Labyrinth Black Ale - Uinta Brewing Company

Resuin

Massachusetts

4.73/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Poured from a 750 mL bottle into a teku glass. This is a 2011 version.

Appearance: Pours a jet-black and leaves a solid finger of dark tan head. A great looking imperial stout!

Smell: Chocolate, bourbon, vanilla, licorice, light coffee, dark fruits. Delicious smelling beer.

Taste: Matches the smell: bourbon, chocolate, plums, figs, licorice, vanilla, coffee and finishes with a delicious bourbon flavor. Really well balanced.

Mouth-feel: Medium body with a light to medium carbonation. Extremely smooth, especially with regards to the ABV - the alcohol is really well hidden.

Overall: This is an incredible stout. Super well balanced, and chocolate-forward. The licorice comes through but is light. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 00:13:38 | More by Resuin

SawDog505

New Hampshire

4.79/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Poured into a 16 snifter, bottled 1/23/13. Pours as black as can be, with a beautiful one inch mocha head, that takes its time settling into a layer of thick foam, and coats the glass with lacing. Smell is licorice, roasted coffee, leather, pipe tobacco, and oaky vanilla. Taste is so complex all the flavors from the nose are exposed, some dark chocolate and hints of bourbon come out also. Body is big, perfect amount of carbonation, not as dry as you would expect, and for its heft dangerously drinkable. Yes I loved this beer, welcome to N. H Uinta! They make awesome beer. If you are looking for a Bourbon bomb go else where. If you want a crazy complex imperial stout, this is one. Don't let the fact that is brewed with licorice sticks scare you off, that is a small part of this treasure of a beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 14:09:11 | More by SawDog505

JFresh21

Illinois

4.19/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

This is a great beer! It has the makings of a premier BA stout(although they call it a black ale) but lacks the depth and thickness of a kbs or black note. Labyrinth could use more coffee notes. Overall very smooth and easy to drink even at 13% abv. Definitely try this if you are into BA stouts. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 01:38:50 | More by JFresh21

xtrastoutalex

Illinois

4.79/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Found a 2010 vintage and thought it would be worth a try.
Poured into cigar city snifter.

Appearence: Dark like a blind man in a maze. Pours used motor oil thick. The head was quite thin and yet still present, a clear sign of high abv and sugar content. Lacing is clumps of slow moving, sticky, white foam.

Smell: As the tight cork gave way with a satisfying snap a tight curl of aged vapor came sneeking out. It reeked of dark leather and aged tobacco mixed with burnt molasses , chocolate, and a hint of anise. The age was very present and promising.

Taste: Wow. The age has done wonders for this receipe! The anise forward has been balanced by the smokey leather flavor the years have gifted the bottle. All the other usual palate pleasers are still existant. The prunes and plums play on the middle palate and the burnt sugars, chocolate, and molasses give way to a wiskey style burn amplified by the slight residual anise.

Mouthfeel: Initially, surprisingly thinner than expected. Following that observation my saliva glands activated, thanks to the spices, and it felt much thicker. Very palatible and able to take time to savor all the notes without one being overwhelming.

Overall: On age, one of the best bottled brews on the shelf. If you like well balanced aged stouts this is a must try. Very unique in a pleasant way. Interested to experience the years in between to see the progression.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 02:42:23 | More by xtrastoutalex

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

4.38/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle into a shaker pint, the beer pours like motor oil, both thick and black. Completely opaque, with a tall, frothy, dense, light tan head of a solid two inches. Aromas of roast and burning wood, molasses sweetness, booze character, and licorice. Smells rich and complex. Flavors are rich and warming, with a darkly sweet and rich molasses backbone, bittersweet chocolate highlights, and a subtle roast character highlighting. Very layered and dynamic. Well balanced. Decent lacing as you drink, and the beer has a creamy, smooth, rich body. Aftertaste is bitter and roasted, with a slight molasses linger. Very tasty. The finish is slick and lingering, with a bittersweet twist left behind. Great sipper. Well done brew.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 00:15:20 | More by GarthDanielson

puboflyons

New Hampshire

4.69/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

From the 750 ml. bottle bottled on 1-13-13. Sampled on April 12, 2013.

