Hel & Verdoemenis - Brouwerij De Molen

Etan

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Glassy black with a nice tan head. Decent lacing.

S: Potent maltiness in the nose - heavy coffee, roasted malt, chocolate.

T: Sweet coffee notes dominate, with a bit of char and roasted malts, chocolate, cherry-like sweetness. A lot smoother than I was expecting.

M: Relatively thick with moderate carbonation. Somewhat silky.

O: This is a great RIS, nice balance of sweetness and bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2012 01:53:08 | More by Etan

BelgianBeerPope

Belgium

4.33/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

The long awaited taste of the 'Hel & Verdoemenis' @ Gollem, Antwerp ! It didn't disappoint ... There's no foam, so appearance is a bit strange but the taste is and mouthfeel is ... unbelievable ! Beer enjoyment in its purest form. I need to have one more to actually describe it because the first time was like living in a dream.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2012 12:29:45 | More by BelgianBeerPope

Arno

4.38/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

appearance: Pitch black, mocca head. Not much retention.

smell: Roasted coffee, chocolate and red fruit. Black currant or something like that. Can't really define it.

taste: Quite a taste sensation going on. It starts off with a mellow milk chocolate and red fruits combo, followed by brown sugar and then coffee and dark bitter chocolate kicks in, leaving a quite bitter coffee like aftertaste. It lingers nicely like a coffee does together with some black currant flavor, but is quite heavy. So not really your day to day type of drink. Take your time ;)

mouthfeel: Quite fluid and creamy, with a nice tingly carbonation finish. Quite thin considering the huge flavors. Which is a good combination.

overall: a very nice, but different, beer. It's well balanced, but quite defined and powerful. I's not the easiest beer to drink. So make sure you're in the mood and not in a hurry and o my, what a drink it is :)

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2012 23:31:29 | More by Arno

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.73/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Properly cellared 2 year old bottle. Pours dark brown with ruddy tones, appearing black in the glass. Thin fine light tan head dissipated quickly to a ring around the glass. Intense aroma of roasted malt, mild dark fruit and lots of chocolate. Flavor follows, rich dark roasted malt, chocolate, vanilla, lighter coffee and dark fruit notes, incredibly well integrated. The body is thick and creamy. An all round well made treat for the senses. One of the best RIS I've had and hands down the best two year old aged bottle of any stout I've experienced. I'm not getting any oxidation notes from this. This is not distributed in my state and I wish I had bought more of these for the cellar. I see that the other very high scoring review was from the same vintage as this one and also tasted after 2 years, so I'd advise aging this one for a few years for a treat. Exceptional.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2012 03:23:03 | More by LiquidAmber

davey101

Connecticut

3.45/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottled 2/29/2012, 330 ml bottle into an oversize wine glass.

A - Pitch black body. A large three finger mocha head formed initially. Settles down to a thin cap with edging. Excellent lacing and retention with small and tight bubbled, leaves behind an alcoholic film.

S - Nice blend of roast and sweetness. Some milk chocolate, vanilla, liquorice and coffee. Has an odd almost savory burnt plastic like finish though.

T - Much better than the aroma. Roasty malts, bitter espresso beans, and milk chocolate. Subtle dark fruits and liquorice on the finish which give it that unique RIS taste. Some warming alcohol on the end. Mouth feel is between thin and medium with low carbonation. Despite the thinness it comes off sort of sticky and syrupy.

O - A nice RIS. Didn't blow me away but its very simple and well put together. I don't really see the point in aging this one though, its drinking pretty great fresh.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2012 01:52:40 | More by davey101

rapidsequence

Virginia

4.23/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330 ml bottle from Wim. Bottled Dec 6, 2009.

Appearance: Pours completely black with no highlights, but you can see through it a bit when you drink it. Medium brown head with aonly a couple minutes of retention. Minimal lacing.

Smell: Roasted coffee and dark chocolate. Some sweet, fruity notes too. Not over-roasted like some RISs. Not boozy.

Taste: Again, coffee and bittersweet chocolate with some dark fruit. There's some roasty and alcohol bitterness that balances the sweetness from the big finishing gravity. It has a very nice flavor.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and sticky, but really not as big and creamy as I'd expect. Good though.

Overall: A very nice, drinkable RIS with very little detectable alcohol for such a big beer. Very glad I got to try this.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2012 00:56:16 | More by rapidsequence

Dope

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottled 4/11/2011 so just over a year old.

A: Pours jet black with almost no head despite an aggressive pour. Just a smattering of medium brown bubbles. Just the slightest hint of lacing as you might expect.

