 GAManiac (344), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Apr 29, 2008
Wowzers! This guy just exploded out of the bottle with a 3+ finger off white head that threatened to overflow the snifter. The head literally stayed nearly one finger thick the entirety of the session and left some serious lacing. Pours black with only the slightest hint of deep mahogany tints around the edges. Beautiful if not slightly out of control. Big whiffs of dark sweet malts with caramel, toffee and chocolate scents. Dark fruits in there as well, figs, plums and raisins maybe. Slight smoky smell throughout. Massive and complex with a whole lot going on. First taste of dark malts, molasses, chocolate and dark fruits. Caramel and toffee flavors are also evident but all the sweetness is balanced by the strong hop profile, mainly piney, resinous hops. There is also the smoky backbone that weaves itself in and out of the taste. Borders on taste bud overload. Like the appearance...tasty if not slightly out of control. Thick, creamy mouthfeel coats the mouth but lingers with a slight hop bitterness and the stinging of the alcohol. Wow, I’m not sure I could have more than a couple of these in a week or so. Massive beer all the way around and the sensory assault just slightly takes away from the drinkability. Despite that, I will actively seek out other HoD brews after this baptism by fire.
TeamTrappist (169), jericho, New York, USA
Oct 1, 2008 12 oz bottle from batch 72. Poured a dark chocolate cloudy brown with a light brown small but thick looking head. It just looks like its a thick beer.The nose exploded upon opening the bottle,sweet, chocolate, belgian yeast. Some decent carbonation, and interesting complex flavor, with a very bitter finish,and a strong hint of alcohol. Hints of cola, chocolate, with a smokey tinge. This is no doubt hearty.
danielcurtis81 (100), San Diego, California, USA
Sep 22, 2008 Bottle. Batch number 70. Pours a rich brown. Very tobacco-like on the nose. Very sweet in flavor. Very rich, chocolate, raisin, and dark dried fruit flavors. Finish is smoky like a cigar. Very different ale but a really really good.
Hawksfan17 (657), Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, USA
Sep 20, 2008 Pours dark brown with a mocha head. Rich dark chocolate aroma. Sweet, rich, and strong are all appropriate to describe this complex flavor. Little bit of smoke on the end there.
sneagrams3 (1451), St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Sep 19, 2008 Tasted 9/16/08. 12oz bottle. Pitch with a brown hue. Beige ring of head. Coffee and cola aromas.with hints of rum raisins and dark berries. Toffee note and a woody smokey quality. Full bodied with a big palate and big alcohol. Smokey flavors. Sticky malts and mild effervescence. Great to have, but not too often.
bleeng (304), Spring near Beersel, Texas, USA
Sep 15, 2008 Bottle thanks to TexasJeep at the Houston Sept. RB tasting. Dark brown with a small head. Nose is chocolates and fruit. Taste comes out as chocolates, sweetness, nicely hopped. Body is a bit thin but the alcohol is very subdued. Nice drinking beer.
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