Oh my! The short version is this is something else.

It pours black as night with a long lasting, moderate fluffy mocha head.

The aromas carry the characteristics of mildly sweet dark malts, yeast, licorice, and exotic oil for lack of a better description. Short version - this smells great.

The body is bold but smooth.

Up front the taste brings out some the elements of the nose such as dark sweet malts and licorice but with a slightly dry finish and low bitterness. Some people like smoke in their Porters but this one does not need it. I enjoyed this immensely and would have it again.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 21:56:21 | More by puboflyons

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

3.86/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle into a tulip.

A: Pours a pitch black color with an impressive thickness. The head is a three finger tan shade. Given its strength, I'm quite impressed with the retention of the head.

S: The nose features licorice, chocolate, vanilla, mocha coffee, and a bit of roasted barley. Rock solid, but could have used more barrel influence.

T: The opening sweetness is moderately high, with a strong chocolate/vanilla character. Some coffee and licorice notes gradually build near the finish to counteract the (strong) sugary tones. It makes for a great dessert stout, only lacking in barrel character.

M: Thick, creamy, rich, decadent...every trait I look for in an imperial stout. The booze is superbly hidden, as well. Only thing I can nitpick is the slightly-too-high finishing astringency.

O: Subjectively, I don't really like the licorice-forward tendencies this offers...but I can't deny this is a very well-made product loaded with sophistication and finesse. Still, it could have been a genuine BCBS killer if it featured stronger oak qualities.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 02:14:41 | More by ThisWangsChung

laituegonflable

Australia

4.15/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark-brown colour. Seriously, we need a scale to measure the darkness of beers like this. But this is up there in darkness, yet light gives a glimmer of brown. Head is ochre, just deliciously dense and retaining as stubbornly as opponents of gay marriage. Lace is amazing. This beer looks amazing.

Smell is quite delectable as well. Dark and roasty backbone but a hell of a lot of sweet booziness. Bourbony coconut notes, peanut and vanilla on there with a chocolatey, nutmeg edge to it. Hint of licorice and pepper as well. Good spicy dark notes but the sweet complexities overlying are just wonderful.

Taste is very pleasant, with dark notes that aren't quite as roasty as I'd like, kind of lightly toasted rye bread on there with dark caramel. Then big booziness comes to the fore, with vanilla pods and coconut and a fair sticky rye note, with a nutty edge like pecans for a hint of bitterness. Slightly buttery on the back. It's all very nice flavours but I feel like it's a bit straight-lace ultimately, and doesn't quite ram the flavour home in the way it could. It's like it's a bit afraid of its own strength.

Full and a bit bitey. Good body, but from the front to the back I get that sense of booze, which is unfortunate, but it's not hot enough to really mar it.

Good brew, lots to like. I feel maybe some more roasty bitterness would absolutely run this one up the flagpole for me. Still a great drop though.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 10:51:00 | More by laituegonflable

blakelive784

Colorado

3.6/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

1 pt 9.4 fl oz corked and caged brown glass bottle (bottled 1/24/12)served in a snifter, reviewed live:

A - Pours an opaque jet black color with four fingers of thick, creamy chocolate colored head. Retention is amazingly good at over 13% alcohol and there's sticky cream lacing when it finally recedes. Impressive.

S - Sweet rich chocolates, light toasty oak, cream, faint coffee, and sweet licorice. Caramel and toffee throughout. Restrained roasted malt. Prune and currant. On the sweet end. I get no alcohol on the nose. A touch of vanilla. Moderate strength.

T - The licorice is a dominate note. I wish it were more restrained. Light creamy milk chocolate and roasted malts buried under the heavy licorice. Bitter coffee towards the end. Underwhelming oak. A touch of alcohol warmth on the finish, but the ABV is remarkably well hidden. Surprisingly mild.

M - Full bodied, thick and smooth.

D - Incredible drinkability. Suffers a little bit from some flavors (oak, roast) being a bit too restrained. Could be great with a little work.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 01:28:34 | More by blakelive784

Dope

Massachusetts

4.24/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Bottle dated 11/08/12, only 4 months old this go-around.