S: Wonderful roasted coffee. Dark chocolate too.

T: Lots of anise and char up front. Turns into chocolate and then coffee bean. Finally, a bitter coffee/char combination that lingers into the aftertaste.

M: Thick and velvety. Mouth-coating oil slick.

O: Despite the lackluster appearance this is a surprisingly tasty stout. The mouthfeel definitely stands out here. It really is silky smooth and thick at the same time.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2012 05:12:58 | More by Dope

oberon

North Carolina

4.03/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a snifter jet black with a tight sticky deep beige head that held thru the duration of the glass.French roast coffee and bitter chocolate mainly in the nose,as it warms a sweet shot of alcohol fruitiness comes into play.Highly roasted on the palate with some dark fruit-like sweetness,mocha flavors are quite big wich was to be expected.It's a very good imperial stout although it doesn't have any one thing that jumps out at ya,still it's great for the style.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2012 21:35:42 | More by oberon

Gmann

New York

4.1/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a near black color with brown highlights. The tan head is short and creamy; leaves a nice frothy ring when it settled.

The aroma is of roasted malt with a twang of acidic fruit. Deep prune aroma with some carob. Some woody notes. A bit too sharp in the aroma.

The flavor is of a smooth roasted malt and milk chocolate. Some mild vanilla and caramel provide some sweetness. There is a subtle dark fruit/acidic note but not nearly as strong as in the aroma. Like a dark chocolate and caramel candy bar.

The feel is ultra smooth and creamy. Sweet and lightly bitter on the palate; some light tart notes. Finishes a bit sticky.

I had no idea what style of beer this was until I read some reviews. The aroma lead me one way but the flavor was of a sweet smooth stout. Very flavorful.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2012 02:39:07 | More by Gmann

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Draft at Capones in Norristown, PA.

Pours pitch black and completely opaque with a two finger, frothy dark mocha head.  Excellet retention only slowly fading into a thick, lasting ring. Large chunks of soapy lacing left behind.  Looks amazing!

Deeply roasted dark malt aroma that doesn't become burnt or acrid. Hints of toast, dark chocolate, roasted coffee bean and oatmeal along with subtle lactic cream and sweeter malt notes.

Medium bodied with a good balance of roasted malt, silky chocolate, sweet booze, lactic cream and subtle hops.  Chewy and roasty that verges on being burnt but never tips over that edge.  Lactic cream and sweeter chocolate notes balance things out.  Bitter earthy hops with a touch of pine compliment the dark chocolate, roasted coffee bean and oatmeal.  Complex, well balanced and easy to drink.  Slight boozy swetness and heat toward the finish but overall the high abv is nicely masked.

Serving type: on-tap

05-02-2012 02:58:52 | More by corby112

AronVietti

California

4.4/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a tulip glass from a 33cl bottle, gave about an inch of beige head that died down quickly with moderate lacing. Brewed on March 09 2011, bottles April 13 2011.

A: Dark brown, has reddish hues when held up to the light.

S: Dried Fruits, coffee, chocolate and some alcohol.

T: Dark Chocolate and currants, plum, espresso, not as boozy as the smell suggested but still present with an in style warmth.

M: Good body, not overly viscous like some examples of this style. Stays on the palate for a good 5 seconds fading from fruity to a pleasant bitterness.

O: This would be a great beer to serve by the fire, or after a light meal with some chocolates and dried fruit. I would love to taste a bottle that has been aged for a few years!

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2012 03:33:12 | More by AronVietti

AgentMunky

Alabama

4.18/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 33cL bottle into a snifter. Brewed on 6 August 2010. Bottled on 16 September 2010. Bottle number 771. Batch of 468 bottles. (Hmmmm, 771/468?)

A: Nice off-white head with great lace. Noticeable yeast in the dark brown-red beer.

S: Weird. Some fruit. Bright with some alcohol. Musty yeast. A little like an old ale.

T/M: This is an excellent beer, chock full of unexpected coffee and excellent bitterness. Round and full, with boozy sweetness and subdued red fruit. Lingering aftertaste is sweeter than not. Damn good. My only complaint is a sort of flatness.

O: An excellent imperial stout. Highly recommended; so good. Will definitely have again.

Notes
OG: 1115
EG: 1031
EBC Colour: 308.9
EDU: 99.9

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 06:35:53 | More by AgentMunky

larryi86

Delaware

4.58/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

33 cL bottle dated April 11, 2011, bottle 183 of 2080, poured into a tulip

A- Black with no head.

S- Coffee, vanilla, booze, roasted malts, dark chocolate.

