Imperial Eclipse Stout - Elijah Craig (20 Year) - FiftyFifty Brewing Co.

GregSVT

Texas

4.69/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

White waxed bomber into a snifter - 2011 Vintage

A: Pours a dark brown with a nice brown head that fades to a ring and leaves lacing all over the glass as you drink.

S: The nose is an amazing mix of vanilla, chocolate, honey, and barrel.

T: The taste is superb! Lots of vanilla, chocolate fudge, honey, roasty malt, and bourbon. The barrel has been toned down a bit here to let the chocolate and honey come forward more but it's still close to the forefront.

M: The feel is creamy and on the lighter side of medium...par for the course for the Eclipse series.

O: This is definitely one of the best variants. The barrel compliments the base beer perfectly and isn't overpowering at all. Age has done it some wonders as well. I had one fresh and it was a bit boozy but this is fudgy/vanilla heaven.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 23:00:38 | More by GregSVT

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

2011 bottle #1094. Thanks Mrbubbler!

Appearance. Pours black (and not especially thick) with a skim of tan head.

Smell. Woody, sweet, and very smooth bourbon, caramel, vanilla and chocolate, some coffee. Not too shabs.

Taste. Very woody, smooth bourbon, caramel and vanilla, a little chocolate and a bit of coffee.

Mouthfeel. On the low side of full bodied, low carbonation.

Overall. A nice stout with a good amount of bourbon. Smooth and not a lot of heat.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 02:39:36 | More by Rutager

spicelab

Australia

4.08/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

2011 bottle thanks to DJButters. Reviewed fom notes.

Brown hued black with a modest saffron head. Recedes to a resilient film and collar.

Coconut, liquorice bullets, candied apples and honey.

Marshmallow, toffee apple, liquorice bullets, refined oak and mild plastic. Finishes surprisingly dry.

Smooth, not remotely heavy, with silky carbonation. Lovely benign dry roasty finish.

Uncomplicated and highly approachable, with well contained barrel character.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 03:57:00 | More by spicelab

ngeunit1

California

4.44/5  rDev -0.9%
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, oak, Bourbon, vanilla, black licorice, dark cocoa, raisin, coffee, booze.

T - Sweet chocolate and bit of caramel malts, smooth Bourbon, vanilla, lots of oak, molasses, coffee, black licorice, bitter dark cocoa, raisin and other dark fruits, and some booze.

M - Full bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth and a bit syrupy with a warming and sweet.

D - Great barrel aged stout. The bourbon and oak are very present, but very smooth and balanced.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 07:00:02 | More by ngeunit1

Alieniloquium

Florida

4.24/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

650 mL bottle poured into an Eclipse snifter. 2012 bottle. Says "Reserve" on the bottle, but I don't know what that means.

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

Smell - Smoother bourbon character than Old Fitz. Nice bourbon and barrel character. Vanilla comes through. Chocolatey.

Taste - Bourbon is smooth here too. Lots of vanilla. Much sweeter. Less bitter chocolate. Bourbon doesn't linger throughout.

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

Overall - Much nicer barrel character than the Old Fitz. Sweeter though, which I don't love as much as others seem to.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 20:32:59 | More by Alieniloquium

DovaliHops

California

4.51/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

2011 vintage. Bottle 1942. Pours a beautiful pitch black color with a very tiny tan head that turn to bubbles instantly. Scent is very inviting with chocolate cocoa, bourbon, espresso, roasted malts, and some sweet honey. Lovely oak and vanilla as well. Scent is a bit on the sweet side. Taste is absolutely delicious. Just as the nose implies, there is a a hefty amount of chocolate...chocolate fudge to be exact. Sweet chocolate fudge with a bit of saltiness to it. Smooth bourbon and oak flavors that leave a sweet honey flavor on the back of the tongue. A bit of alcohol, but not overwhelming. Mouthfeel is full-bodied and slightly boozy. Drinkability is high. Overall, this beer is so damn tasty. Hard to compete with the 12-year, but this one may beat it.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 07:21:40 | More by DovaliHops

jeonseh

Indiana

3.89/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle shared as part of Eclipse tasting

A - Dark chocolate with small milk chocolate head

S - Boozy nose with light vanilla and caramel to it.