A: Pitch black pour. Big, dense, thick dark brown head. Wonderful legs. Great head retention but only minimal, spotty lacing. Oddly enough, not as good as the "bad" old bottle.

S: Big bourbon notes. Lots of burnt sugar, caramel, toffee and even brown sugar. Hints of oaky vanilla. Heavy roasted malt hides underneath, just barely poking through with some heavy chocolate and char. Even a little coffee.

T: Again, big bourbon but not as strong as the aroma. Caramel, burnt sugar (like burnt marshmallows in fact) and a little toffee. Then enormous and sweet roasted malt. Heavy sweet chocolate abound. Hints of char and coffee but the chocolate is the big one here. Lots of anise, particularly in the finish. Not in a bad way like a belgo-anise Stone IRS but instead it nicely compliments the huge sweetness with some bitter notes. A little bit of char in the finish. Lingering bourbon and oak notes in the aftertaste.

M: Thick, heavy, viscous.

O: A great bourbon barrel stout. Hugely sweet, almost a little much at times but what do you expect from a 13.2% imperial stout? Big anise notes, definitely a must-try for the black licorice lovers. Great big, complex and bold stout. Very nice.

Old review from a 2/2013

Bottle dated 03/31/10, almost 3 years old. I'm guessing the 13.2% ABV can take it.

A: Pitch black pour with one of the thickest, densest dark brown heads I've seen. Big foam. Decent fluffy lines of lacing left behind. Great head retention. (4.25)

S: Big fruit notes. Dark fruits, sherry-like (uh oh?). A bit of whiskey but just a touch. Some roasted malt character hiding underneath but hard to discern - mainly smoke and char. (3)

T: Whiskey and dark fruits up front but then devolves into a harsh sherry in the middle. Finish is stale cardboard (what does fresh cardboard taste like anyway?) and prunes. Oxidized, nasty. (2)

M: Heavy, motor oil thick. (4.25)

O: Shame, guess 3 years was way too much for this beer. Lots of oxidization covers all of the flavors. It shows potential but I will have to seek out a fresh bottle and re-review this one. (2)

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2013 03:28:12 | More by Dope

kojevergas

California

3.36/5  rDev -20.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Crooked Line Series. "Labyrinth Black Ale." "Ale brewed with licorice sticks and aged in oak barrels." 13.2% ABV confirmed. Bottled 09/19/12. 750ml brown glass bottle with hood and wire cap (also called a cage) over a cork acquired at a local SoCal store and served into a conical Samuel Smith's pint glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Cost was $14.00. Expectations are very high; my good friend blakelive784 told me this stuff was tasty.

Served chilled and allowed to come to room temperature over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

Paired with Swiss chocolate.

A: Pours an absolutely beautiful rich cacao tan colour head of fantastic cream, magnificent thickness, and ridiculously good (10+ minute) retention for the high ABV. Damn; that's impressive. Head isn't as vibrant or gold as the best examples of the style I've had, but it's still damned impressive. Body colour is anontransparent opaque solid jet black. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Light lacing as the head slowly recedes. How they get that good a retention at this high an ABV? Marvelous.

Sm: Chocolate, marshmallow, chocolate malt, dark malts, light coffee, anise/licorice/fennel, and very light buried oak; I wouldn't know it was rye/barrel aged just from the aroma if you gave it to me blind. Cream. Caramel. Light vine and buried fruit. Maybe hazelnut? Light hop presence - but it's still more noticeable than it is in most imperial stouts I've had. Hop character is generic floral. Grainy and appealing. Chocolate is the most forward note, but there's a lot going on here. I'm excited to try it. A surprisingly mild aroma. I don't get any yeast or alcohol off the aroma. Prune/dates? Some kind of dark or stone fruit; it isn't plum. A dash of vanilla; I guess that could be from the rye? It's appealing, if timid. It doesn't bring the bold complexity I look for in great examples of the style, but it's solid all around.