T- Chocolate, some vanilla, dark fruits, roasted malts, nice coffee finish, touch of alcohol.

M- Smooth, creamy, low carbonation.

O- A really good beer that is worth the money. At one year old it is great, would love to see how this ages for longer being that it says it can age for up to 25 years. I will be picking up a few more bottles for aging.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2012 00:29:47 | More by larryi86

CuriousMonk

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled February 18, 2010. Batch #199 (cellarable for 25 years). Pours black with beautiful brown head. Aromatics of caramel and oak which the flavor also suggests on top of a sweet and boozy backfinish. Sweet mouthfeel along with heavy sediments at the bottom. Overall a good brew that is worth seeking out again!

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2012 17:42:32 | More by CuriousMonk

MiataMike

3.08/5  rDev -25.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A: Jet black, like motor oil. Very thin head.

S: Roasted malts, cherries, sugar, coffee, chocolate

T: Sour, more cherries initially. Sour stale coffee on the finish, which is drying. Alcohol becomes more prominent as you drink it.

M: Thick, oily, slightly cloying mouthfeel

O: Drinkability isn’t terribly high, which is to be expected, I think. It’s $9 a bottle, which is ridiculously expensive, and I probably wouldn’t buy it again. It’s one of those beers you buy just to say you tried them.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2012 21:24:44 | More by MiataMike

Greywulfken

New York

4.38/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle 1764 of 2080 brewed March 2011. The simple label and wax seal were all I needed to give this beer a try. I knew it would hit me in the wallet, and the 11+ oz cost $10+.

A: deep burgundy black pour turns to pitch in the glass - no head to speak of, just some lace motes after a sip and an oily (?) residue; but really, yeah-yeah-yeah: black oil - wow

S: coffee, vanilla, malt, and sugar

T: strong coffee flavor, mellow sweet, but with a dry malt back; brown sugar and chocolate notes

M: super soft, not as thick as some RIS - rather "thin" actually; no burn, no bitterness, just mellowness - creamy/dreamy

O: probably the mellowest RIS I've ever had - no bite, no burn, no bitterness, and not cloyingly sweet like some - a (yes) mellow sweetness. Really classy stout - wish it were cheaper, but I know it shouldn't be. Worth the price. Hit my stout spot on the head.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 23:31:20 | More by Greywulfken

cosmicevan

New York

4.8/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

thanks to injuredreserve for sending this one my way.
bottle 512
brewed 4/30/2010
bottled 6/18/2010

a - popped the top and filled my ccb snifter. poured a watery black with a reasonable white head that was gone quick leaving a thin slick on the surface.

s - deep roasted chocolate malts. really nice. some coffee notes. big and bold. vanilla glaze.

t - lots of big chocolate and roasted malts. coffee slaps back. some alc, but great roasted chocolate. one of the better RIS i've had in a long time.

m - first thing i noticed when it hit my lips was the silkiness. this is a big bold and full beer, but silky soft and smooth. bready and cooling.

o - overall, world class. one of the best RIS i've ever had. there is just so much goodness in this beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 02:49:09 | More by cosmicevan

jneiswender

Massachusetts

2.98/5  rDev -28%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured out of a 12oz bottle into a nonic glass. Served cool and allowed to sit some.

Pours dark mahogany and a dark tan head. Very chunky. Alot of yeast in this bottle.

Smell initially very boozy and medicinal. After some warming up the chocolate comes up. Some herbal notes.

Tastes herbal, sage like and boozy. A bit rough. Low carbonation and slick mouthfeel.

Not a bad beer but there are some world class beers in this category. A bit rough around the edges but again not a bad beer by itself.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2012 18:09:44 | More by jneiswender

GregSVT

Texas

3.6/5  rDev -13%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle into a wine glass

A: Pours very dark brown with a huge brown head that fades to a layering and leaves a ton of lacing on the glass. Besides the over carbed head this looks beautiful.

S: The nose reveals great notes of cocoa, vanilla, earthy hops, and bakers chocolate.

T: The taste has a ton of chocolate, hops, vanilla, and a slightly fruity wine flavor like dark grapes on the finish. It may be the alcohol that makes it taste a bit like wine.

M: The feel is thinner than a normal RIS and is definitely overcarbed with the alcohol very apparent on the finish.

O: Nice aromas and flavors but the alcohol burn and over carbonation make this tough to appreciate.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 04:43:12 | More by GregSVT

korguy123

Ontario (Canada)

3.33/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Hell and damnation from notes. Split with my brother in law
June 8, 2009

Zero pop as the cork is removed.

