Harpoon Leviathan - Czernobog - Harpoon Brewery

TheBrewo

Michigan

4/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This brew was served on tap at Rattle N’ Hum in New York, NY. It arrived in a thickly stemmed chalice, glowing the darkest brown coloring. It held a one and a half finger head of creamy, latte colored bubbles. This retained well, with a medium brown film never quite leaving. Rings of patterned lacing stuck around the glass. No haze or sediment was noted, and carbonation appeared light and slow. The aroma was thick with heavily roasted coffee and chocolate malts, light molasses sweetness, fusel fiery booze, and phenolic plastics. With warmth came the mixing, balancing sweetness of cooled vanilla cake icing and roasted toffee candies. Our first impression was that the malts were big with coffee and chocolates, but soft on the sip, and rather easy going. As we sipped, the sweetness of chocolate covered cherries struck an immediate balance with smooth coffee malts, roast, and milky vanilla sweetness. The middle peaked with fusel alcohol bite, bittered dark chocolate, chalk, and soured lactics. The end came with banana esters, vanilla sugars, café au lait creaminess, big coffee roast, and a moderate smoky char. The aftertaste breathed of banana esters, black peppercorns, fusel booze, and more chalkiness of powdered dark chocolate. The body was full, and the carbonation was medium. Big froth and cream came to the lip, and with a swirl around the mouth. Slurp, smack, and pop were all pleasant. The mouth was cooled with a thick, creamy coating, leaving the mouth satiated, but not quite dried. The abv was warming, and this guy is a casual sipper.

Overall, what we liked best about this beer was the nice warmth, and ease of drinkability. From the start it is apparent that the flavoring possessed all the roasty char that a nice, fatty stout should. Throughout it remained smooth and drinkable, without an overly robust pop or pucker. The aroma was comparatively weak, but by no means bad. This is a nice addition to the Leviathan brand.

Serving type: on-tap

12-28-2012 17:18:12 | More by TheBrewo

mikeburd1128

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -25.2%

05-12-2013 17:08:52 | More by mikeburd1128

Agrzy

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +6%

04-21-2013 00:55:43 | More by Agrzy

ejimhof

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -12.7%

04-19-2013 03:13:49 | More by ejimhof

Gschaf

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -0.2%

04-19-2013 00:13:30 | More by Gschaf

Pensfan0782

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -0.2%

04-18-2013 23:08:02 | More by Pensfan0782

shand

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Czernobog is an imperial stout that really offers average by any mean for the style. It pours out black with a small head. The aroma is a slightly oversweetened dark fruit and roast deal. The taste isn't as sweet as the nose, but a big milk chocolate note comes in that works a bit awkwardly with the big roasty finish. The two don't quite play along properly, but it's otherwise tasty. The mouthfeel seems a little light to me, but the drinkability is pretty good. Overall, Czernobog is a decent RIS, but nothing more. Some oddities here and there keep it from greatness.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 06:41:38 | More by shand

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.81/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

2012 vintage from this past winter.

Pours a very dark creamy 1/3 finger head that fades at a med pace, a bit of lacing, typical for a 10% RIS, pitch black beer, no light coming through, some decent legs as well.

NOse brings some black malt, some dark roasted malts as well, a little burnt coffee with the burnt roasted malts, faint caramel and cocoa, with all that comes a light fluffy nougat for a nice candy bar effect, a light fusel alcohol, and faint earthy chewy hops.

Taste starts with dark malts again but not as crazy dark roasty as I expected, starting with some burnt roast but not a lot, a little black malt and burnt coffee, it does get a little acrid thanks to those flavors. Some creamy baker's chocolate like a baker's choc cut with milk, and even chewy oats. Again the light fluffy nougat fills it out, with a faint caramel and even faint hint of vanilla like. Bitterness comes out thanks to some bitterness from the earthy chewy hops as well as the light roast bitterness character. Booze is there with some warmth but not a lot, mostly a clean booze. Finish is drier but still sticky sweet, a tingly slightly solventy booze comes out this time, with more very dark bitter chocolate, faint roast and black malt, and earthy chewy hops lingering.

mouth is fuller bodied, some warming and tingly booze, lighter but decent carb, thick and a bit creamy as well as chewy and lush.

Overall not bad, it's not something I would be raving about, but not too bad, the acrid over roasted burnt flavors are there but not too much, decent other malt flavors and decent hops, booze starts OK but get a little much, I bet some age would help this a lot.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2013 02:44:06 | More by jlindros

Flounder57

Massachusetts

4.14/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle was poured into a snifter.

Appearance: The beer poured a one finger head that reduced to a thin layer. It is a pitch black color with no clarity, but little bubbles coming up the top of the glass.

Smell: Caramel, chocolate, roasted coffee, smoke, burnt molasses, dark fruits, and toasted malts.

Taste: Very tasty. All of the above with a little booze and espresso in the end. Very nice.

Mouthfeel: Silky smooth, full bodied, low to medium carbonation, and warmed up nicely when beer was let to get close yo room temperature.

