FiftyFifty 2011 Imperial Eclipse Stout (Buffalo Trace Barrel Blend)

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

Serve in Snifter

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Sampled at an esbls tasting. Black. Coffee and nuts are smelled. Soy, too. Coffee flavor with soy and ash. Good!

2011 bottle, yellow wax. Pours a little darker than I remember the 2010 versions being with the same thick beige head that leaves some spotty lacing. Aroma is heavy on the bourbon and oak. There are some heavily roasted malts, bakers chocolate. The nose has a bit of earthy charred character, which is almost like a Danish-style stout, and nothing I’ve gotten in other Eclipse versions. The taste is sweeter than I was expecting with more chocolate than in the nose, maybe even some vanilla. Roasted dark malts and a toasted caramel character as well. Finish is all about oak and bourbon with a hefty burn going down. Mouthfeel is smooth and fuller than I remember in previous iterations. The alcohol is very evident. This is a very good barrel-aged stout but probably not one of the absolute best from FiftyFifty. I think I’ll let a couple bottles mellow for a while because I think it would be even better when the bourbon becomes more subtle.

650 ml bottle shared by colonelforbin. Thanks Mike. 2011 Vintage. Yellow wax. Pours a dark brown with a small tan head that settles to a ring and leaves some light lacing on the glass. The aroma is cocoa, marshmallow, bourbon, some oak, a decent amount of vanilla, and a bit of alcohol. The initial taste has a bit of sweetness with marshmallow, oak, cocoa, bourbon, vanilla, and a light roastiness. The finish has more vanilla with a light bitterness and leaves some lingering oak and vanilla. Medium body. Low carbonation. Another solid Eclipse. Perhaps a touch too sweet, but one of the better Eclipses I’ve had from this year. Not sure if this one is a victim of bottle variation because I’ve only had the one bottle so far.

Nice and smooth. I tasted more whiskey than bourbon...tasty. Nice carmel head, lacy fingers, not too sweet on the aftertaste. Really enjoyable. Alcohol masked well. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

Poured a pitch black color with a off-white head. Aroma was boozy, bourbon barrel notes, touch of vanilla and chocolate. Roasted malts, with a bit of woody barrel. Very interesting.

Out of the bottle at Gourmet Haus during a tasting of all 8 2011 Eclipse series. Sweet chocolate aroma. Deep and dark. Lots of cola flavor compared with the others.

Dark brown body, almost black. Thin off-white ring of foam. Leaves a few patches of lacing behind. The aroma consists of honey, light spice and a hint of licorice. Ethanol and chocolate notes as well. The flavor is similar to the nose. Chocolate, booze, earthy cocoa and a hint of dark fruit. The body could definitely use a few more bubbles and bit more weight. On the thinner side for the style. Overall, I thought both the Elijah Craig 20 and Grand Cru versions from this years release were noticeably better. This variant doesn’t stand out much, even among other barrel aged stouts. Opening the brandy variant tonight.

65cl, at 9.5%Vol, Vintage 2011 (with yellow wax), Bottle N° 574, new exclusive American brew, with honey, thx to Secret Santa!, very complex Stout, roasted/woody and slightly alcoholic/fruity, not too heavy, balanced, hazy, small head, very good Winter brew, yet very expensive!

2011 bottle, sampled with the rest of the 2011 Eclipses. Yellow wax. Pours an opaque brown with amber highlights and a small film for a head. The aroma is warm, with a good deal of bourbon, chocolate, molasses, vanilla, coconut, and oak. The flavor is the same, but not as boozy as the nose. Medium-bodied, with low carbonation and a smooth mouthfeel. This was my third favorite of the 2011 Eclipse lineup.

Black in color with low carbonation and a small tan head. A really harsh booziness on the aroma. Astringent roasted malt and overdone in terms of the charred oak qualities with only minimal vanilla and chocolate character. The flavor is hot and heavy on the charred wood and roasted malt. Only mild chocolate with some hints of coffee. Just way too much booze to really be enjoyable.

Very big melded bourbon notes and toffee in the nose. I was expecting a big bourbon beer but the taste did not add up with the beer. Very subtle and lacking in the flavor department (IMO) I did like it just felt a little led on. Flavor was nice chocolate with just a hint of bourbon. Runner up in the series.