 kujo9 (1044), North Ridgeville, Ohio, USA
Nov 12, 2007
12 oz bottle 8/17/07: Very little CO2 released upon pouring... Very thick and syrupy looking. A thing ring of bubbles forms around the top of the beer along the glass. Blackish brown liquid. The sparse head that forms is remeniscent of a Rorschach ink blot! Aromas start as burnt and acrid when chilled on the first whiff. Not quite like burnt coffee and even less pleasant; Chocolate, caramel, chocolate chip cookie dough, toasted nuts hid behind the burnt aromas, but peak out as it warms. Faint perfumey alcohol, moderate bourbon and lightly oaked wood notes. Vanilla gets stronger as it warms and I think I’ve also gotten some faint herbal hops. Flavor starts out acrid, burnt, and bitter the same as it does in the aroma, but thankfully not quite as intense. Chocolate and coffee are more evenly balanced as it warmed. Caramel, toasted malts, vanilla, light bourbon all present and accounted. Some doughy malt aftertaste. Semi dry finish, and the aftertaste is lightly bitter from grains & hops with a lightly burnt coffee flavor. Smooth, creamy texture, well hidden alcohol, fuller body, and lower level of CO2. I was not impressed by the first whiff, but as it warmed it became quite pleasing! I think this will age well if you can somehow hang onto more bottles, but nice now even when young!
unclemattie (1585), Georgia, USA
Sep 4, 2008 12oz twist-off bottle. Vintage 2006. Big bourbon barrel aroma. Lots of vanilla, coffee, wood, big chocolate. Smells of charcoal. Big bourbon and vanilla flavors. Full bodied Stout.
thickfreakness (63), Austin, Texas, USA
Aug 30, 2008 Thanks to a friend for picking up an 07 4-pack of this in Indiana for me. A vigorous pour into my glass leaves a one inch dark, oily mocha colored head that fades to some lacing. This one is pitch black. The smell is coffee grounds, cocoa, slight bourbon/vanilla and astringent oakiness. Flavor is much of the same with a huge hit of coffee and oakiness followed by a smooth chocolate and bourbon finish. So Texture is velvety smooth. Alcohol is slightly present at the finish with a slight burn in the back of the throat but it also warms the belly. Compared to fresh I much prefer the aged smell and flavor; the fresh was much more coffee centric and a year+ on this one has allowed more character to come forward and made it much more balanced and flavorful.
dkachur (781), Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
Aug 30, 2008 12 oz. bottle courtesy cdumler. Thanks Chris! Dark brown pour with a small brown head. Very strong and very bitter roasted coffee aroma with oak and vanilla trying almost in vain to fight their way through. Taste is strong coffee, very roasted malts and oak and vanilla notes. Full bodied. People who don’t drink coffee beware, this will be over the top for you, as it was for me, but it is a damned good beer.
Capa (738), Yokosuka, Japan
Aug 26, 2008 Dark with a deep tan head. Strong bourbon aroma with some chocolate, molasses, and dirt. Smooth bourbon and roasted malts in the flavor with light cocoa, and that damn dirt again. The body is perfect for the flavor. The bourbon is a little harsh in this one but I’m sure another couple years in the cellar will fix that.
Schultsc (407), Henderson, Nevada, USA
Aug 25, 2008 400th rating! Thank you Armsby Abbey in Worcester, MA. Pours a pure, opaque, oily black with a very fine, thin, shimmering caramel head. Heady aroma of sweet coffee, caramel malt, dark dried fruit, and oxidized notes along with a slightly smokey, almost honey edge. Flavor contains the perfect level of sweetness to support and compliment the incredibly complex, multi-layered flavor profile. The first level of flavors consists of dark roasted malt and subtle hops bitterness followed by bourbon sweetness, smoke, and wood-aged characteristics. Coffee is present as well but doesn’t overpower or dominate the other flavors. Still more flavors arise with a hint of dark black cherries and well-integrated alcohol. The body is perfectly balanced with smooth, mouth-filling expressions of bitterness, sweetness, and the full range of flavors in between.
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