Imperial Eclipse Stout - Evan Williams Bourbon - FiftyFifty Brewing Co.

alexhahn82

California

4.08/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Black as Hell! 1 Finger head with medium dissipation, Poured into a 10oz. goblet (They won't sell it in anything else on tap).

S - Hints of the Evan Williams, a very distinct bourbon smell. But that takes a back seat to the HUGE toffee, chocolate, almost brownie like scent.

T/M - Taste is of thick, chewy chocolate and finishes with a bourbony oak, almost a hint of dark cherries.

Overall - When cold its a chocolate bomb, when warmed up the bourbon shows its teeth and bites in! A top tier bourbon barrel though its NOT a bourbon bomb, Very, very similar to Parablola (But waaay better!)

PP (Price Point) - $7.99 for a 10oz. goblet in June of 2011, considering with came out in December 2010, this is well worth it, wish I lived closer to the brewery so I could enjoy it more often!

Serving type: on-tap

06-29-2011 02:09:44 | More by alexhahn82

jethrodium

California

3.63/5  rDev -16.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at City Beer Store. 2010 Evan Williams. Pours a black that is brownish at the edges when held up to the light. A small tan-chocolaty color head sticks around for a while and leaves a ring around the edge and leaves a decent amount of lacing on the glass. The aroma is cocoa, vanilla, some roasted notes, as well as some light bourbon. The taste very much follows the nose. Initial taste is cocoa, going into the vanilla and bourbon as well as some roastiness. The finish is some darker chocolate with a medium bitterness. There is quite a bit of char on the finish that isn't very pleasant. Light bodied for an imperial stout with relatively low carbonation. I found this to be the worst out of the 2010 Eclipses. I know there is supposed to be some variation so maybe I got lucky with the other bottles I opened.

Serving type: on-tap

06-27-2011 22:19:14 | More by jethrodium

nataku00

California

4.47/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap during an SF beer week FiftyFifty event, poured into a tulip glass. Beautiful pour by the bartender, dark brown bordering on black beer with a finger and a half of dark mocha colored frothy head. Some lighter browns on the edge of the glass when held up to the light so the beer isn't completely dark. Head dissipates to about half a finger and maintains it, leaving lots of nice brown lacing on the glass with some swirling. Carbonation is definitely visible at the edge of the glass, and seems fairly active.

Nose leaves my mouth watering, dark roasted malts, roasted coffee, boozy dried dark fruits like raisins and figs, vanilla, dark caramel, and feint hints of oak. Very complex and ample aroma.

Taste doesn't disappoint, following the complexity of the nose, but tempered by a distinct bourbon component which makes the beer drink a little hot. Delicious, but this almost drinks like a spirit.

Light medium bodied beer is a bit of a surprise for a barrel aged imperial stout. Well carbonated with small gentle bubbles that help a lot to bump up the mouthfeel toward creaminess. The Evan Williams bourbon barrels added a lot more of the bourbon character when compared to the 2010 Four Roses and Heaven's Hill version of the Eclipse, and it makes it of warming and boozy beer. However, this makes this a great candidate for cellaring.

Serving type: on-tap

02-20-2011 03:04:48 | More by nataku00

lionchow

California

4.33/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Drank it at FiftyFifty event at the Bloodhound in SF. Not actually sure if it was on tap or from a bottle. Also enjoyed it along side a pour of Evan Williams single barrel.

Pitch black. Almost no head.

Aroma was lightly roasted and chocolately.

Flavor was sweet, but not overly sweet, primarily of milk chocolate, with a mild roasted character. Little to no bittnerness. Nice balance of oak and bourbon character with the sweet chocolate gives it depth and roundness.

Low carbonation.

Overall very drinkable and enjoyable. Personally its how I like a stout.

Serving type: on-tap

02-17-2011 23:58:17 | More by lionchow

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

4.38/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Comes out black, shockingly! And the smell is, hold your breath: bourbonesque.

Licorice, bourbon, roasted nuts of the darker variety, coffee malt, slow burn to all of these variations in what is done with the coffee and chocolate malts. Was really smooth, brewer even mentioned heat, but I didn't pick up on it, thought it was plenty, to quote the Bullet Boys "Smooth Up In Ya. A little more chocolate going on than some of the other variations.

