3.2 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 2/5 OVERALL 13/20
From a growler. Obtained in a trade with Stine 2/29/08. Pours an oily dark black, edged in mahogany, topped with a thin layer of wispy tan head. Some of the carbonation seems to have been lost, but there are no signs of detrimental oxidation. Beautiful nose, sticky with that salty pretzel dough-bourbon barrel character. Layers of rich dark chocolate and blackstrap molasses. Oaky vanilla and chewy fudge. There’s a distinct bourbon booziness to the nose, but it actually works well with the other components and isn’t overly harsh. Medium bodied, lightly carbonated mouthfeel with a silky texture. Firm, yet not sticky. Lots of chocolate fudge and molasses appear immediately on the palate, along with hints of honey and caramel. Then comes the bourbon, unabashed. WAY too much bourbon, so much in fact that most non-beer drinking college students could likely identify the brand of bourbon barrel from tasting this beer. If I didn’t already know it was a Jim Beam barrel, I might have guessed Wild Turkey; even though my cheap American Bourbon palate is relatively un-refined, I’m still fairly confident I could have narrowed it down to one of those two. After the chocolate and molasses dissipate, there’s just a harsh, husky booziness left lingering on the palate. It leaves that same stinging, throat clenching sensation at the finish that one gets after downing a punishment shot. The nose of the beer is quite beautiful, but the bourbon overpowers the rest of the flavors to the point of eliminating all that was beer. Disappointing, but still grateful for the opportunity to try this. Thanks a ton, Eben!
4.5 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 18/20
Rating 1400! bottle with big thanks to DalzAle for this ultra-rare treat. Opened at home with a few friends, served from my Minneapolis Town Hall glass. Pours opaque black, 1-finger tan head, poor lacing Nose is big coconut/vanilla, mocha, hugely rich aroma, very decadent, like a black forest cake with a shot of bourbon. Flavours of vanilla, coconut, more chocolate cake, big black chocolate,quite yeasty towards the finish. Just an unreal Imperial Stout. Thanks Greg!
4.4 AROMA 10/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20
Smells like a hershey’s chocolate bar infused with espresso, freaking awe inspiring, WHOA DANG! Quite viscous mouth feel and coating. Taste is rich chocolate, bourbon, char, vanilla and roast from the coffee. Really dry and fantastic, I have to make the release this year.
4.4 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 10/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 18/20
This hits all the basea, great aroma of malts hops an%, thick, strong and foamy.
4.3 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 20/20
Pours black with no head. Very tasty. Perfect blend of stout favours and barrel favours as well. This is one of the best shoups I have had tonight. Rare yes. Delicious yes.
3.8 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Bottle shared at Huny day. Dark brown pour with a small mocha head. Huge bourbon nose. The body is a little thin. Tons of bourbon and dark toasted malts.
4.3 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
Black pour, brownish head. Aroma of bourbon, oak, vanilla, chocolate. Flavor has some nice notes of dark chocolate followed by sweet bourbon, vanilla and some anise hints. Damn fine!
4.1 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
Bottle. Black. Beige head. Stark aroma has lots of barrel and smells dry. Bourbon underneath is gorgeous in the flavors. Really lively fun vanilla but never overpowering. Perfect balance of sweet and booze, with a solid beer beneath that can pull off all the adjunct flavors from the barrel aging. So smooth.
---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone
3.4 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
Bottle shared by mattyb83 & mtjoesph, pours dark brown/black with slight ruby highlights and a thin reddish tan head. Aroma of bourbon, vanilla, chocolate and licorice. Taste is sweet , figs, a bit thin, roasted malts, acidic. Overall flavors are well balanced and bourbon does not take away from other flavors but it’s a little thin. Pleasant and enjoyable.
3.2 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 2/5 OVERALL 13/20
Bottle. Had to use a corkscrew to get the fucking cork out. Thing was jammed tight in there. Oily black pour with a thin tan skin of bubbles. I wouldn’t really call it a head. Otherwise this is dark, black with some brown/ruby highlights. A lot of oak and dark fruits in the aroma with some chocolate and bourbon notes in there as well. Taste is vanilla, graham cracker, some chocolate, with a not too pleasurable finish that is boozy sweetness. Pretty hot. Very thin if you ask me. I compare fitgers and town hall a lot, and after drinking czar jack yesterday I would take that over this beer any day.
4.4 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 17/20
Pour out of bottle at Winterfest 2012, dark oily black pour with thin tan head, aroma brought big notes of chocolate covered cherry and other dark fruits, nice vanilla and bourbon notes that are a bit harsh but blend seamlessly with the roasted coffee and dark chocolate notes. Taste is also a nicely mixed blend of sweet chocolate covered fruits mixing with dark chocolate and coffee, but also some caramel, vanilla, and oak mix with the bourbon, finishing fairly dry and slightly sweet. Could drink this all night!
|
