 FlacoAlto (2074), Tucson, Arizona, USA
Apr 18, 2008
Bottle 04111, September 2007 Date; sampled April 2008
A vigorous pour produces a two-finger thick, frothy, fairly large bubbled, creamed cocoa-brown colored head. The beer is almost indistinguishable from black, but does show a touch of deep, dark, burnt-amber color if held up directly to the light. Wow, this smells like a rich, savory candy that is a mix of teriyaki, sesame, and concentrated toffee. Underneath this are substantial aromatic notes of prunes and dried figs that are joined by softer, but quite distinct notes of salty, smoky peat reek. Molasses aromatics play a huge role, just a confluence of the sweet, concentrated malt and the savor malt and peat character. This beer is dripping with umami aromatics; rich, savory, hearty & a concentrated, aged malt character that is just oozing drops of intense malt character.
Thick, but quite a bit lighter than might be suggested by the aroma; in fact it has a thinness that I was expecting before I cracked this beer and smelled the concentrate aroma. Flavors of lightly sweet, yet rich, molasses, Hoisin sauce, concentrated graham crackers, buttery toffee and burnt salt-water taffy; really this beer is not all that sweet, but just enough to keep the richness in check. The finish is dried out quite a bit by a lingering, slightly astringent, light bitter, burnt malt character that adds flavors of cold-pressed black coffee, . The whisky notes are fairly soft here, I think it is mostly a salty, smoky peat-derived character that shows up; it most definitely adds to the richness of this brew.
The flavor of this beer is quite a bit better and richer if you take a few minutes rest between sips, without doing this the beer somehow comes off as being a bit thin. The molasses like character of this brew is perhaps as big as I have ever tasted in a beer and this mixes quite well with a solid smokiness that is quite pleasing to my palate. An interesting beer; I definitely like the balance and character that the barrel aging has brought as it is not too overwhelming here.
Purchased: <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp?PlaceID=698>Plaza Liquors, Tucson AZ
Beerman6686 (654), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Aug 20, 2008 Pours a very dark brown color with a small off white head. Aroma is of sweet malts, and bourbon. Flavor is much the same, really sweet, covers up the alcohol very well but the whiskey is still there but blends in well.
Dogbrick (2209), Columbus, Ohio, USA
Aug 18, 2008 Bottle # from The Anderson’s. The beer pours nearly black with a medium thin and foamy beige head that recedes slowly. Rings of lacing on the glass. Aroma of sweet malt and molasses, plus a bit of espresso. Medium-bodied with a nice roasty character. Flavors of burnt malt, coffee and oak. Whisky notes are very subtle. The finish is roasty and sweet with a lingering malty aftertaste. Very good overall, but it better be considering the price tag. I will definitely look for the 16 and the 30 after trying this.
Immy (1547), Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA
Aug 14, 2008 11.2 oz bottle, #06629/Sept 2007. Black with a small brown head. Rich, sweet nose, molasses, caramel and vanilla, thick malt. Smooth medium body, silky. Somewhat sweet flavors of smoky molasses and roasty malt, whiskey is apparent but works well with the other flavors, adds a touch of booziness. A nice sipper - complex, tasty, not overbearing and rather drinkable.
2L2L2Q (3), decatur, Georgia, USA
does not count  Aug 12, 2008 bottle 11290, Sept 07. Smelled strongly of molasses and poured a very smooth dark color. Tasted like a combination of molasses and coffee. I expected a stronger whiskey taste and smell which I didn’t get but it did leave a nice warm feeling in my belly. Really enjoyed it but at the price, not a beer i would drink all the time.
nbutler11 (108), Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Aug 10, 2008 Poured like espresso from the bottle with a tirm head of tan foam that quickly dissapates. Brimming with the flavors of smoke and pete. Syruppy body with plenty of heat on the finish.
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