 kepano (239), Meudon, France
Mar 25, 2008
Announcing itself with machismo – “Definitely not your dad’s wimpy 30 weight” – Old Viscosity lives up to the preamble oozing like crude oil out of the bottle. A thin tan ring is all I can muster out of this brute. The nose incongruously breathes of light spices and shockingly subtle tonalities. Hints of armagnac, mint, ginger, and root beer extract are apparent while toffee and maple syrup add a raw malty sweetness. Plums and prunes also lend depth to the aroma but aren’t quite balanced. Though certainly viscous, the mouthfeel isn’t as dense as the color suggests. Dark chocolate and coffee, the habitual Imperial Stout duo, here combine with fruity undertones. Banana, blackcurrant, raisin and grape are particularly noticeable. The root beer aroma turns to cola on the tongue and walnuts are a welcome treat. The carbonation is hesitant, unable to overcome its tenacious milieu. Finally, the thick texture itself concedes to alcoholic heat in the aftertaste, though almondy flavors sweeten the compromise. Despite obvious potential, the complexities of this brew remain muted throughout the experience. Where they could have been emphasized, these subtle flavors disappear capitulating perhaps to the virile intentions of the brewers.
waltersrj (15), Washington, USA
Nov 2, 2009 This is a wonderful strong ale. The pour is a dark brown and a medium white head. The aroma is chocolate, malts, bourbon, and raisins or fig. The taste is similar, but really reminds me of a brown ale. The mouthfeel is thick like tar but truly great. The aftertaste lingers until well after you’ve finished this beauty.
BeerBelcher (930), Columbus, Ohio, USA
Nov 2, 2009 This beer is terrific, and worth the hype! This is an excellent, extremely dry beer that seemed to me to be somewhere between an extremely full-bodied porter and a very dry and drinkable Russian Imperial Stout. It had a dark body with a medium amount of white head. As I poured, I thought this beer to be a rather viscous Russian Imperial Stout. Aroma was extremely roasty, molasses, and raisins. Flavor is more of the same, with an emphasis on the dark roasty notes. Mouthfeel is extremely crisp and dry, and was not sticky or slick. Very good.
Thanks to my cousin, Brenton, for picking this up in Denver (at Mile High Wine & Spirits) and bringing it to me in Columbus.
mkade8883 (52), Goleta, California, USA
Oct 29, 2009 Coffee and roast on the nose. Nice tasting brew, but lacking to me on the finish and the mouthfeel.
monkeychugg55 (214), Joliet, Illinois, USA
Oct 29, 2009 Pours a dark reddish brown, black in the glass with a small, tan head. Interesting complex aroma of chocolate, coffee, candied sugar, dark fruit, anise, and molasses. The flavor is similar, but stronger and a little spicier. Starts out sweet and stouty, but finishes sharply with coffee and hop bitterness, wood, and strong alcohol heat. Silky and thick mouthfeel with light carbonation and a peppery finish.
gam (1068), brisbane, Australia
Oct 25, 2009 Small tan head goes quickly,very dark pour,mahogany like,aroma coffee,caramel liccorice,molasses,aniseed,smokey like,flavour sdpicy malt goodness molasses liccorice,roasted coffee aniseed,smooth caramel a roasted bitterness and fizz on the palate,great tasting ale that is the finish.
HomeBrewHawk (266), De Soto, Kansas, USA
Oct 17, 2009 22oz bomber served in a snifter. Poured a deep brown/black with a thin tan head. Big malt aroma with lots of chocolate. Some oxidation, but in a good, port-like way. There is a bit of alcohol in the aroma, but it doesn’t really show in the flavor. Full bodied and rich. Flavor is more chocolate and roasted malt. Enough hop bitterness to balance it out. Long dry finish of coffee and chocolate malt. A great beer to sip on a cold night.
gyllenbock (240), Stockholm, Sweden
Oct 15, 2009 Sample at Bishops Arms, Folkungagatan in June 09.
Nice black color. Fluid reminded a lot of oil, so beautiful. Nice aroma with a lot of hops, hints of caramel, chocolate, vanilla and roasted notes, pretty sweet.
The taste is a minor explosion of a lot of good stuff. Wood, chocolate, coffee, coconut. Body was heavy and so was the bitterness. The beer also had a pleasant alcohol warming. Great, great beer!
obxdude10 (1547), Pottstown, Pennsylvania, USA
Oct 14, 2009 What an intense beer! This offering is awesome from first sight to last sip. The beer pours basically a black color with a very generious, soft and fluffy brown head. The head leaves a minimal amout of lacing around the glass, but I’m not about to hold that against this beer. The aroma is full of dark roasted coffee, cream, chocolate, light hops and a slight hint of bread. The body is thick, rich and extremely delicious. This beer is so dangerous due to its extreme drinkablility and smooth body, but yet it punches back with its strong character. The alcohol level is not present in the actual body, but reserves its right to smack you in the face. And it does just that. After a bomber of this, I’m feeling pretty good! The flavors are really intense and delicious, with notes of chocolate, vanilla, roasted coffee, floral hops, creamy malt and bread. The finish begs you to take another sip, and then another, and then another. This bomber went way too quickly. I wish I had another. Good for me that I know exactly where to find it for a rematch!
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