I'll be very interested to see how the bottles I have of this age over time. They're great right now. Don't hesitate if EW isn't your favorite drink, it really does well with the base beer.

Serving type: on-tap

12-24-2010 23:09:36 | More by Beerandraiderfan

HuskyinPDX

Washington

4.28/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Split a bottle on 6.18.13

Br 1
2012 Vintage

A - Pours a dark, deep brown with a few tan bubbles that quickly move to the edges.

S - Bourbon, chocolate, oaky, and some more bourbon.

T - Chocolate, bourbon, oak, a hint of vanilla. Really balanced and easy to drink.

D - Mild carbonation with a heavy body. Boozy.

O - A great bourbon for a great stout. Nicely balanced with just enough Bourbon to make you pay attention.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2013 06:14:57 | More by HuskyinPDX

cvm4

Mississippi

4.43/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

BR # 1, 2012.

A - Very dark brown body, almost black. Has a tan one finger head.

S - Caramel, dark chocolate, caramel, roasted malts and vanilla.

T - Malty, has a backbone of semi-sweet chocolate and vanilla. Really good, can seem really sweet.

M - Full bodied and oh so creamy.

O - Excellent variation of the beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 00:12:17 | More by cvm4

Scotchboy

Idaho

4.39/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

My first Eclipse variant, a luxury I was provided by both laymansbeerfan and leschkie. 2012, black-waxed, BR #1, 22oz bomber poured into my Darkness snifter...

A: Dark brown pour yields an opaque black body with a decent tan head with lots of smaller carbonation bubbles.

S: Big roasted malt and stout notes seamlessly combine with a hefty splash of sweeter bourbon; toffee, vanilla, and caramel, with coffee and roast...at room temp there is decent bit of sweet alcohol but it isn't boozy, it's quite pleasant actually.

T: Chocolate, caramel, and vanilla from the bourbon really dominate the palate as well; the body is malty but the roast really is 'Eclipsed' by the sweeter bourbon. Lots of oaky smooth flavors and marshmallow, with a decent dose of coffee bitterness and a flash of dark fruit on the finish.

MF: Smooth, creamy full-bodied mouthfeel with just a bit of sweet alcohol heat on the finish.

O: This beer leans toward rich, decadent chocolate while a bit colder, and really evolves into a bourbon/caramel vehicle at room temp. Simple but still very strong spirit sweetness, without any cloying sense or too much booze. I really enjoyed it. The small amount of alcohol I got from this 2012 bottle shows me that 3-6 more months would be just fine to wait in order to capture a full aroma/flavor profile without the heat.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2013 12:31:36 | More by Scotchboy

ngeunit1

California

4.33/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | 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, black licorice, dark cocoa, coffee, booze.

T - Sweet dark chocolate and caramel malts, Bourbon, vanilla, oak, 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 bourbon is a very smooth and works very well with the base beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 03:55:25 | More by ngeunit1

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Appearance-wise, it's the same as any other beer in the series, and surely similar to most beers of the style: dark, opaque black, with a small, dense cap of tan head that receded to a ringlet, maybe a few random trails of lacing on the glass. Aroma of dark roasty malts, dark chocolate, bourbon, molasses; not a hop to be had. Dark malts in the taste, fairly roasty, notes of dark chocolate and espresso, burnt caramel, vanilla and oak with a solid bourbon quality, warm but not quite hot with booze, touch of anise in the finish. Body on the heavier side of medium, carbonation adequately low, a quite enjoyable beer overall.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 21:38:15 | More by Rifugium