T: Nice milk chocolate. Chocolate malt. Dark malts. Light caramel. Cream. Decent roast. A light trace of coffee; it's certainly not a coffee heavy imperial stout. Vanilla. Malty sweetness is more prominent than I'd like, but it's not sickeningly sweet or cloying by any means - just a bit overdone, limiting drinkability. Alcohol is well disguised here. The licorice is there, but it kind of bothers me actually. It doesn't add a lot to the beer and seems to disrupt the balance. Minimal hop presence with generic floral character. I do get a touch of alcohol presence in the third act and finish. The balance isn't ideal, but it's pretty well done all around. It lacks the astounding complexity and depth of other better examples of the style, but I do like it. I want more roast from it. Also, the oak/rye whiskey is quite timid; I wish that came through more. Where's the delightful toasted oak I want in a great imperial stout?

Mf: Silky smooth and creamy up front, but it gives way to a coarser dryer texture that doesn't do it any favors. I wish it were smooth and creamy througout; it's a bit uneven. Carbonation is good if a biteen high. Good presence on the palate. Nicely soft.

Dr: I hate the bottle format; I'd like to see imperial stouts like this one move to a smaller bottle; finishing this alone is a tall order. It's a sipper; the alcohol does come through. But it's a pleasant sipper and I wouldn't dare call it hard to drink. It's just hard to drink quickly. I think my personal aversion to licorice may be bringing my opinion of this one down, but it's certainly not without other flaws. A good offering from Uinta, but there are better beers in the style and at or below this price point. (Not that price affects my reviews). For my money, I'd sooner grab Speedway Stout for $10.49, but I'm glad I tried this.

B-

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 03:53:18 | More by kojevergas

RollTide7

New Jersey

4.56/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Reccamended by a fellow BA enjoyed at a great beer bar in park city. The beer pors very dark. I honestly cant really tell the difference between this and a imperial stout except that hops are negligable here. Hides the alcohol extremely well at over 13%. Very smooth, tastes of chocolate, carmel. Very complex flavors show the beer was aged and overall a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 03:20:12 | More by RollTide7

Jwale73

Rhode Island

4.21/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

2012 bottling (can't make out the month on the label). 750ml corked & caged format served in my KTG snifter. A vigorous pour down the center of the glass reveals a color one shade shy of black with a dense, one-inch mocha-colored head. Head eventually settles into a solid, 1/8th inch skim with swaths of lacing evident after each tilt. Nose expresses roast, a vinous quality and cocoa nibs. Taste consistent with nose; however, much richer and bolder than suggested by the flavor profile. The vinous dark fruit nicely breaks up the rich malt and chocolate I have to say. There's also a little bit of oxidation that lingers at the finish. Mouthfeel is medium in body, with a pleasant, even carbonation and a light oiliness to the texture. This is a fantastic example of the style and a regular release to boot. I can't believe I waited this long to try this. Very reasonable at $11.99. Alcohol is dangerously well-hidden as well. If you like big stouts and haven't tried this one, you should.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 01:57:18 | More by Jwale73

Justin_Neff

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a bottle. Purchased in Park City, Utah. Bottled 11/8/12.

A: Pours motor oil black. Thick pour, with no head at first. After a few quick seconds, a thick, fluffy, dark tan head billows up and builds up really quickly - like a volcanic eruption. Head sticks around for several minutes and eventually settles into a nice 1/2 finger ring. Leaves a nice lacing.

S: Strong oaky nose. Chocolate. Mocha coffee, vanilla, and some sort of fruits - definitely the licorice.

T: More chocolate than anything else. The oakiness almost comes off as bourbon tasting. Pretty high bitter taste - probably from chocolate. Licorice taste comes out very sweet.

M: Moderate carbonation. Full body. Sweet and creamy.

O: Pleasant little surprise after a great day of hitting the slopes. Shared and enjoyed with my Brother, Jeff. Great balance of oak and sweetness. Not super malty but a great level of complexity.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 00:52:55 | More by Justin_Neff

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I picked this up at Giant, enjoyed chilled in a cervoise and tulip and allowed to gradually warm to cellar temp.
The color is piano black with no light passing through the liquid, very dense rich look with thick tan cap like espresso crema just lays and holds for a while with ultra fine bead. The smell is a blend of dark malty scents with a fruity raisin-like yeast ester mixed with a complimentary pine and slight citrus hop note there is slight cocoa with a mild coffee-like tinge but generally rich and brownie batter with dark sugar's molasses hint in there.
The mouthfeel is great the roasted quality stands out but is not too sharp with a sweetness that is not cloying from the malt body. There is a full feel yet balanced without an exceptionally high bitterness and subtle grain astringency with mild alcohol for the abv.

