 ClarkVV (3547), Allston, Massachusetts, USA
Jan 31, 2004 Updated: Aug 25, 2006
2004 hand bottled by hopsrus (Thanks). Thought I was pouring hersheys syrup. Damn, deep deep brown/black, awesome burnt brown head that quickly disippates and clings to the edges. Ridiculous amount of lacing. Huge aroma, bitter hops, chocolate, black black coffee at the end of the pot, ethanol (wasnt too crazy about that). Starts out surprisingly sweet and soft, caramels, chocolates and some prune/winey flavors. On the finish the hops hit, and they hit hard. If I hadnt been hardened through Expeditions, I wouldnt know what to do with that much bitterness. But bring it on. Great balance and just the best milk chocolate aftertaste around. The alcohol and chocolate malt definitely do create a black licorice sort of flavor. I think there is some hersheys syrup in here. . . Well if this stuff is not as good as the previous years, I cant even imagine how incredible that must be. Must get me some of it.
2006 bottle For being rather filtered and force carbed (and brewed at Frederick), this stuff is still remarkably good. Just the right amount of edgy, ashy, burnt bitterness, with a moderate hop bitterness, but more in the flavor department, of green, juicy, citrusy hops. Some light phenols are notable, and there are some rough edges, but a chocolatey sweetness emerges, with plenty of residual sugars. Fairly smooth palate, not overcarbonated. Still, the effects of filtration and force carbonation are evident, even if only lightly so. Not what it was when brewed in Ohio, but still very respectable. 7/4/7/4/15. Score is an average of the two.
1010 (66), Marysville, Ohio, USA
Oct 11, 2008 Pours a deep black with a thin tan head. Taste of coffee malt and a hint of chocolate. This is a great beer.
12 oz. bottle
hubcrawler (10), , Virginia, USA
Oct 9, 2008 Pours a deep black oil-like color and had a nice light brown head which leaves behind a fair amount of lacing. Had aromas of chocolate malt, mocha, java, and burnt molasses. Has a nice thick feel and flavors of chocolate, coffee, smoked wood, mild bitterness, and some alcohol. The flavors linger nicely on the palate. This is a great stout.
BMan1113VR (919), Los Angeles (and Dallas, TX), California, USA
Sep 25, 2008 Bottle thanks to zathrus13. Pours thick, with a large, creamy, greyish brown head with a black body. Great lacing and full retention. Aroma of chocolate, alcohol, berries, caramel, soy, smoke, fudge and brown sugar. Taste is roasty, chocolate, smoke, wood, long, long, long duration, with yeast and tar finishing it up. Alcohol is well hidden. Texture is velvety and mouthcoating with hardly any carbonation. A quitely great beer.
angrypirate06 (21), USA
Sep 25, 2008 Coffee and smoky aromas...dark black pour, with creamy but small head...initial flavor isn’t that strong, but definitely gives coffee tones. Duration is what really shines in this beer, strong lasting coffee flavor. Overall, a strong recommendation.
BeerBelcher (750), Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Sep 18, 2008 This is a really solid imperial stout.
Pours a thick, inky black with very little head. Aroma is coffee and intensely smokey. Flavor is definitely RIS, with substantial roastiness, coffee and chocolate notes, with some smokey flavor also. Mouthfeel is quite smooth (little carbonation) but a bit sticky and slick. Quite good.
I would recommend this beer.
I bought this as a single 12oz bottle from Parti-Pak Discount Liquor in Indianapolis (Greenwood), Indiana.
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