DocJitsu

California

4.53/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

I'll start by saying that Evan Williams is my favorite bourbon. So, buying a duplicate bottle of the Eclipse Evan Williams by "mistake" (as far as my wife knows) turned out to be a blessing because it afforded me the opportunity to try this guy and cellar the other one. It pours an opaque, very dark brown with glints of cola brown around the bottome edge of the glass when held to the light. A 1/2 inch burnt caramel colored head forms and sits atop the nearly black liquid, making the appearance very appealing. The aromas aren't obtrusive like one would expect with a BA imperial stout. But the oaky vanilla comes through first, followed by some roasted malt, and some faint bourbon last. The mouthfeel is nearly perfect for this beer. Not just the style, but the way this particular beer manifests itself. Despite it being a BA imperial stout, the flavors aren't huge, so the smooth, creamy, a bit chewy, but not viscous mouthfeel is the perfect combination with the aromas and flavors. Vanilla, oak, bourbon, chocolate, and dark, ripe fruit all come through pretty distinctively. The bourbon alcohol remains on the back of the tongue after the beer has been swallowed. I am really enjoying this one, but not quite as much as the Elijah Craig 12 year old.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 21:18:05 | More by DocJitsu

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A study in corn whiskey for those fans. Not so carbonated. Boozy. Some lace drops. The barreling yielded tastes of coconut, caramel, chocolate. Drinkable, owing much to the sweetness, but to me just a regular imperial stout. Bottle from Premier split with Liam.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 23:52:18 | More by northyorksammy

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

4.13/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

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

Black with a tan head. Nose has some fruitier bourbon notes, chocolate, oak, light vanilla and some brown sugar. Bourbon at the front on the palate, alcohol, and dark chocolate/roast well into the finish.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 22:41:23 | More by liamt07

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

4.24/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

2012 vintage shared with some friends.
Pours a solid black with a decent sized tan head that slowly dissipates. The aroma is roasty, chocolate, caramel and coffee wrapped in a subtle but evident barrel treatment of vanilla, and sweet bourbon whiskey. The flavor starts off sweet and malty with lots of roast, brown sugar, and chocolate. The barrel notes rush in with vanilla, whiskey, light wood to remind us that this is no ordinary stout. Lingering roast lasts long after every sip. Thick body with a light level of carbonation and a sweet almost syrupy creamy mouthfeel. This version was probably the smoothest that we sampled tonight.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 01:09:58 | More by johnnnniee

inlimbo77

Delaware

4.24/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

22oz, BR 1 2012
Beer Scene Philly snifter

A: Pours nearly pitch black. Deep brown color with some reddish hues on the edges. Didn't get hardly any head initially. Swirl got some to come up that was medium tan in color. Leaves some sticky lacing. Some alcohol feet are certainly there.

S: Big dark chocolate right away. Toasted coconut. Vanilla hints. Booze. Toffee. Maybe some marshmallow.

T: Deep dark chocolate bitterness on tip of tongue. Some of that blueberry-like note I usually pull from big RIS. Some caramel and toffee. Dark cocoa on back end. Finish has some lingering bitterness from that chocolate. You get a touch of booze in the throat, but I like it.

M: Full bodied. Some creaminess.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 15:01:56 | More by inlimbo77

Treebs

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

2010 vintage. Bottle # 2298. Thanks to kevanb for this one a while ago.

A: Pours a dark black color with dark brown edges. A little head forms on the pour and recedes to nothing. No lace.

S: Brownie bits with some bitter chocolate. The barrel is nice with smooth bourbon, caramel and oak.

T: The bourbon is smooth and sweet up front. There is a fine roasted malt profile with a backing of oak, unsweetened chocolate and a little toffee.

M: A tad thin for my liking. Medium light body with a medium carbonation level.

O: Very delicious. Not quite in the same echelon as the EC barrel versions, but it is right there.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 02:29:53 | More by Treebs

Pinknuggets

Vermont

4.33/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Bottle to HFS Sniffer

A: dark as night and completely opaque, but with that being said it is closer to extremely dark brown then black. There is a small mocha head that fades to a thick lacing around the outside of the glass, but essentially what a BA stout should be maybe slightly darker.

S:wow it hits hard upfront (though this seemed to fade) with bourbon and chocolate with lots of it. The wood from the barrel really comes out as well with some roasted smells but not really coffee or smoke hard to describe. Starts really well but fades fast.

T: It follows the nose with lots of bourbon chocolate flavor up front, the bourbon flavor is strong but not overwhelming. There is a little bit of malt in there and a tiny amount of roasted coffee flavor. Though the bitterness in the finish is closer to dark chocolate that is mixed with the bourbon flavor that lasts for awhile after even a small sip.