The taste is lush with prune and pepper with cocoa mixed with roasted coffee and the brownie batter sweetness with some light pine hoppiness which comes forward more as it warms with light tinge of vanilla smoothness in the middle. I get a mild citrus note from the hops too but it blends well with the dark malt flavors and is a nice contrast to the dark caramel element which is the core of this stout. Overall a pretty remarkable ale - a little on the sweet side, but that is okay for this style and welcomed actually. I think this is a truly great beer and it is a stealth stout in the way that it seems much smaller in abv than 13%!

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 17:19:36 | More by Slatetank

templar316

Pennsylvania

4.63/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Here's one that deserves more conversation! Pours deep ebony with mocha head. There's NONE more black! As advertised; a Black ale indeed... On the nose black licorace fades into cinnamon, notes of figs, vanilla and leather. The dark chocolate taste disolves into candied dates but the alcohol isn't evidenced anywhere... There's a syrupy heaviness to the body that warns you to take this slow allthough the alcohol is nowhere to be found. Bottled in August of this year...

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 04:22:01 | More by templar316

joeseppy

Illinois

4.24/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Dark brown with a mocha thin head. Syrupy texture that clings.

Aromas of bourbon, coffee grounds, herbal hop, licorice, toasted marshmellow and a smokiness.

Taste dark roasty malts, bittersweet oak, vanilla, dark cocoa and some smoky haze. Alcohol for sure but not distracting.

Full bodied and roasty.

Better sipped at cool temps. Wish this sold in smaller options. Big brew for one person. Nice to sip and share with some great BAs. This is my second Uinta and I am liking these guys. Look forward to their other offerings.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 02:59:51 | More by joeseppy

emyers

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle poured into a Founders tulip.

Appearance: Jet black with a thin dark brown head.

Smell: Bourbon and dark fruits lead off the nose with cocoa, licorice, oak and vanilla close behind. Definitely not as in-your-face as, say a BCBS, but very complex and still extremely balanced.

Taste: Awesome. Similar profile to the aroma, but seems a little more intense. Bourbon, oak, and rich dark chocolate lead the way followed up by dark fruits and licorice. Bittering hops kick in to provide a bittersweet finish.

Mouthfeel: Nice and thick, smooth, appropriately low carbonation. Bittering hops on the finish dry the palate leaving you craving another sip.

Overall: Really a great beer. I feel like this doesn't get the attention it deserves (which may have something to do with it being labeled as a black ale as opposed to a bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout). It's better than a lot of BBA stouts that get a whole lot more hype. Great balance and flavor complexity.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 03:50:41 | More by emyers

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.34/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

this is up there with any of the top stouts on this site, wow is it something. way bigger than I expected, as its simply labeled a black ale, perhaps the largest understatement in recent beer history! it pours jet black, radiant with an obsidian shine and not a ray of light passing through. the head is tall and coffee brown, light and airy in texture, and with 100% retention. I almost never give 5s for anything, but this beer could not look any more appealing! the nose is surprisingly not too boozy, which I thought it would be at over 13% abv. its got a ton of dark roasted barley and burnt sugar bitterness, as well as a spicy oak character from the rye barrels. I taste tobacco, unsweetened vanilla, heavily used oak, whiskey, black malt, dark chocolate, and licorice! lots of licorice in fact, bitey and potent, somehow raw and unrefined. this is a beer of great complexity. the feel too is fantastic, huge body but also excellent carbonation. I hate to call it drinkable, but my girlfriend wouldn't help me with this one after I opened it, so I did put away a whole bottle of this on my own. I paid for it with a hangover, but this beer was unforgettable. highly recommended!

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2013 21:04:35 | More by StonedTrippin

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.26/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

I really liked this beer at tastings, and bought a few bottles, but never got around to drinking it, weird. Bottled on 03/31/10.

An aggressive pour yields a decent looking dark cocoa colored creamy rich 1/2 finger head, fades at a med pace with some decent lacing too, not bad for a 13% beer, thick legs on teh sides of the glass as well, over a pitch black beer, no light coming from that puppy.

