Czar Jack Imperial Stout - Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery

airohead2001

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Great looking beer. Pours a motor oil black with an espresso colored head that billows upwards from the bottom of my snifter to the top of the drink, culminating in a one and a half finger head that retains for about a minute and then fades to a thin film.

Smell is outstanding. I get coconut, vanilla, caramel, butterscotch, coffee, chocolate, and whiskey. So complex. I admit that I know very little about different types of whiskeys, including bourbons, but the whiskey in this nose smells distinctly different than any other bourbon aged stout I've ever had. Good ol' Jack Daniel's.

The taste is also great. I get coffee, chocolate, vanilla, whiskey, and a nice roasty finish. Through out, I also get a subtle piney hop profile. The sweetness of the whiskey and vanilla pairs well with the bitterness of the roasts. Overall, the taste is pretty complex and balanced.

The mouthfeel is good, but for such a rich, smooth barrel aged RIS, I would have preferred if it were a bit thicker.

This drinkability on this beer is very high. So smooth through out, and never too harsh to make me want to put it down. No EtOH burn. I doubt I'll have the opportunity to try it again, but this beer was certainly worth seeking out. Support your Midwest brewers!!

Serving type: growler

05-17-2011 00:56:11 | More by airohead2001

chippo33

Vermont

4/5  rDev -9.1%

06-15-2013 02:19:55 | More by chippo33

HopsMatt

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev -3.4%

06-13-2013 06:24:26 | More by HopsMatt

chase2634

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -3.4%

06-09-2013 14:26:22 | More by chase2634

DrZeus10

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +2.3%

06-03-2013 23:14:14 | More by DrZeus10

yamar68

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +2.3%

06-02-2013 00:43:57 | More by yamar68

dasmusik

Minnesota

4.75/5  rDev +8%

05-28-2013 21:54:47 | More by dasmusik

ajzy

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev -14.8%

05-26-2013 06:21:19 | More by ajzy

mhenson42

Texas

4.75/5  rDev +8%

05-21-2013 00:53:16 | More by mhenson42

rmalinowski4

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +2.3%

05-07-2013 19:49:28 | More by rmalinowski4

lonewolfcry

Minnesota

5/5  rDev +13.6%

05-06-2013 19:13:13 | More by lonewolfcry

weonfire

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -3.4%

04-30-2013 21:59:20 | More by weonfire

baybum

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +8%

04-29-2013 16:53:26 | More by baybum

ridglens

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev -3.4%

04-28-2013 23:37:12 | More by ridglens

wyatt13

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +2.3%

04-28-2013 13:58:49 | More by wyatt13

Gonzoillini

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -14.8%

04-27-2013 12:47:09 | More by Gonzoillini

MaseFace

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev -3.4%

04-15-2013 01:08:25 | More by MaseFace

beernads

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +2.3%

04-05-2013 09:31:08 | More by beernads

jbuddle

New York

4.25/5  rDev -3.4%

03-26-2013 14:47:37 | More by jbuddle

srandycarter

California

4.5/5  rDev +2.3%

03-25-2013 03:19:08 | More by srandycarter

SpeedwayJim

New York

4.38/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

64oz. growler into a Brooklyn Brewer snifter. Shared with schen9303.

Pours a viscous pitch black with a .25 finger dark mocha head that dissipates quickly. Big, oily and sticky legs that clings heavily to the glass. Lacing is spotty and mineral. As expected due to the style and serving vessel.

Nose is chocolate, fudge, sweet soy sauce, molasses, roasted malt, toasted almonds and brownie. Booziness is deep but well hidden. Not the most aromatic but the flavors are well integrated.

Opens chocolate and sweet soy sauce. Roast and molasses sweetness in the middle with layers of fudge and more chocolate. Dark fruit and booziness sneak in at the end right before a chocolate finish. Aftertaste is booze, roast, and more dark fruit and chocolate sweetness. Really good.

Medium to full bodied with low carbonation. Oily, slick, and smooth in the mouth and warm going down. Messy finish with a lingering, sticky aftertaste. Perfect for what it is. I actually like the slightly thinner body here.

A hyped brew that I have to say really lives up to the billing. The barrel presence is subtle, showcasing the complex and well integrated and complementary flavors. Feel is just right and the smell and look fit the style well. Definitely worth a try and another winner from Town Hall.

Serving type: growler

03-25-2013 01:25:18 | More by SpeedwayJim

jaasen64

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

64oz growler filled on 3/5/13 split six ways and poured into Teku Glass. Consumed on 3/14 and reviewed from notes.

A- Pours a midnight black with about a fingers worth of light mocha brown head that recedes a moderate pace leaving some light spotty lacing, recedes to a flat top.

S- Dark chocolate with some light oak, vanilla, and a slight sweet bourbon presence. Not overly aromatic with some light booze present but not bad for being almost 10%. Overall aroma is pretty nice but could have had more potential.

T- Dark creamy chocolate, coconuts, vanilla some light oak and fairly light bourbon. Well balanced with nice rich flavors although bourbon could have come out a little bit more.

M- Very smooth, lightly creamy, medium bodied, nice carbonation, very easy drinking.

O- This was a very nice barrel-aged RIS that definitely did not disappoint. It was very easy drinking and had some nice rich creamy flavors with a fairly nice balance. I would love to try this again and I wish they could bottle it more regularly (without it being infected).

Serving type: growler

03-23-2013 22:52:19 | More by jaasen64

macrosmatic

Florida

4.25/5  rDev -3.4%

03-18-2013 15:13:23 | More by macrosmatic

DonFrap

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +8%

03-13-2013 23:26:44 | More by DonFrap

Auror

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev -3.4%

03-12-2013 20:53:26 | More by Auror