M: First thoughts are "wow this is pretty thin for BA stout" it definitely does have some chewiness to it but i like my BA stouts thick and heavy. However the flip side of this that it is slightly oily and very drinkable going down really easily, especially for a BA stout. The alcohol is also completely hidden, but i expected that at only 9.5%.

O: So i was officially impressed lived up to the hype and for the most part the hefty price tag. This can definitely complete with the big boys like KBS or BCBS, but I don't think it is quite on par maybe a step or two below. That being said it was a great beer that I highly recommend if you can get your hands on it. I'd love to try the other varieties, but unfortunately I can't fund that on my own.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 01:32:45 | More by Pinknuggets

muttyd

Massachusetts

4.16/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

2012 version

As expected, thick black creamy pour with a thin tan head. Head settles into a faint ring. Wish the head persisted throughout. Looks rather bland at first glance.

Nose hits all the right notes: whiskey burn, coffee, roasted malts and chocolate. Some molasses in their as well. Flavor follows the nose with a very prevalent whiskey flavor in the finish. Sweet, but well rounded with enough roasty flavor to balance it out. Almost no hop flavor, as it is overpowered by the big barrel flavor. Thick and creamy, coats the mouth. Solid overall, but not as good as the Elijah Craig.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 03:09:07 | More by muttyd

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

4.44/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2012 Vintage - Black Wax. Poured in to snifter.

A - Poured black with a thin layer of medium brown head.

S - Sweet bourbon and vanilla up front that give way to oak, chocolate fudge and molasses aromas. Fairly sweet overall nose with a good balance of barrel notes and the base beer.

T - Bourbon, vanilla and oak flavours up front from the barrel with a nice sweetness. Mid-palate adds dark caramel, chocolate fudge and a hint of molasses. The finish has roast and more barrel.

M - Medium to full body. Sludgy and silky at the same time. Light carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 16:57:21 | More by TheSevenDuffs

Dope

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

2012 Vintage.

A: Pours a very dark brown. Big dense but fizzy medium brown head. Head fades quite slowly with great retention. Almost a solid wall of lacing is left behind which is quite nice.

S: Big bourbon as you might expect. Kind of a dry bourbon with toffee and some caramel. Good amount of chocolate in there, you can really get a good sense of the roasted malt in this one. Pretty boozy and oaky too.

T: Like the other variants there is heavy booze up front. Caramel and toffee primarily. Again, surprisingly dry. Nice cocoa and bitter chocolate. Bourbon fades away leaving primarily the chocolate and introducing a toasted marshmallow flavor. I noticed this marshmallow flavor in my previous 50/50 Eclipse, the Old Fitzgerald version. However, never noticed it in any of the other variants. Very interesting - not as prominent in this beer however. It melds well with the bitter chocolate I will say, giving this beer a wonderful bitter chocolate/burnt marshmallow finish. A little more drying in the aftertaste with char and bitter chocolate, getting a hint of that oak too.

M: Quite full bodied and velvety.

O: Very tasty Eclipse variant. Bourbon feels a little cheap and plain, although I am not a true connoisseur of whiskey unfortunately. Having said that, it integrates well. Initial flavor doesn't hold up to some of the other variants but the rest of the brew is still excellent. Great mouthfeel too, a little bit smoother than some of the others. Overall a delicious beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 04:25:39 | More by Dope

smakawhat

Maryland

4.45/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured from the bottle into a snifter glass. BR-1 Vintage 2012.

A classic dark walnut brown, just wants to hint at black but doesn't quite get there, with nice chestnut red/brown edges. Head makes barely a finger, but what little there is does stay, in a somewhat dark mocha color. Manages an attractive wispy top and several pencil thin rings of a collar while drinking.

Nose is quite delicious with a bourbon whiskey caramel angle that fits nicely. Charing roast malt, with soot angle. Caramel becomes quite dominant with a sense of bourbon aging not from the malt bill. A little bit of "spice" kick also, not sure what that angle is on first impression, but it's nice. Hints also at a good salt angle, which matches real nicely with the caramel. Great bouquet.