Nose brings plenty of big dark malts, black malt right off the bat as well as roasted malt, a roast that seems like it would have been over powering fresh, but has some nice softness with almost 3 years on it. Big fluffy nougat like aroma, with some candy, caramel, etc, and some dark chocolate coming through. That all brings a light booze aroma too, and some slight earthy hops. Oak is in the background, just a touch of vanilla and light toasty barrel like. A big dark nose for a big dark beer.

Taste starts with big malts again, some black malt, and roast again, but as expected not overpowering burnt roast as the age seems to have really softened it. Chewy malts, the roast brings a light burnt coffee grinds though, with a bitter black malt flavor and some tannins from all that even. Fluffy nougat in the middle again, candy like too, but not a lot of sweetness, touch of caramel and light cocoa and biscuity cocoa pebbles like. The chocolate is there but not big chocolate, more like a touch of baker's chocolate and the chocolate cereal flavors. Bitterness comes a bit from the roasty malts, as well as light earthy hops in the background. The barrel is practically an after thought, as it infuses a hint of vanilla, although a light dusty wood shelf comes out a little as it warms. Booze is there, with a light booze taste and plenty of warmth, touch of tingle, but not nearly 13%. Chewy creamy almost oats like, fairly thick and lush. Finish is semi sweet still, mouth coating, light tingly booze lingering as it coats the mouth, lingering dark malts, hint cocoa and cereal again, light roast and black malt all lingering.

Mouth is thick and rich, slightly creamy but full bodied, lighter but decent carb, plenty of warming slight tingly booze.

Overall a big beer, great. Not sure why they call it a black ale, as yes it's black but it's not what you'd expect for a black ale which is typically referring to black IPA style. There are not many hops in this but don't need them as the malts really take the show. Big dark malts that don't get overbearing, burnt or too roasty, etc, and a few years of age on it adds a nice softness and drinkability. I'm gonna try to finish this whole thing by myself before the superbowl, so we'll see how I'm feeling during the superbowl, probably pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 20:49:45 | More by jlindros

DenverLogan

Colorado

4.16/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4

Corked bottle...poured in Corsendonk chalice.
Tight cork, slight poof.
Pours deep Mohagany with brown head layer, brown lace on glass.
Aroma of rich chocolate, Mexican chocolate, mixed spices, cocoa, alcohol.
Significant mouthfeel...rich and bold...oh mommy!
Flavors of dark chocolate, Mexican chocolate, mango rind, cinnamon, Hungarian paprika, melon rind...oh mommy...this is a big boy. This is not for picky, timid drinkers, including some beer geeks. This is like a statement saying "We in Utah can make some Kick-butt beer you won't soon forget." Oooh...help me lord!
Fortunately I have someone to share this with because drinking this whole baby by oneself would be comparable to abuse, excuse my beer language-ookie-ookie...booyang! While less alcohol than say, an Avery Czar, this stands out greater in impact...it's an assault in the mouth, not close to smooth, but intriguing and tasty if you want a strong one!
2/18/2013 - I'm trying a bottle dated 6/8/11. I don't know what my previous bottle was dated, but I'm guessing it was younger, and that has made a big difference. Yep...aging has mellowed out the rough alcohol and mouth assaulting characteristics. This is damn tasty...big chocolate malts, some rich tropical dried fruit, raisins, prune, carob, significant alcohol, bitter chocolate, slight paprika, caramel, toffee...slight liquorice and oak as the label says, but not the biggest flavors...and there are other bitter flavors. Challenging but inviting if you're looking for a big beer. Ayieee!!

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 05:30:40 | More by DenverLogan

kangarooAdam59

Maine

4.63/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Bottled on 07/09/12:

Into a nonic, and a regular pint, nothing really changed between the two:

A: jet black body leaving a super large three finger head foamy tan head. Last pour of the bottle makes the head mushroom cap a bit and then settles slowly in nice little inner valleys. Lacing clings in a foamy way.

S: awesome combination of licorice, chocolate, light coffee and hop

T: mainly sweet between previously mentioned flavors yet the coffee and hops from the smell presents a lingering sweet stickiness.

