 BrotherGrendel (135), San Diego (La Jolla), California, USA
Aug 23, 2008 22oz bottle purchased at the NYC Whole Foods and shipped back to SD, poured into a Duvel tulip glass.
Appearance is a pitch black hue with tinges of brown, modest brown coffee-like head mostly sustains, watery lacing sticks on the glass.
Smell is absolutely amazing, big swatches of milk chocolate cocoa with hints of coffee malts and licorice, hints of dark fruits and vanilla, one of the best IRS aromas I can remember.
Taste is a fairly even mix of chocolate and coffee malts and anise, some roast and vanilla creeps in as does a good dose of smoke and dark fruits (cherries mostly), finishes with a touch of hop bitterness and alcohol warming.
Mouthfeel is full-bodied, mostly creamy texture that goes down easy, very mild carbonation.
Drinkability is high for the style and abv, i am a big fan of the sweet cocoa malts taking charge of the lighter coffee and roast malts, the smokey mid-finish is a great accent, easy-drinking and well-balanced IRS.
Glouglouburp (1935), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Aug 12, 2008 In short: Burnt malts and a lots of hops, a decent hoppy stout bordering Black IPA territory
How: Bottle 22oz, age unknown (probably 6+ months old)
The look: Black body topped by a medium tan head
In long: Nose is more hoppy than roasted, I might even have called an IPA in a blind test. Taste is mainly about burnt malts and citrusy +foresty hops. A little chocolate note and very little fruitiness (if any). Body is surprisingly thin for the style. Roastiness level is high. Attack feels a bit empty. Hopping is supposed to be English but to me the citrusy and foresty hops felt very much american. As an Imperial Stout it is so-so, as a Black IPA it is ok and as a Sake it is a total failure.
alexkeil (14), USA
Aug 1, 2008 Dark, dark, and bitter. Pours black with a brown head - the aroma is bitter chocolate and espresso. The head is attractive but retention could be better. The taste is biting, name appropriate, but I could have used some sweet balance on the tail end - not the best aftertaste.
illinismitty (1408), Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Jul 14, 2008 Bottle shared by a local at Track 84 in Warwick, RI. Pours black with a small tan head. Aroma of wet coffee grounds. Body is slightly thin for an Imperial Stout. Flavor of dark roast, coffee, and char. Bitterness is not overdone. Finished dry with a very very slight off flavor (acetaldehyde or DMS?).
alexanderj (1229), San Diego, California, USA
Jul 8, 2008 Bottle; one of the bigger disappointment of a beer tasting weekend. Poured black with a smallish light brown head. Aroma was very oaty with a good amount of smoke and meat present. Flavor was very roasted and oaty. Just wasn’t very appealing to me. I don’t know if I was overly harsh during the weekend or if this really wasnt that good.
|
