FiftyFifty Imperial Eclipse Stout - Elijah Craig 12 Year Barrel

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

Serve in Snifter

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66cl Bottle at Sloshfest, 6 of the 2011 bottlings side-by-side. Black colour, beige-brown head. Aroma is a lot sweeter than the 4 Roses, oak, bourbon, hard roasted malts, chocolate, sugar. Flavour is sweet, bourbon, hard roasted malts, coffee, molasses, a little metallic from all the sugar, chocolate, bitter roasted finish. Fullbodied. Lacks a bit of balance.

Bottle at Stone Oakquinox 2012. Black pour, thin dark tan head. Chocolate, bourbon, molasses, raisin, sugary, and some vanilla. Not as smooth and less vanilla than the 18 year.

I drank this originally from a tasting glass at NotB then re-reviewed and scored off a bottle from Nate on 3/20/2011... The beer pours a super dark black, hardly any head though. Poor lacing... The aroma is great, chocolate brownies, vanilla, bourbon finish. Not decadent or overstated, very restrained. Outstanding... The taste is superbly balanced, tastes great, and easily crushable. Fudge brownies, vanilla, light bourbon, a nice warm alcohol sensation in the middle, and the finish has some nice roasted coffee notes. The full spectrum is displayed and perfectly integrated. I had the PVW last weekend I think I almost prefer this, would love to do a side-by-side comparison. I originally rated this a 4.6, this time its deservedly higher.

Bottle thanks to Sandstone, rated about a year ago before this beer had its own listing. Pours jet black with a nicely formed small tan head and a little lacing. Looks a bit better than the tap version. Aroma is really great, with vanilla, whiskey, sweet rich chocolate, and roastiness. Flavor is also excellent. You have your typical imperial stout flavors - roast, chocolate, and mild coffee - all really intense and in your face, then you’ve got your -bal aged flavors - vanilla, oak, and whiskey. Mild hop bitterness as well that I didn’t get as much of on tap. All this melds really well together, with just some mild tannins to keep it from a perfect 5. Fairly full and smooth on the palate with low carbonation and just a slight hint of booziness. Drinkability is pretty good, and overall, this is really a great beer. Get it if you can. I recommend sending me a bottle of Midnight Sun M in exchange for this.

Bottle shane brought to the tasting last night, good call dude, glad to finally get to try this after going to the brewery twice at the wrong time of year. Pours black with a light brown head. Nose is sweet with a big rich bourbon bite. Taste is sweet and rich, and full of flavor. Quite good.

Tap at FoBAB 8. This is the Elijah Craig version. Same appearance. Nose is much nicer. Perfumey bourbon, vanilla and toast. Chocolate and anise peak through. On taste, well integrated bourbon notes prevent it from being a bourbon bomb. Nice spicy oak notes as well. Probably my second favorite of the lot. 9-5-8-4-16 (4.2)

11/26/10. 2009 elijah craig #147. dark. almost black with a soft tan head. milk chocolate aroma... bits of creamy, brown sugar, ash, spice, roast, vanilla and mellow bourbon exist as well. the flavor is very rich and the bourbon doesn’t over power everything. aftertaste is chocolate-y bourbon goodness. medium to full body, creamy texture and all around impressive. 8.5/4/8.5/5/17

Bottle (#182, 2011) thanks to Bruce at THE Eclipse tasting, 2012. It pours very dark brown, with a small light tan head, which quickly dissipates. The nose is upfront bourbon, vanilla, medicinal aspect, tar, treacle and toffee. The taste is roasted malt, charcoal, tar, wood, mellow bourbon, burnt earth, dark fruit, toffee, medicinal, toast and toffee, with a dry, warming finish. Full body, fine carbonation and thankfully not too cloying. Well balanced, mellow and flavoursome... good stuff!

Courtesy of kmweaver. Black body with a small tan head. The nose is big chocolate, toffee, roast, coffee and alcohol. The flavor is very sweet, lightly bitter with chocolate, dark fruits, astringent coffee, bourbon and molasses. Full body is a bit rough with moderate carbonation.

22oz bottle, 2009 #880 generously shared by footbalm, thanks again
Appearance: Pours coal black with a small tan head with very little lacing, but some legs left on the glass after a good swirl to get more of that great aroma
Aroma: Dark malts, bourbon and oak
Taste: Smooth and silky mouthfeel. Dark malts and fruits, oak, grainy and chocolate
Very good and smooth drinking