M: medium to heavy with some light sharpness on the tongue. The alcohol is felt warmly going down my throat but in a good way. Though as this beer grows on me, there's a part that wants more but I am realizing this perhaps I bit off more than I could chew (hockey game beforehand could be causing me to want to gulp). This is not as drinkable as I thought it would be thinking since it was bottled last July it would have mellowed by now, it didn't. It leaves a sticky aftertaste and finis

O: I think this is an excellent beer, its superb for its style and its superb for me. Next time I wish to have this, I'll make sure I didn`t workout within an hour of having this.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 05:44:55 | More by kangarooAdam59

ElCommodoro

Texas

2.51/5  rDev -40.5%
look: 4 | smell: 1.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

This beer was intense. I was wondering how they were going to make a "black ale" so high in alcohol. It seems it was achieved by essentially making it a stout. It did retain a very intense black malt and roasted malt flavour, though. That made it interesting. A lot of things made this beer interesting. But one overarching thing made it disgusting and that was what I call "soy sauce" flavour. I don't know what causes it, but I come across it every now and then in a very strong, dark beer. They take on the flavour and, more prominently, smell, of soy sauce. Everyone seems to agree that that is what they smell like. This is one of those rare beers with this distinct odor and it is most unpleasant. It hits immediately and hard, masking even the presence of alcohol (which is most saddening of all for me). Luckily ,after a few sips, I did start to get used to it with this particular beer. I've had more overwhelming "soy sauce" beers in the past. Underneath it, there is a lot going on and it is all most interesting and appreciated. The oak flavours are very prominent and do a very good job of adding complexity and pleasurable flavour to the strong flavour of roasted malt and licorice.
The mouthfeel wasn't very pleasant either. I like strong stouts, but this was excessively thick, oily, and yeasty. It was not nearly as bad as Jester King's Black Metal, but it suffered from the same problem. It was so thick, yeasty, and strong in flavour and harshness that it became unpleasant. This is coming from someone who thrives on strong, harsh beers. Quads and wee heavies are my favourite styles. But every now and again, I come across something that's just excessive and distasteful. This is one of those things. Interesting, yes, but absolutely not worth buying again. It was a struggle to finish the bottle between four people and only one of us could really say that we "enjoyed" the experience. They best I can muster is, "it was OK. It wasn't "that bad.'" But that's not worth a high score. In the quest for strong stouts, there are much better choices.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 04:19:07 | More by ElCommodoro

DesertRat

North Carolina

4.46/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The licorice flavors were nice. Unique taste with the malts, which were unexpected. I loved the thick texture, but I expected something similar to Oskar Blues "Ten Fidy". I loved the balance, but was expecting something bolder. It was a safe brew, for something I anticipated to be a little more larger than life. Great beer, but for the cost, I would not buy again.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 03:18:42 | More by DesertRat

Thickfreakness

New York

4.63/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

A- Black Hole black! No light shall pass! Thick and sticky dark tan head that leaves a ton of lacing dripping down the glass. The legs are thicker than Kim Kardashian's! Thick, oily and drippy!

S- Rich, dark Belgian 80% chocolate, heavily roasted pecans/walnuts/brazil nuts, licorice, vanilla, cherry nibs, burnt sugar, heavy cream, marshmallows, and a slew of dark dried fruit. Picking up some smoked/charred wood and caramel. This is DEEP and delicious! Wow!

T- Thick, rich, and bittersweet cocoa! Chocolate malted balls, vanilla beans, oak, licorice whips both black and cherry! Nice roasted nuttiness, bitter coffee and marshmallow sweetness. Picking up some of the Rye from the barrel. Nice touch of alcohol that opens up the taste buds. Deep dried figs, prunes, raisins and some subtle touches of citrus and charred malt. This has to be in my top ten all time Stouts! Absolutely Brilliant!

M- Thick and creamy like a beer shake! Grabs your tongue and never lets go. Keeps developing and changing flavors before, inbetween and after each sip. This is crazy good! All the BBA aging and none of the hype! How is this not rated higher than most "One Day Only, Stand In Line All Day" RIS'? $14 of brilliance in a bottle!

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 00:59:29 | More by Thickfreakness