 Tripplebrew (486), Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
Apr 5, 2008 Pours a very dark brown/black coal color. It pours close to no head. What is there, is light tan lacing. Aroma is heavy malts, espresso and thick roasted malts. Flavor is dark chocolate and espresso. Body is medium, lighter than expected, with low carbonation. Flavor is incredibly rich and malty. Intense, flavorful surprise.
blklab2007 (932), Connecticut, USA
Apr 4, 2008 22 oz bottle poured into a snifter has a black color with active carbonation and a dark tan head with great thickness. aroma has malt, chocolate, oat, coffee, and some alcohol. taste is thick malts, chocolate, bitter coffee, sweetness, and some chewy oats. the mouth feel is well carbonated and thick just coating the tongue and hanging on. really full strength in every regard and the alcohol at 11% is noted but not overwhelming and makes me see why they toned it down a notch. i thought being an imperial oatmeal it would be a bit creamier but this is chock full of coffee, chocolate, and bitters. has a nice warming as it is enjoyed.
badlizard (2324), Berkeley, California, USA
Apr 4, 2008 From Lone Hill. Dark brown with a brown creamy head. Sweet chocolate and alcohol aroma and taste, a basic but good big beer.
padrefan98 (787), (San Diego) Santee, California, USA
Apr 3, 2008 Thanks to me for bringing to the BA Alesmith release. Flavors of coffee, chocolate and some hopps. Nicely done. And thanks to whoever traded it to me.
DougShoemaker (2855), Toronto, Canada
Apr 3, 2008 Aroma of bitter chocolate, liquorice and strong coffee. Darkest brown, smallest toffee head. Flavour is a big, rich malt, dark chocolate, coffee and alcohol is noted. Full bodied, extremely bitter. Lovely stuff! Thank You mds!
fordest (1954), Santee/San Diego, California, USA
Apr 2, 2008 Thanks to somebody for bringing this to the Alesmith Release Party line tasting. Very dark pour with decent tan head. Aromas were very very chocolate and sweet malt. Flavors were more chocolate and touches of mocha. Sweet all the way. Did not seem like 11% to me. Very good.
Viper666 (613), Greenfield Park, Quebec, Canada
Apr 1, 2008 Bouteille 650ml, courtoisie de Hogtownharry. De couleur noire et opaque. Nez de malt rôti, de chocolat noir et de chocolat au lait (légèrement lactique), léger d’alcool, de fruits (prunes, traces de cerises noires) et de café avec des notes de réglisse noire, de houblon herbeux et de mélasse. Ronde en bouche avec un pétillement moyen et une texture riche, crémeuse et moyennement sirupeuse. Goût fruité (prunes, moyen de dates, traces de cerises noires et de raisins) accompagné de notes de réglisse noire ainsi qu’un léger goût de crème et de chocolat au lait (très légèrement lactique) lors de l’entrée en bouche auquel se rajoute rapidement un goût moyen-amer de malt rôti (légèrement brûlé), moyen de chocolat noir, léger de mélasse sucrée et avec des notes de pain grillé (traces de sirop d’érable). Parallèlement, l’on retrouve un moyen goût d’alcool et un peu réchauffant jusqu’en finale, où il y a également une légère présence de houblon herbeux ainsi qu’un moyen goût de café espresso et de petites notes boisées (charbon de bois). Post-goût long et un peu sec, amer de rôti/ brûlé, d’alcool, de chocolat noir, de café, léger de houblon herbeux et avec des notes fruitées (pelures de prunes).
fredandboboflo (1395), East Setauket, New York, USA
Apr 1, 2008 Updated: Oct 10, 2008Bottle, 2007. Aroma of chocolate, rich malts, alcohol, hints of dark fruit, some chalkiness. Flavor the same and more, rich, rich, rich. Chocolate and malt character gets sweeter. It was definitely boozy, might be a turn off for some, but for me the booziness just went right along with that rich, sweet, robust character (although probably a good decision to knock it down to 11%). Fun stuff. 8-4-9-4-17/4.2
2008 bottle reveals a great deal of astringency, and conversely a great weakening of the other flavors. Oddly grassy. Weaker mouthfeel. Disappointing. 6-4-5-3-11/2.9 Current rating approximately averages the two vintages.
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