Overall: Pretty solid beer. I would buy this one again.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 06:51:27 | More by Flounder57

CTChef

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -0.2%

03-28-2013 01:21:30 | More by CTChef

BGsWo22

New York

1.25/5  rDev -68.8%

03-20-2013 23:18:52 | More by BGsWo22

Geesechops

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -0.2%

03-19-2013 15:45:00 | More by Geesechops

yourchoice

New Jersey

4.43/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

A - Nearly pitch black with a quickly receding tan head.

S - Rich, plum, figs.

T - more rich character. Figs and plums found in the smell with a slight chocolate and toffee flavor. Also a touch of tobacco. Slightly sour finish which I find pleasing.

M - seems to cover the tongue, being both sweet and slightly sour.

O - I recommend this for any Impy fan. A lot of character.

Serving type: growler

03-09-2013 19:35:55 | More by yourchoice

Ernest78

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -12.7%

03-09-2013 00:58:20 | More by Ernest78

jjchristiano

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +12.2%

03-04-2013 03:09:02 | More by jjchristiano

Brad007

Vermont

4.13/5  rDev +3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Pours the tint of the blackest hole in the bleakest universe. Looks like one mean mother.

Molasses, dark fruit and a touch of chocolate on the nose. Seems balanced in the nose and doesn't automatically hit you a blast of roasted coffee.

After it warms up in the mouth, I get the sensation of toffee, coffee, molasses, cocoa and a touch of cream. The alcohol is there but fades after the first swallow.

Cocoa dominates the mouthfeel with the alcohol warming up the throat. Very filling in a sense.

I like this. I think aging a bottle would really bring out more of the complex flavors without the alcohol warmth.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 16:06:00 | More by Brad007

BeerNinja007

New Hampshire

4.21/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Single 12oz bottle purchased for $3 at The Beer Store in Nashua, NH. Bottle is stamped with the year, 2012. Served cold in a tulip.

A: A hard pour generates 1/2" of dense brown foam that settles rather quickly without leaving much behind. A small meniscus clings to the edge of the glass. The brew is pitch black and has a cloudy appearance.

S: A fair amount of dark roasty stuff. Very faint aroma of stone fruit, plums. Not much at all going on, but it is still pretty cold. The smell does wake up a bit with warmth, mirroring the taste, but still remains subdued.

T: Really complex and full flavor, much nicer than the subtle smell. The palate is completely covered front to back, side to side, by a large soft seemless wave of black malt, prunes, coffee, cocoa, hints of licorice and mint. The prune really takes charge as the brew warms, I really enjoy this dark fruity aspect. Also with warmth, a sour note develops and quickly becomes quite prominent, like the center of a plum right next to the pit.

M: Moderately thick with a soft and ample carbonation. Finishes dry. No sign of ethanol.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 02:14:33 | More by BeerNinja007

YouSkeete

Massachusetts

4.53/5  rDev +13%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Jet black, oily appearance with a very short deep brown colored head. Robust, huge malt and molasses on the initial front of the aroma. Smoked wood, oak, dark chocolate, roasted coffee, and nuts. Colossal punch of chocolate malt, roasted espresso beans and creamy, milky molasses. Smoke and alcohol in the body gives this brew a bourbon-like complexion. Moderate tones of vanilla, cherry and other dark fruits make their way into the overall texture. Creamy, robust mouthfeel with a chocolaty finish.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 00:59:47 | More by YouSkeete

Texasfan549

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +6%

02-21-2013 01:24:41 | More by Texasfan549

kjkinsey

Texas

4/5  rDev -0.2%

02-19-2013 00:36:25 | More by kjkinsey

Bierman9

New Hampshire

3.88/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

Am always up for an Imperial Stout.... so when I saw this at Ayotte's ($10.69 for a 4-pack) I pounced.... Going with two 12oz bottles, and a small tulip...

Poured a deep, dark chestnut, unlike the oily black of some Impys... Head was a creamy, tight layer of mocha-hued froth which thinned quickly to leave a rim job and some scattered islands of foam here and there. Some lace is noted, though not much. Aroma hit me with some coffee and espresso-ish bitter choco. Feel was quite smooth, and body was medium; alas no more...

There's a bit of light, malty sweetness at the start, with hints of malted milk balls and ovaltine. Has some cocoa and subtle choco/coffee bitterness, though not a whole lot. Not a lot in the way of noticeable hopping, imo, though it is a little "earthy"; more of a rather basic chocolatey concoction... No detectable dark fruit, and lacking complexity. Tasty, but....

Prosit!!

3.88/5 rDev -4.7%look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

1561

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 22:51:32 | More by Bierman9

bostonryan

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -25.2%

02-16-2013 02:50:27 | More by bostonryan

hsus0225

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +6%

02-15-2013 21:53:50 | More by hsus0225

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +6%

02-13-2013 15:50:09 | More by DrinkSlurm

bcsbeer

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +6%

02-12-2013 05:06:50 | More by bcsbeer