A- Syrupy, thick cola pour, zero head, zero. lacing. Huge white chunks sitting at the bottom.

S- Chocolate, booze, coffee, brown sugar and vanilla.

T- Chocolate and coffee with sweet fark fruits. Definitely smells and tastes much better than it looks.

M- Flat and full bodied, sticky on the lips.

O- I read a lot of reviews on this and they are mostly positive. Bad bottle/poorly stored? Who know. Expected more I guess.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2012 19:05:12 | More by korguy123

robwestcott

Indiana

3.98/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

thanks to kenth for this one.

poured cold and black from the bottle to a surly darkness 12oz snifter with a finger and a half long lasting mocha head leaving a sheet of sticky lace after each sip.

big milk chocolate aroma perhaps with a bit of fig and smoke.

slightly bitter espresso up front, smoke and dark chocolate, hops presence a'la darkness.

medium bodied, creamy, bitter to the roof of the mouth, big carbonation.

overall, a great beer, probably better with age.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2012 00:15:40 | More by robwestcott

eduardolinhalis

Switzerland

4.28/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330ml bottle poured in a snifter.

A: Pours a deep brown to black color, many remains in the bottom. Forms a small and dark beige head when poured. Good retention, it never disappears completely leaving a brown, fizzy bubbled layer. Some lacings are formed

S: Strong notes of coffee, dark chocolate, roasted malts and wood. Citrus and earthy hops and alcohol in the end

T: Very strong taste. Dominated by roasted malts, coffee and dark chocolate. The 100IBUs do really count here: Deliciously bitter. Strong personality. It's a dry and bitter beer after all. It has a very creamy and molasses body but not much about sugar

M: Extremely creamy and molasses body. Low carbonation. Delicious bitter aftertaste

O: Absolutely drinkable beer despite of the 10.2% ABV. Great beer

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2012 17:02:35 | More by eduardolinhalis

NittanyBeerFan

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at TJs during the Super Bowl. Not sure the year of this, but it was pretty green, so I am going to guess it's 2011.

When the beer gets to me, it is topped by only a thin layer of espresso cream head. The body is thick and viscous, and while it doesn't leave any lace, it does leave a swath of oily residue on the glass after a swirl. Some legs, but nothing too spectacular.

The aroma and flavor both fall a little bit flat for me. My initial impressions are of dark fruits and a good amount of alcohol warmth throughout. There is some dark roast coffee/espresso as well that tastes a little bit smokey. Unfortunately, there isn't much to balance out the almost acrid smoke.

The body of this beer is probably the best part of it. Thick and oily, the low carbonation provides a perfect foil for the thick syrupy texture. Overall, there are some places to improve, and I think that age will provide most of the opportunities that Hel & Verdoemenis needs to mature, mellow and blend nicely.

Serving type: on-tap

02-06-2012 02:33:30 | More by NittanyBeerFan

brystmar

New York

3.75/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Red waxed bottle #1442/2080 shared by Denise. Bottled on 4/11/2011.

Dark brown pour; thin and watery-looking body. Zero head. Swirling the glass leaves chunky sediment on the sides of my glass, but no real lace. Strong aroma of deeply roasted coffee hits my nose from afar. Traces of fruit esters and alcohol lie in the background.

Espresso dominates the flavor profile. Very roasty. Not as much malt as I'd like, and really not balanced enough for me. Minimal alcoholic warmth as it descends, which is certainly impressive for an imperial stout. Would love to try this again in a few years to see how it develops.

Body is unacceptably weak and watery for the style. Low carbonation is perfect, though. Can tell this blend of flavors was well-crafted, but for now it needs work.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2012 01:26:34 | More by brystmar

AMiz602

Pennsylvania

4.9/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

De Molen perfection. This beer is absolutely not for the faint of heart, nor is it a beer to be drunk in any fast fashion. Sit back, relax, and let this puppy warm up.

First, it is as black as any beer can get. The head is a creamy, thick, coffee colored mass of foam that has a very strong coffee, chocolate, cherry smell that throws you for a loop. You can smell the alcohol.

Next, it is almost a syrup, and tastes like a black beer. It has extremely strong chocolate-coffee tastes that match its smell. As it warms up it this taste really mellows out, and becomes a clovey, cardamomy ?, beer that tastes like dessert. It is extremely smooth, and, if drank at the right bar, can really get the "gezellig" on.

This is by and large the best by De Molen, and is a beer that is a great way to end the night on. It has such a full body and taste that it is an experience in and of itself.

Serving type: on-tap

01-24-2012 03:15:18 | More by AMiz602