Imperial Eclipse Stout - Heaven Hill Rittenhouse Rye - FiftyFifty Brewing Co.

joshuaseresse

Minnesota

4.33/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Received this bottle from KevSal for winning his BA Haiku LIF, thanks Kevin! 2010 vintage, bottle #462. Shared with a few BAs yesterday after some awesome mountain biking in La Crosse.

A - Really thick, black body with a light mocha foam head. Lacing is splotchy. Bit of a dark amber hue around the edges, mixed with a caramel brown and light purple.

S - Light whiskey, rye, vanilla, cocoa roast, and damp oak. Little sweetness from the honey but not too much. The booze is really restrained on this one, which is pretty nice.

T - Roasted malts, a bit of bakers fudge and chocolate cake. Oak and light whiskey round out the finish, which is not too heavy. Bits of caramel and brown sugar, but I'm not getting a lot of honey. Maybe it is what represents the sweetness but I'm not sure.

M - Good carbonation with the roast leaving a slightly drying effect on the mouth. Pretty smooth and creamy, however.

O - Not too bad, not too bad at all. This is the second 50/50 Stout I've had (Had the Four Roses a few weeks ago) and I can say that I like the Heaven Hill version a little better. A really nice treat to have and something that is even more awesome to win. Thanks again Kevin for the opportunity!

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2011 14:49:28 | More by joshuaseresse

CanisMajor

Indiana

4.75/5  rDev +11.2%

05-20-2013 16:17:38 | More by CanisMajor

pmarlowe

California

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

05-19-2013 23:18:42 | More by pmarlowe

n2185

North Carolina

4.04/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A: Pours black with half a finger of tan head that fades into a sudsy ring with a little lacing.

S: Oak and bourbon dominate at first with vanilla, caramelized sugar, dark fruits, and Port aromas mixed in. Roasted malts with sweet chocolates also come through.

T: Oak and bourbon dominate here as well with semi-sweet chocolate, burnt sugar, caramel, and vanilla. There are some sweeter, Port-like notes mixed in before a boozy finish.

M: Thick body with low carbonation, the alcohol presence keeps it from being smooth and creamy.

O: A good barrel-aged stout overall. It's a little on the boozy and sweet side for my tastes, but still quite good.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 02:04:04 | More by n2185

PolloVagabundo

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

05-17-2013 19:12:17 | More by PolloVagabundo

GRG1313

California

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

05-14-2013 04:40:15 | More by GRG1313

cp45

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

05-02-2013 02:17:52 | More by cp45

zachattack555

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

04-28-2013 20:39:00 | More by zachattack555

outoffocus

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

04-26-2013 21:18:16 | More by outoffocus

SPRichard

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

04-26-2013 20:10:19 | More by SPRichard

ystazi

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

04-20-2013 03:00:50 | More by ystazi

POTABLE83

New York

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

04-17-2013 11:24:46 | More by POTABLE83

ngeunit1

California

4.44/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Dark black with a touch of brown and a finger of frothy khaki-chocolate head. Fades normal.

S - Chocolate and dark caramel malts, molasses, Bourbon, vanilla, oak, rye, black licorice, dark cocoa, coffee, booze.

T - Sweet chocolate and caramel malts, Bourbon, vanilla, oak, spicy rye, molasses, coffee, black licorice, bitter dark cocoa, touch of dark fruit, and some booze.

M - Full bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth and a bit syrupy with a warming, sweet, and lightly spicy finish.

D - Great barrel aged stout. The rye bourbon comes through really nicely.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 03:21:52 | More by ngeunit1

pigc

Nebraska

4.24/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

2011 Green Wax Bottle #1356. Stout brewed with honey

Served in Darkness snifter.

A - Pours pitch black with a two finger light brown sugar colored head. Tiny bubbly lacing clings to sides of the glass.

S - Sweet bourbon whiskey, brown sugar, dark molasses.

T - Starts out with a spicy rye heat up front followed by a moderate wave of whiskey with a slight hint of honey. Molasses and brown sugar dominate mid palate. Finish is semi-bitter.

M - Full bodied and smooth. Creamy texture.

O - This is my first version of the Eclipse beers. Nice spice from the rye although it may be a bit too much for my liking. Whiskey presence is moderate. Seems to drink bigger than a 9.5% abv beer. Well crafted.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 01:26:41 | More by pigc

Alieniloquium

Florida

3.74/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

650 mL bottle poured into an Eclipse snifter. 2012 bottle.

Appearance - Murky black with transparent edges. Not much of a head. Wispy surface.

Smell - Whiskey smell but nothing like the other treatments. Sharp alcohol aroma. Chocolate.

Taste - Dark chocolate flavor. Whiskey but not a lot of barrel. Chocolatey sweet finish.

Mouthfeel - Slick and creamier than the base beer. Medium carbonation. Sweet and barrel booze finish.

Overall - Rye has nothing on Bourbon. Tasty base beer. Nice whiskey but not quite bourbon.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 00:15:08 | More by Alieniloquium

smchenry75

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

03-26-2013 01:08:28 | More by smchenry75

chrisp450

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -6.3%

03-24-2013 20:54:21 | More by chrisp450

DelicateDelirium

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

03-21-2013 03:34:31 | More by DelicateDelirium

DruRho

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

03-19-2013 00:31:10 | More by DruRho

DrJoe82

Illinois

5/5  rDev +17.1%

03-16-2013 00:14:59 | More by DrJoe82

AutumnBeerLove

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -6.3%

03-15-2013 17:41:27 | More by AutumnBeerLove

carlitosbronson1

California

3.75/5  rDev -12.2%

03-15-2013 05:08:41 | More by carlitosbronson1

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Certainly the best tasting, smoothest of the half dozen I have had to date in this series. Black, lacey. Coffee but also nicely undercarbonated. Very good drinkability. Bottlefrom Premier split with Liam.A moderate roast characteristic. Well integrated whiskey.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 23:33:50 | More by northyorksammy

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

4.35/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Shared by Sammy - Bottle from Premier Gourmet, 650ml into a tulip. Tasted alongside 4 other variants.

Black with a tan head. Nose has a beautiful bourbon character, light wood, chocolate, a touch of the corny spirit itself and some overripe red apple. Taste has the whiskey up front, good roast and dark chocolate. Sweeter finish, roast and chocolate lingers with a light alcoholic burn.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 22:37:39 | More by liamt07

cdmillard

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

03-13-2013 00:16:43 | More by cdmillard