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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Bottle generously shared by a BA at the Rapture release. Poured a pitch black body under a brown long lasting head. Aroma of coconut, vanilla, bourbon, oak, charcoal and chocolate cake. Fuller syrupy body with a touch of obvious heat. Flavor of chocolate, bourbon, vanilla, oak, tobacco, tar. Good good stuff.

UPDATED: DEC 26, 2009 Draft @ FiftyFifty, 2009 Elijah Craig version. Pours a very dark, chocolate-brown color; medium-brown head (thin) with attractive fine-bubbled lacing. Pleasantly oily, charred malts and dark chocolate in the aroma; tempered alcohol, warming, lots of dried dark fruits; I don’t see much difference from previous renditions. Dense, oily, full mouthfeel: lots of pepper, dark chocolate, and dried dark fruits; some lovely oily and inkiness; relaxed carbonation; just enough bite to this - a solid vintage of an excellent beer. Medium finish: dark fruits, chocolate, nicely toasty, hidden alcohol at the end. 8.4.8.5.16=4.1

22oz bottle. Pours a very dark, chocolate-brown color; minimal light; medium tan head with fine-bubbled lacing; solid pour. Lots of milk and dark chocolate, roasted / toasty malts, and a very soft, vanilla-laden bourbon / woody character in the nose; very nice, soft bourbon-aged imperial stout nose; some spicy, toasty graham cracker notes. Full mouthfeel: loads of dense, generous milk chocolate, roasted / burnt malts, and nougat upfront; roasted coffee, dense, chewy milk chocolate, and plenty of vanilla-tinged, chewy soft bourbon presence; really pleasant, soft bourbon presence with some buttery vanilla and sweet brown sugar; excellent barrel character; soft edges. Slightest show of warmth. Excellent, oily presence in the mouth. Lengthy finish: oily milk and dark chocolate, roasted malts, coffee, and warming alcohol; toasty malts and coffee at the far end. 8.4.9.4.16=4.1

Split a 22oz bottle of the 2012 or 2011 (Purple?) vintage three ways. This poured a dark black color, with a dark tan head. Aroma was sweet and roasted notes - barrel, booze. Bourbon character, vanilla, some barrel in there. Very nice, subtle, subdued flavors, very smooth drinking - vanilla, chocolates, no harsh notes around the edges here.

22 oz. bottle. Pours dark brown/black with a small tan head. Nose is chocolate, bourbon, roast, oak, vanilla and dark fruits. Flavors are the same. This was consumed side by side with the 18/20 yr. version. This was not quite as smooth and showed more woody qualities. Still good, but not as good as the 18/20 year.

22oz bottle, #2504, pours a lightly viscous, opaque black with some clumpy beige head. Nose is coconut, vanilla, brown sugar, cake icing, chocolate, caramel. Flavor is sweet, brown sugar, malty, coconut, chocolate, cake icing, caramel, a little wood. Lots of vanilla. Full bodied, sweet, very smooth finish. Nice.

22oz bottle with purple wax. Pours a very deep caramel brown with a nice tan head, light lacing. Great nose of light bourbon notes along with vanilla, toffee and caramel. Nice and drinkable, not overbearing.

(22oz purple wax bomber #99/2009 thanks to ericandersnavy) Pours jet black with tan head. Aroma of dark chocolate, espresso, dark roasted grain, dark fruit and light black licorice. Flavor is very much the same but twice as strong and a touch of honey. Mouth feel is heavy body with low carbonation and a creamy body. Overall, damned good stuff!

22 oz bottle, 2011. Dark brown with spotty bubbles and lacy rings. Nose is bourbon, dark chocolate, peppery oak and molasses. Body is substantial and hot but not pushing it in either case. Delicate prickly carb lightens and lingers. Taste like the nose with the mellow bourbon set off beautifully against the rich chocolate and molasses. Hints of coconut and raisin. Delish.

22oz bottle shared by Sean, ’09 EC version. Rating #131. Dark cola colored almost black with very little head. Light bourbon, vanilla and a bit of wood in the nose, very nice. A little boozy, hot in the back of the throat, bourbon and vanilla, nice sweetness, real tasty. (1478)

22oz bottle, thanks to DanielCoor for sharing. 2012 vintage. Dark brown color. Lighter brown, thin head. Good lace. Really amazing nose... Huge, pleasant woody-spicy whiskey barrel aroma. Bigger smooth body. Pretty creamy. Light apple, light spice. Nice bitter taste. Good citrusy hop note. Big roasty bitterness. Dark chocolate, bitter coffee. Nice sweetness. great stuff. Awesome woody spiciness from the barrel. Huge flavor, but not flooring, in the way that liquor would floor you, still super good. Super long tasty aftertaste to savor.