 Nate (2256), Indiana, Pennsylvania, USA
Nov 5, 2006
From bottle I picked up last year in TX. Sitting almost a year in my cellar. Big complex nose. First thing I smell is ripe blackberry with dark bitter chocolate. Following is vanilla and wet oak, mild cafe creme, and Tootsie Rolls. Licorice and fruity vinuous esters and mild alcohol vapors. Thick oily black, clear, with wispy but lacing dark cocoa-powder brown head. Medium to heavy body, not at oily as I would have predicted, but chewy nonetheless. Coats the tongue and throat with thick sweetness, and has nice alcoholic warming amidst medium carbonation. Starts with big roasted maltiness, sweet licorice and vanilla, cocoa and cafe creme, and just a hint of smokiness. Woody tannins and vinuous bitterness are followed by a quite large hit of hoppy bitterness. Not quite chalky, but definitely leaves a dry, dry finish over the underlying coffee and chocolate-raspberry sweetness. Just a bit too bitter at the end for me, and is the biggest detriment. Otherwise, this is a wonderful sipping stout, with a lot of great character and one to savor at #1600.
xpimptastikx (27), Austin, Texas, USA
Oct 13, 2008 Pours a viscous black with a milk chocolate head that bubbles forever, leaving a ring and good lacing. Smells of an vanilla, oak, and raw cocoa. It fills the mouth with a delightful creaminess hiding the alcohol bite well.
First oak aged stout I’ve had, and I love it coming from belgian strong ales and barley wines. I’ll be picking up more bottles of this.
oldbaldguy (12), , Minnesota, USA
Oct 12, 2008 Great aroma with hoppiness balanced nicely with a big blast of oak. Taste is also balanced with very complex malt flavor. I get strong flavor of dark fruit such as plum and raisin. The oak seems more assertive than other beers in this style that I’ve tried, but I find this to balance perfectly. This one is a winner.
Indulgence (124), Ajo, Arizona, USA
Oct 12, 2008 It’s clear why this is one of the best... a beer with distinct character of aroma, flavor and balance.... the hops provide an fruity sweet acidic balance to the dark roast of malts... smooth and alcohol is almost non existant. This goes great with cheesecake.
BarliTruebeard (17), Greeley, Colorado, USA
Oct 3, 2008 This has got to be one of my most favorite imperial stouts of all time. Rich thick head, excellent lacing. Aroma of chocolate, toffee, vanilla, wood. Extra creamy smooth taste. The alcohol bite is covered well by the wood chips. One of the best I’ve had. I highly recommend pairing this with vanilla icecream. Oh so good. Better than Old Rasputin and Stone IRS and Ten Fidy.
Rune (1812), Tromsø, Norway
Oct 3, 2008 Completely black body with a dark brownish, bubbly head. Great glass-lacing. Succulent aromas of cocoa and hops together with a peaty touch behind it all. Well blended taste of chocolate, caramel and roasted malts backed by hops and gentle liquorice acidity. Even bitter coffee notes can be spotted. Smooth and velvet in the mouth. Harmonious and amazingly balanced. Nothing less than a masterpiece (500ml from tap shared with larsga and reakt at Plan B, Copenhagen 15.09.2008, and 250ml on tap - guest brew - at Nørrebro Bryghus, Copenhagen 20.09.2008).
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