Hopfenstark Kamarad Friedrich - 5 Star Edition (Oak Aged)

Brewed by Hopfenstark
Style: Imperial Stout
L’Assomption, Canada

A deep dark stout with a thick dark brown head, lacing and onctuous. A musty vinous chocolate aroma with dark fruits, light soy sauce notes and molasses in aroma. In mouth, a sultry bitter chocolate with warming alcohol, light vanilla and flral hops. Like a good belgian dark chocolate. Rich and onctuous. Bottle from the brewery, March 2008. Sampled august 16, 2008.

The pour reveals a black color with brown highlights. Interesting aroma of oak, chocolate and roasted malt. Very good flavor of oak, chocolate and roasted malt, it’s dry all along and bitter in the end. The body is medium with a liquorous, creamy texture and moderate carbonation. It’s nicely balanced and very well done.

[1246-20080401] Bottle. Toated bandaid roast malt aroma with dry earthen wood and a mild fruity base. Dark black brown body with a long-lasting bubbly tan head. Sweet fruity roast malt flavour has a full earthy peat base, notes of smooth dark chocolate and barely noticeable alcohol. Full solid body. Really well-brewed, lovely.
(c/o a friend)

Bottle,500 ml. Black as night with moka head. Earthy aroma of oak, cocoa and raspberry. Extremely well balanced flavor. Almost no sign of alcohol, very potent bitterness. It taste like a raspberry coated with 85% chocolate. It’s truly Imperial, Nicolas would have been pleased.

Bière #27 au Mondial 08 ྾/5/08), bouteille. Brune noircie, très peu de collet. Arome de malte boisé, réglisse chocolaté. Goût de choco malté, fruits sûrette, avec une finission amère plaisant. Mieux que l’original!

Enjoyed at Mondiale 2008. A festival-stopper. Brought out the character of their regular IS through six months of oak barrel ageing. There is sediment. The coffee exceeds the chocolate. Sourness is here but then there are layers of complexcity. Sugar-like mouthfeel, about medium. Wood bit Sediment in glass.

Bottle shared by puzzl. Deep pitch black beer with a thick dark brown head. Aroma is quite unusual with a soft earthy/tobaccoish chocolatey aroma. A bit of black licorice and a light cafe con leche sweetness. Flavour is quite earthy and oaky with a light vanilla/caramel note. There is a definite difference between the wood that this brewer uses and most of the barrels that other barrel-aged impys have seen. Similar buttery/chardonnay quality as was seen in the framboise. Lingering fruity/earthy quality on the back. Another lovely beer.

Same bottle as puzzl, shared by the brewer. Black pour with some brown head. Aroma is wood, chocolate, sweet roast, but overall there is something odd that stands out (I think from the wood). Flavor is woody also, vanilla, buttery, chocolate malt, roast, and still the same odd woodiness. Alcohol is well hidden.