 kujo9 (1044), North Ridgeville, Ohio, USA
Jun 27, 2004
2001: Pours thick, brown/black, & oily. No head & very little lacing. Lots of aromas...sherry, port wine, oaky wood, raisin, hints of roastiness, and very slight hints of hop. Also some malt whiskey, fruity alcohol, and chocolate. Port wine most predominant in the finish of the nose as one sips. English yeast character in the very finish of the nose. Very malty start, but well balanced; roastiness more prevalent in the flavor than the aroma. Raisins, port wine are the predominant flavors, lighly sour in the finish, aftertaste is of alcohol fruitiness & roast. Earthy yeast character and a little woodiness. Not quite as complex on the palate as in the nose, but still very good. Light carbonation, full body, litghtly acidic on the tongue yet very smooth. Alcohol is well hidden. Very fine R.I.S.! It’s a nice change from the coffee flavored American versions that I’m used to, and I much prefer the English types to the American. Not that they aren’t both well made most of the time, I just prefer a more fruity, traditional RIS.
stoutlover72 (1342), NorCal, California, USA
Nov 30, 2008 Enjoyable beer, and one that I shared with some family members while enjoying Thankgiving 2008. The beer has a perfect pour, deep black in color, a rich, creamy, thick 2-finger head which stayed the entire length of the drink. Aroma was roasted malts, dark chocolate, and slightly musty. Flavors had the same characteristics as in the aroma, with a bit of earthy anise and alcohol thrown in. Decent beer.
BelgiskOlklub (260), Viby J, Denmark
Nov 21, 2008 Bottle at The Warf, Aalborg. Average size creamy dark lasting head with good lacing. Hazy black body. Aroma of coffee and roasted and toasted malt, tar and licorice. Full body with a sticky texture and a soft carbonation. Heavy sweet and light/moderate bitter. Powerfull.
illidurit (492), Santa Cruz, California, USA
Nov 20, 2008 Odd little bottle purchased at Ledger’s in Berkeley. Dated 2003. Poured into a snifter. Deep viscous black with browned edges. No head whatsoever. Coats the glass with a swirl.
Aroma is unusual, more along the lines of a Flanders red than a RIS. Deep winey berries and grapes drizzled with chocolate. Portlike and very alluring.
Flavor is nothing like the aroma, really. Still acidic like wine but the flavor is leathery and woody. Vinous quality like chewing on grape seeds. Regains some white wine fruitiness with warmth, but not much.
I have to dock this beer’s mouthfeel and drinkability for the lack of carbonation. Body isn’t really all that thick, and the wine-like qualities help create a dry finish.
Really interesting beer. Something you should try even if you end up not liking it.
CaryTheDude (489), Ripon, Wisconsin, USA
Nov 19, 2008 Kinda crushed with Jakebra. Really thought I was drinking Sam Adams Triple Bock. Soy sauce like a motherfucker. Not AS offensive as the tripele bock, but still. What the fuck. Finishes surprisingly clean. Damn.
lithy (385), Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Nov 17, 2008 2000 vintage. Expecting either a religious experience or a gag-inducing soy sauce. Broke the cork from this terrible bottle type. Slight sour whiff when opened. Pitch black pour with absolutely no head. Biting nose, soy sauce, tobacco, slight chocolate. Taste is horrendous. Burned toast, soy sauce, earthy tobacco, pitch, cheap chocolate and watery pine tar finish. I really would like to get a ’good’ bottle of this beer to rerate but I’m in no hurry.
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