 fredandboboflo (625), East Setauket, New York, USA
Mar 16, 2008 Updated: May 24, 2008
(Rerate changes wording, no content updated or removed.)
Huge thanks to Chris for this amazing treat on tap at Ebenezer’s. Wow. Perfect! Lovely wispy head more reminiscent of a lambic than a stout. Aroma of sweet, relaxed espresso, stout roastiness, tantilizing but not at all overwhelming hop presence, then chocolate, vanilla, dark fruits. Flavor leaned more towards the vanilla and dark fruits with the coffee and chocolate showing their face from time to time, and all the while, what a downright lovely hop balance to such a massive brew. On the note of balance, all the other flavors are not only in perfect balance, but they blend together so harmoniously, so notably harmoniously if that isn’t a paradox, one into the next, into the next, no rough edges, no question marks. Finally, at the end of the day perhaps most importantly, what an unbelievably silky smooth mouthfeel for such a big beer, what an unbelievably silky mouthfeel even regardless of how big it is. Rich, complex, yet oh so quaffable. I woke up today wishing I could have more, and that sentiment has not faded, nor do I want it to fade because as long as I crave it, I know I can still remember it. Unbelievable.
rane (367), Nibe, Denmark
Oct 9, 2008 Bottle. I have been in a lot of doubt about this beer, from the start I feared it was just another overrated IS, but as I read the ratings I got curious to taste. And it´s nice!
Coffebrown with a huge brown head. Perfect appearanc. Aroma initially hopp dominated with some underlaying roasted malt and chocolate. After a while the belgian touch shows up with dried fruits. Taste hoppy and sweet, roasted malts and chocolate and a little bitterness in the end. The alcohol is very well hidden, this one is a cheater, I wouldn´t have expected it to be above 8%. Hopefully not the last time I have tasted this one.
Dedoulequeen07 (116), london, Greater London, England
Oct 7, 2008 Bottle at the disco party shack chris O’s. Black with a creamy beige thick head. Aroma of caramel malt, dark chocolate and sweet toffee. Date, fig and walnut cake runs through the aftertaste. Goodmouthfeel and not too clawing for its percentage.
dkachur (892), Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
Oct 6, 2008 11.2 ounce bottle that shows why stefanje is one of the most generous and coolest guys on Ratebeer. Shared with Alraomon. Pours a deep, dark brown that appears opaque in the glass. Massive brown head. Aroma is toffee, tart cherry, caramel, hops,. fruity yeast esters, nuts and a definite Belgian character. The tartness comes across as almost bretty. Flavor is tart cherry, chocolate, toffee, some herbal notes with subtle hoppiness and subtle alcohol. Full bodied. Alcohol hidden very well.
finol (13), Nacka (Stockholm), Sweden
Oct 5, 2008 Bottle from Ölbutikken
Pours all black with a dark tan head.
Full body, thick feel.
Doppelganger (1199), Oxford, Oxfordshire, England
Oct 4, 2008 Had my first taste of this from Carlo, from the conditioning tank at the Deca brewery. It was really really nice, and I took a few notes, but ultimately decided it probably didn’t constitute a rate-able beer. I’ve been itching to try it since then, but not seen any bottles for sale! So then Fin gave me this bottle, and I am very pleased to finally be Tasting it Officially®. Thanks mate!
Very exciting start to this one—a moment after opening, a gusher of crude-oil-black bubbled out and over. (Have just seen "There Will Be Blood". Does it show?) Once in the glass, there is a nice fine layer of firm, lingering tan head. Immediately after the pour there is a bit of odd nettle and dandelion nose, but that dissipates very quickly. Dense raw chocolate aroma, cold asphalt, green grass, warm walnuts. Dense chocolate cake flavor, full of silky deep-earth cocoa and subtly sweet cream. Sweet in the way a perfect shot of espresso seem sweet even without sugar. Rolling it around on the tongue feels like melting chocolate. Finishes so nice, so clean, a fresh minty hop touch left on the teeth. As good as the aroma is, as silky delicious as the flavor is, it is the perfect palate and extraordinary finish that really makes this beer sublime.
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