 Rastacouere (5258), Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Jun 10, 2007
Alright, I had the chance to get a sample of that (2005) in Copenhagen, then I tried the new 2007 version at Oliver twist a few weeks later and retried, some days after, the 2005 thanks to my very generous Göteborg hosts: Marsiblursi. First off, the regular Stormaktsporter is an excellent imperial stout and rather tough to beat in complexity. I don’t quite understand the purpose of setting it in a barrel. It is apparently a rather short journey that it takes (2,5months), yet the effect is considerable as bourbon is obvious in the nose, but the low duration has allowed the body to keep most of its thickness, silkiness and richness.
So what do I think about it? Well, first off, I prefered the 2005 version which is 1% lighter and more developped and rounded around the edges at this point. The 2007 is still a fair bit boozy. The 2005’s complexity is more obvious and the concentrated fruitiness from the regular comes across more naturally. Appearance-wise, they both wear a fair diminishing dark beige head. Totally opaque, oily body, pitch black. The 2007 actually left legs on the glass. Gentle alcohol flavours, rum-soaked grapes, heady nose with wild leather smokiness, mint, vanilla (strong), chocolate roastiness and hard to pick up single fruits. Complex nuances, age-worthy, silky full body with honeyed and brown sugar tones. Very creamy, smooth carbonation. it manages to feel quite vinous at the same time, full on truffles, earth mushrooms powderiness and growing date square undertones. You can eventually all kinds of little nuances, which is the sign of a great beer. Still, at the end, I’m not convinced I prefer the barrel version and remain unconvinced that the rarity does not make me try harder to pick out stuff. Certainly a fine experience though. I’ll just give both Stormakts the same score.. but it is a sipper and I’m less into those that I once was.
pivnizub (3768), Porúří, Germany
Aug 11, 2008 Bottle (RBESG 08): Pitch black with a small beige head; turpentine, vanilla, toasted malt and wood in the nose; very full bitter-sweet flavour, full bodied, creamy MF; long, long, long finish: chocolate, cacao and so on. Great, great stuff...............
Miksu (1244), Jyväskylä, Finland
Aug 10, 2008 0.25 l bottle (2006 vintage) at SOPP2008, Helsinki. Pitch black color with small creamy tan head. Sweet aroma with plenty and vanilla and whisky, coffee and chocolate is more on the background. Rich flavor with bourbon, vanilla, coffee, chocolate, salty licorice and sherry. Very warming and a bit sharp palate. Excellent dessert but I prefer the ordinary stormakts porter as this is slightly too whiskyish.
DSG (835), Yuvalim, Israel
Aug 9, 2008 (6/29/08) Bottle sample at RBESG08 grand tasting in Plzen. Black-colored with a brown head. Aroma of roasted to burnt malt, some sweet chocolate notes, cocoa and some coffee. Quite dry roasted-burnt flavor of malt, cocoa and a bit of dark fruitiness. Full-bodied. Looking forward to try a more proper sample of this from the bottle in my cellar.
bu11zeye (3628), Frisco, Texas, USA
Jul 31, 2008 (Bottle, 2006 vintage) Pours a dark brown body with a thick tan head. Aroma of roasted malt, light smoke, bourbon, and chocolate. Flavor of vanilla, roasted malt, light licorice, wood, and bourbon.
mjs (481), Helsinki, Finland
Jul 31, 2008 (2006 bottle at SOPP) Black. Medium-sized bubbly brown head. Nose has got liquorice and chocolate. Full and bit oily palate with little carbonation. Liquorice, chocolate, coffee, sweetness, Finnish Easter pudding, vanilla and whiskey in taste. Long lasting aftertaste. Simply fantastic.
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