Vortex II - Pisgah Brewing Co.

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4.22/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beer review from BA Mag Sep 2007.

Nice, an organic Imperial Stout. Not that we are in a frenzy to buy only organic products, but the option is good to have. This is Pisgah's strongest beer to date.
The carbonation flows slowly to the top of the glass, forming two fingers of tan head. Pitch black in color. Big roasty aroma of char, dark-chocolate-covered currants and a hint of malted milk balls. The mouthfeel is damn thick and creamy--superb.

The rolling smoothness from its deep crisp carbonation is unlike any beer we've ever had. More than enough maltiness to go around, sweetness reaches pretty high but is kept in check by the roasted character and a deeply-embedded hop bitterness. Fruity middle-to-end with notes of currants and black berries. Molasses peeks in for a bit. Alcohol is very deceiving for its ABV and starts to warm the palate only after several sips. Suggestions of Black Forest cake, sweetened iced coffee and chocolate push the envelope a little more. Finishes a little sweet with a balanced roasted flavor.

Hard to believe that beers like this were not allowed in North Carolina a few years ago. Seek this beer out and give it a try, cellar a few while you're at it.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2010 00:13:23 | More by BeerAdvocate

Rand_ale_Thor

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%

05-23-2013 02:21:27 | More by Rand_ale_Thor

pixieskid

France

2.94/5  rDev -26.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Given to me by my cousin as part of a wedding present; didn't have the chance to try it while stateside so I brought it back to France. Didn't know anything about it but was happy to try it, looks as if this one is fairly well known/of interest. Unfortunately, it seems I got a bad bottle...it was a drainpour.

Pours proper stout black with a decent tan/offwhite head.

Nose, roasty and cardboard like; uh oh.

Taste; muddled roasty and chocolate, cardboard and a hint of cherries.

Mouthfeel; a little syrupy and thin but at almost 12% that is understandable.

Overall; always a bummer when this happens, I hate lugging bottles that end up having problems. Took the proper precautions I always do when traveling with beer, so seems like I just got an oxidized bottle, bummer.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 07:16:51 | More by pixieskid

Bluecane

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +12.5%

04-21-2013 06:26:44 | More by Bluecane

orangesol

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev 0%

04-11-2013 03:12:03 | More by orangesol

blackie

Virginia

4.38/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

cask serving upstairs at Thirsty Monk

a: served in a short chalice, sporting only a thin ring, pure black in color

s: first aromas are dark cocoa, espresso, molasses, deep caramel, and earthy roast, sweetly aromatic but not overdone, sugary dark fruits - fig, hop aromas tend towards pine and earth, very smooth and balanced

m: carbonation on the lower end, as expected with a cask serving of course, body medium-full, silky smooth

t: immediate flavors of dark chocolate covered espresso with sweet underpinnings of dark caramel and molasses, fig, nice dark roasted malt, malt forward but certainly not too sweet, lots of complex toasted and roasted character, hop flavors of earthy pine impart a mild bitterness to the long finish

o: a tasty RIS for sure, plenty going on, in great balance between roast and sugar, and the cask serving compliments the beer well, alcohol totally hidden

Serving type: cask

04-06-2013 19:59:31 | More by blackie

Falcone

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%

03-28-2013 02:13:04 | More by Falcone

Doodler

Colorado

4/5  rDev 0%

03-27-2013 03:56:03 | More by Doodler

Sparky44

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%

03-25-2013 00:12:02 | More by Sparky44

mccallisters_dali

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%

03-23-2013 16:26:55 | More by mccallisters_dali

GTB

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +12.5%

03-23-2013 00:04:56 | More by GTB

drumenigma

Massachusetts

2/5  rDev -50%

03-03-2013 21:00:44 | More by drumenigma

djrn2

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -6.3%

02-24-2013 01:15:10 | More by djrn2

KevinGordon

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%

02-11-2013 13:49:32 | More by KevinGordon

DmanGTR

New York

4/5  rDev 0%

02-10-2013 15:41:28 | More by DmanGTR

jsteele

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +12.5%

02-10-2013 00:04:53 | More by jsteele

vande

Illinois

4/5  rDev 0%

02-02-2013 23:57:39 | More by vande

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.55/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

January 2009 release acquired from mikesgroove courtesy of the Little Guy 2 BIF, so a big “Thank You” goes out to him. Poured from a 22oz bottle into an imperial pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep black color, with a large foamy beige head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma dark fruit, licorice, roasted malts, some chocolate, some coffee and a faint touch of hops.

T: The taste starts with a hearty roasted malt character followed by some flavors of licorice, dark fruit, chocolate and coffee. There’s a mild hops presence but not much balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Crisp but not very smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

O: A little tasty, goes down ok, not too filling, deceptively strong kick, decent representation of style, there are definitely several other beers in the style that I would choose first.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 05:59:38 | More by TheManiacalOne

t0rin0

California

4/5  rDev 0%

12-08-2012 22:10:01 | More by t0rin0

Riggsy

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev 0%

11-25-2012 20:55:36 | More by Riggsy

robmoak

Mississippi

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%

11-13-2012 17:00:48 | More by robmoak

Robeerto89

Mississippi

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%

10-29-2012 19:40:20 | More by Robeerto89

acurtis

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -12.5%

10-28-2012 20:24:20 | More by acurtis

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

2.58/5  rDev -35.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

I’ve had this bottle in the basement for two years or so and tonight for Todd’s fortieth seemed like the prefect time to pop this one. She poured a solid black with a monstrous tan head that took forever to recede. From the first pop of the cap we are disappointed with the beer. There’s an earthy funky fruity aroma with a hint of roast that fills my nostrils. The flavor is tart and fruity with a bit of nasty funk. Medium to light body with an insane level of carbonation and a slick tart mouthfeel. Obviously there is something wrong with this bottle, and I’m quite disappointed I’ve held on to this so long. So my first Pisgah beer is infected, well that sucks.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 05:18:38 | More by johnnnniee

elkinbrown

Mississippi

4/5  rDev 0%

10-27-2012 02:06:36 | More by elkinbrown