Palate is a classic example of what a malty dark roasted stout should be. Char and a good warmth both hinting at malts and barrel charred. Then caramel bourbon warmth comes out, with a salty peanut like action. Body has a good light depth, mostly it seems from the honey, but this is not very silky. Not overly sweet, in fact quite downplayed on the sweetness which I enjoy. As your palate rests, some hop bitterness even comes out which feels real good, giving the beer an interesting warmth. Not boozy, but the brew has a nice kick with all this flavor and this faint hop sting at the finish.,

Overall I am not sure what to say, these Eclipse barrel brews so far from Fifty Fifty are very impressive.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 23:58:14 | More by smakawhat

zhanson88

California

4.05/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2010 bottling.

Appearance: Pours pretty much pitch black, and moderately viscous. Forms a nice tan head that has good retention.

Smell: Bittersweet chocolate, vanilla, and quite a bit of bourbon on the nose. Not much roast to speak of. Not overly complex, but good.

Taste: Taste follows the smell. This imp. stout is not overly sweet with some dark chocolate bitterness, along with some vanilla and a moderately prevalent bourbon presence. There are many bourbons that I prefer over EW, and I can say the same about the bourbon presence in this beer. Seems a bit rough around edges. Still, I cannot complain how it is incorporated into the beer, as they got the overall level of barrel about right.

Mouthfeel/Overall: Smooth, full and silky mouthfeel. Good level of carbonation. Finishes with some bourbon and vanilla. Good. Overall, I really enjoyed this beer. A very good stout, and I hope I get to try some of the other versions at some point.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 21:01:55 | More by zhanson88

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle poured into tasters - 2012 vintage - thanks gillian

Pours an inky black with little head, lacing or retention. Small lining of tanned film rings around the glass.

Rich chocolate soaked bourbon nose with oaked, boozy warmth. Residual vanilla sweetness with caramel and roasted dark malts. Cocoa, chocolate cake and alcohol.

Warm, sweet and boozy right up front. Chocolately tones with cocoa and caramel, vanilla and oaky char. Thick, burly malt backbone; roasted, dark and soaked in bourbon. Nice combination of sweet, boozy and roasty. Finishes with boozy chocolate.

Fuller body, milder carbonation, creamy and slick on the tongue. I've enjoyed all of the Eclipses so far, although I'm definitely realizing the price tag probably isn't worth it. Also, extensive aging (I still have a number of 2010 bottles) may or may not be necessary, depending on what you're searching for from these.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2013 14:38:21 | More by xnicknj

chugalug06

Colorado

4.23/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Very little caramel colored soapy head rose from the intense black brew. Not overly thick. No lacing.

Pasty, vanilla (tons), Bourbon resin, intense chocolate, molasses, rich black wood..

Whoa. Sweet, but not a sugar bomb... High carbonation, only slightly detracts from rich flavorful flavors. Chocolate, molasses, toasted coconut, strong vanilla, bourbon heat kick, but you can tell it's faded a ton... Zero bitterness, but, nice fade of tobacco at the back end..

Another GREAT Eclipse series brew... It's hard to pay the $30 price tag, but damn is it worth it.. Evan Williams version is highly recommended, but I prefer the EC 12. Happy 2013 to all.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 03:24:17 | More by chugalug06

WillCarrera

Illinois

4.4/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22 oz bottle, 2012 black wax version, bottle number BR1, poured into a snifter.

A- Pours black with a thin brown head that recedes to a thin collar, leaves a bit of spotty lacing.

S- Lots of vanilla, chocolate and caramel with some bourbon accents in the background, roast malt is pretty subtle.

T- Similar to the aroma, lots of rich dark chocolate and vanilla, some caramel and sugar as well as bourbon sweetness, roasted flavors, which make an appearance towards the finish, definitely take a backseat to sweet malts and barrel character.

M- Medium-bodied, low carbonation with a smooth, rich feel.

O- Another excellent beer in the Eclipse series, really showcases some nice chocolate flavors and nice subtle barrel character, very tasty stuff.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 04:53:20 | More by WillCarrera