Haandbryggeriet Dark Force

Brewed by Haandbryggeriet (Norway)
Style: Imperial Stout
Drammen, Norway

Serve in Snifter

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Batch 73, Brewed April 2007; Sampled November 2007
Very well carbonated, and as I pour it the aroma makes me think of Brettanomyces. The head is somewhat large bubbled in consistency, initially four-fingers thick and even flows over the rim of my glass a bit; it is a light brown color and is quite long lasting. The beer is almost black in color and is quit opaque. Aromas of dark malt, toasted grain, toasted bread crust, coffee, ample chocolate and perhaps a bit of traditional, sharp wheat aromatics are noticeable underneath all of dark, roast character. Once I get into it, the aroma is not nearly as funky as I thought it would be (at least from those initial Brett infused overtones); it is still here though, much more subtle, but with a distinct vinous character as well as some aromas of tart fruit. This mostly smells like a roasty stout, a touch of tartness and grain character that could be attributed to the wheat as well as a touch of funkiness.

Much more funky in the flavor than the aroma ended up being, though it is still somewhat subtle, or at least I could see how it could be missed given all of the roast grain flavors that are here. Fairly light bodied (definitely lightened by the Brett / funk), though it does retain a soft creaminess, that is able to show through the ample carbonation. A few quick swirls of my glass frees up some of the excess carbonation and softens the beer a bit more. The beer in the near finish has a light tartness to it that is contributed by burnt grain, the wheat and most likely some of the funk. This tartness is superseded in the finish though by a sharp, lingering, burnt bitterness. Funky notes of moldy cotton and musty wood also linger in the finish. Really though the roast grain is what dominates the flavor profile here; flavors of coffee, dark chocolate, chalky roast grain husks, well toasted whole wheat crust and sour / bitter espresso. This has some fruitiness to it as well, of course the fruit tastes like it has been well burnt underneath a broiler, but it does evoke taste memories of burnt prunes, roasted figs and perhaps a touch of raisin.

As the beer warms, the funk begins to pick up a sharpness, almost a harshness that can at times muck the finish up a bit. Still this is a pretty good brew. I’ll have to see if I can get a fresher example of this brew to see what that is like (though for a beer of this type, seven months should be nothing).

Full bodied stout, with a dry texture. Pours completly black, with a light-brown head, that leaves a nice lacing. Aroma of pine, coffee, wood, chocolate and some liquorice. Warm alcohol feeling at the end, but not too dominating. A good balanced and tastefull stout that I would really recommend.

Dark black with white head. Roasted malts, coffee, dark chocolate. Nothing too original here, but a high quality imperial stout. I don’t get the use of wheat, as it is masked by roasted typical stout flavour. Nevertheless, a good beverage.

500mL bottle, batch 353. Pours opaque black and throws a thin and wispy dark tan head. Aromas of roasted malt, soy sauce, molasses, a little smoke, some alcohol. Medium sweetness, mild burnt bitterness, flavours of caramel, dried fruit, chocolate, coffee, toast, some alcohol. Full bodied, soft carbonation, very creamy, a slight astringency with a long bitter-sweet finish.

This beer is confounding to me because it’s one of the few that just completely overwhelms. To me it tastes significantly stronger than it actually is, and has such a thick, distinctive character to it that it just takes over-- the couple times I"ve had it, I"ve not really wanted to drink anything else. Just let it have its way with me and be gone. So, good, and incredibly interesting, but no real drinkability for me.

A - pours opaque brown with very high coffee brown head that solidifies and lasts. Leaves a 1/2 finger fluffy ring. S - strong aromas of smoke, astringent, burned malts. M - strong bodied simple palate. Lingering simple smoke flavor. T - smoked malts, toasted malts, astringent and a metallic tinge. Hint of coffee. O - pretty good. But very simple smoked oatmeal stout. 6+/7-

Bottle at Craig’s house, thanks! Dark brown, with tan head bourbon nose. Chcocolate, cola, fizzy carbonation, dry chalky chocolate and a hint of coffee in the finish.

In bottle. A black beer with a fair tan head. Aroma of dark chocolate, roasty malt, vanilla and a little smoke. Similar flavours with mild carbonation and an oily mouth-feel. Alcohol is well balanced. Lovely.

Bottle. Pours a pitch black color with a tan head. Aroma is of wheat, dark fruits, dark cherry, roasted malt, coffee, dark chocolate and a tartness. The flavor follows the nose with lots of dark fruits and dark cherry, roasted malt, wheat, red apple, dark chocolate, coffee, roasted malt and a subtle tartness. The body is on the full side of medium with a dry mouth feel. Overall a pretty different and tasty Imperial Stout.

Dark brownish black with a chocolate head that leaves behind a little lacing. Aroma is liquorice, raspberry, plum, chocolate, coffee. Smoky on the palate, slick mouthfeel, good bodied, subtle bitterness on the finish.  Taste is liquorice, molasses, chocolate, smoke, coffee, brandy, touch of soy sauce. Well balanced, delicious, and I think the wheat adds an interesting character.

Batch 411. The beer pours a used motor oil black with a dark beige head that dissipates quickly. Smells light dark, bitter chocolate with hints of red fruit and date. Full body. Has a great both feel foe being a wheat. Red fruit followed by a bitter chocolate and finishes with a dark roasted coffee. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone