Nectar Ales Black Xantus

Brewed by Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Style: Imperial Stout
Paso Robles, California USA

Serve in Snifter

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Bottle from Bevmo. Poured a soda like dark brown with a somewhat unique colored head; like a reddish tan. Aroma of wood, fruit, roasted malt, cocoa, caramel and sugar. Solid aroma. Flavor was pretty soft and smooth for the abv. Probably not as tasty as expected, but still quality. Coffee, fruit and roasted malt predominate; very earthy and woody. Some caramel and sugary sweetness as well. Some alcohol warming in the finish; perhaps some aging would have been a tad beneficial, but it wasn’t too hot.

Sampled at FoBAB 09. My girlfriend told me she found some firestone walker and I was on it. Thick, black pour with a small tan head. Aroma of dak chocolate, dark fruits, smoke, burnt wood. Flavor is semi sweet, somewhat bitter, a bit fruity. Thick and viscous on the palate. Definitely a great Imperial stout.

dense black body, viscous and thick pour, slowly rising dark brown bubbles settle out into a thin film of a coffee-colored head. some light noticed at the edge of the glass. nose is malt-driven: dark fruit, touch of smoke, bit of charred meat, decadent dark milk chocolate. rich and viscous texture, perfectly weighted body for the low to medium natural sweetness (overripe plum, caramelized dates, touch of black cherry). cocoa/chocolate is present, medium dry, not overly sweet, thank god. rich blend of chocolate and plum syrup reminds me of certain expedition bottlings. light char and light wood tannins in the finish. surprisingly good imperial stout that succeeds because of it’s restraint: 11%, subdued rather than overt oak, mild presence of non-primary ingredients, let the malt do the work. awesome stuff.

FOBAB 09. Pours dark brown with a tan head. Aroma is of bourbon, chocolate, wood, roasted malt, and coffee. The chocolate smells rich, and absolulely delicious. Taste starts off with a sharp alcohol bite, that never quite subsides. Has a very sweet, rich chocolate flavor. Almost like drinking a candy bar. Lots of wood, caramel, coffee, and bourbon. The bourbon doesn’t overpower, and just blends well with the rich chocolate and other flavors. Has a big roasted malt backbone that ties the beer together. Lingering dry wod taste. A bit off a letdown after the amazing aroma, but it was still very good.

Sampled at FoBAB 2009. Pours apitchblack pour with a big head, bubbly tan that dies to a good layer. Aromas are heavy coffee, a bit of bourbon, chocolate, caramel malts, roasty. Initial is smooth, silky, coffee and dark chocolate, smokey, bourbon barrel kisses the beer, vanilla and heavy coffee. This beer is amazingly drinkable, smooth, and tasty. Full bodied, yet highly smooth.

FoBWB 09. Pours opaque black with some brown head. The nose is a big blast of chocolate. Quite chocolaty in the flavor as well with sporadic signs coffee and oak. I did find it to be annoyingly thin.

22oz bottle. Pours a deep brown / black with a creamy chocolate head that left some spotty lacing. Nose was full of dark fruits, cocoa dust and faint coffee notes. Amazing flavors of dates, raisins, cocoa dust, vanilla and some toffee notes. Finish held some light bourbon heat with a little spice, great stuff!

FoBAB 2009: Deep brown nearly opaque with a frothy beige head. The aroma has notes of coffee, chocolate, vanilla, caramel, cashew, prune, oak, and is a touch phenolic and boozy. The taste starts with heavy sweet malts, some unrefined sugars and a vanilla bourbon overtone. It is also slightly medicinal and boozy. Some ripened fruits, molasses and even a touch of sourness found here and there. The coffee component seems to be pushed back to the rear by the bourbon. The mouth feel is oily and lush, quite warming. A solid enough brew but is a tad muddled and confusing. That said, I would give it a second chance (but would not pay what I hear this beer is going for).

Pours dark brown with a disappearing brown head. Not as thick or viscous as I thought it would be. The aroma jumps out as very boozy with vanilla, wood, and alcohol. Some sweet chocolaty malts and only a touch of fruit. The flavor is also very boozy with heavy bourbon and sugary cola notes. I agree that tastes a little like a jack and coke. The sweet flavors just taste like cane sugar to me. The chocolate and coffee flavors as well as roasted malts are completely overpowered by the intense alcohol flavor. This one may be a little young. Still an enjoyable beer (when is a bourbon barrel impy stout not?) but I think it could have been executed a little better.

On tap at Monks Kettle in SF. Pours nearly pitch black with a creamy tan head that settles to a thick film. Aroma is roast, chocolate, whiskey, espresso, and vanilla. Flavor is nice and full with coffee, chocolate, roasted malt, caramel, vanilla, oak, and whiskey. Some booze. Palate is medium-full and fairly smooth yet just a little boozy and astringent. Overall this is a good but not elite imperial stout.