with the different barrels. Along with the 18-year from Elijah Craig, my favorite of the flight.

66cl Bottle at AHBS, copper wax 2011, ABV 9.5%. Black colour, beige-brown head. Aroma of alcohol, oak, bourbon, hard roasted malts, chocolate. Flavour is sweet, bourbon, hard roasted malts, moccha/coffee, molasses, chocolate, bitter roasted finish. Fullbodied.

22 oz bottle. Dark brown with a lacy tan head. Nose is dark chocolate, almost minty, caramel, oak and brandy. Oily medium body with a slight tingle. Tastes like chocolate liqueur with hints of mint, again, dark roast adding a bitter note, Concord grape and then the barrels take over. Finishes woody with whiskey. This was interesting but not as good as the single barrel versions i’ve tried.

65cl, at 9.5%Vol, no Vintage (yet with copper wax), Bottle N° 1500, new exclusive American brew Anno 2011, with honey, thx to Secret Santa!, very complex Stout, roasted/woody and slightly sweet/alcoholic, heavy, yet balanced, hazy, small head, very good Winter brew, yet very expensive!

Like the other variants, black in color with minimal head formation. Lots of roasted malt and almost a mild char. Quite a bit of vanilla and whiskey. A fair amount of booze but some nice chocolate and molasses. The flavor is a bit heavier on the roast and char than some of the other varieties. Not all that much sweet malt flavor or spirit. Some whiskey and booze with moderate vanilla notes on the palate. Good, but not the best from the series.

[4321-20120309] 1pt6floz bottle. Rich honeyed roast malt aroma has a strong barrel base with vanilla hints. Slightly hazy, black red-hued body with a quick brown bubbly head. Roasted sweet barrel malt flavour has a lingering sweet vanilla playdough. Full body hides most of the alcohol. A tasty treat! (8/3/8-/4/16) 3.9-
Overheard: "Why does your book have a melon-centerfold?"
(c/o HogTownHarry, w/ him, blankboy, GregClow, jerc; Bottle #2483)

22 oz bottle from West Lakeview Liquors (Chicago, IL). Pours a rich opaque cola black hue. Thick and rich, tiny loose brownish head dies to a tiny ring, laces minimally. Thick body. Aromas are rich barrel, touches of spirit offering whiskey and oak, a gentle kiss of brandy, vanilla kicks it into gear. Sweet sticky toffee, caramel, cocoa. Touches of coffee, roast, and more chocolate. A touch of heat, almost a distinct char element with some peppery elements, spirits. Initial is healthier end of medium bodied, firm yet a bit thinned from the barrel blend. Lots of barrel presence, yet not hot. Rich oak and spirit, whiskey, vanilla, sweet toffee and caramel. Touches of cocoa, coffee, and roast, but sweeter slanted towards the malty sweeter end. Rich barrel, vanilla presence, wet oak. Wow. A bit thin, lingering sweet sticky malts, gentle roast, toast. Complex rich barrel presence, a bit sweet, but not overbearing. A solid and unique experience from Mr. Ashman here. Very nice. The EC 18 wins the year of 2011 however.