T - Chocolate up front with a good bourbon presence that adds warming alcohol, vanilla and caramel. There is a nice oaky barrel presence as well as dark chocolate and black licorice. The bourbon comes through in the finish as well

MF - Light body with slight boozy stickiness to it. Slightly watery

O - Best of the 3 eclipses we had of the night. This one had a good bourbon presence that added a nice sweetness and complexity to the base beer which balanced well with the slight bitterness

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 02:44:40 | More by jeonseh

illidurit

California

4.54/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle shared at the Santa Cruz tasting in January. I don’t have a lot of notes, but this one really stood out as tasting like a ridiculous melange of See’s candy flavors. Heaps of chocolate, vanilla, toffee and iced coffee. Very sweet and delicious.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 23:46:48 | More by illidurit

Spectre

California

3.44/5  rDev -23.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Not a terrible beer but definitely not worth the hype. 30 dollars a bottle for a low grade stout.

A. Black/brown with a tan head.
S. Like most of the variations you can only smell the stout.
T. Dark chocolate mixed with water and a hint of coffee.
M. Goes down smooth for a thin beer but could be a little more thick.

O. When you think of amazing limited stouts that are high in price you picture Dark Lord, Black Tuesday, Bourbon County ect...Not this one. I would strongly suggest you share this beer with your girlfriend and not bring to a taysting.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 02:15:23 | More by Spectre

NorCalYeti

California

4.26/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

2011 vintage, bottle #2561

taste- some winey notes in the finish, milk chocolate

color- deep brown chestnut

clarity- pours clear and dark

smell- vanilla, coconut, tobacco, toasted malts, soapy

body- lingering hoppy bite under the top lip, soft and oily on the palate, light-medium weight in the mouth, short, disappointing finish

appearance- mocha-colored carbonation after the pour but it dissipates quickly to a faint layer across the top of the beer. tight, fine bubbles, decent lacing

overall impression- starting to think these beers are short lived and should be consumed sooner than later...i'm glad i'm tapping into them now. really enjoying the nose, flavors have died off slightly, body is mellow...wishing there would be more depth of flavor

notes and comments- alcohol still present, fairly well balanced...warmth in the stomach

beer spy- got in on the pre-order through fiftyfifty, 2011, 22oz

glassware: tulip

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 05:27:44 | More by NorCalYeti

writerLJBerg

Oregon

3.78/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle purchased in 2012. Split a couple ways. Consumed 12-17, reviewed from notes.

A: Pitch black with a very thin mocha lacing. Legs stick.

N: Deep whiff of oak, caramel, and vanilla. Fudge is the backbone, and there is a pronounced brown sugar. The bourbon is the foreground, as it should be.

T: Dominate marshmallows and vanilla. Oak is playing second fiddle. There are traces of coffee and fudge. There is a slight sourness I find distracting, but it’s not an infection.

M: Very intense alcohol. Mouthfeel is much better than the 2010; it’s heavier and fluffier.

O: A marked improvement over the previous year, but for the price, it really lacks the stand out qualities that bring it to the next tier of BA RISes. Good stuff, but I’d rather have Parabola for half the cost.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 17:09:28 | More by writerLJBerg

zac16125

South Carolina

4.9/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

22oz bottle into a snifter
2011 Version, Bottle Number 3668

Thanks to injuredreserve for sending this one over in a trade.

A: Black with some browning on the edges. A very aggressive pour yields approximately 1/2 fingers width of mocha colored head, which quickly dissipates down and leaves only the faintest hints of lacing.

S: Aroma is an incredibly strong sweetness, matched by few beers Ive ever had, coupled with boozy ethanol. Its a cake batter sweetness, along with vanilla, and rich chocolate fudge. I also get barrel notes with oak and bourbon, and dark fruits. This smells amazing, I think I could just smell this beer for an hour and be completely satisfied with the beer. Rich, bold, and complex aroma. Near perfect.

T: "Holy shit". Literally what I thought to myself after I took the first sip. There is a rich, decadent, chocolate fudge flavor up front, that gives way to bourbon notes coupled with cocoa and a bit of roasted malt. And all that from the first sip. I also get hints of black coffee, some booze, dark fruits, subtle hint of anise, and oak. The combination of a huge sweetness, balanced by bourbon barrel notes, and some booze make for an almost perfect flavor profile.

M/D: Full bodied, thick, chewy, smooth, low carbonation. ABV present, but adds depth to the beer rather than detracting from it, and there is no heat at all. Drinkability is good, but its a sipper for sure. Really nice mouthfeel, only downside is its a touch syrupy at times.

O: Overall, a fantastic beer. The aroma alone is enough to make this worth the price tag, and then you taste it and someone it lives up to the aroma! Just a phenomenal combination of flavors that make for a complex brew thats bordering on perfection. Ive had 250plus reviews and this is the first one Ive given a perfect 5 for all three categories of Smell, Taste, and Overall. One of the top 5 beers Ive ever had. World class.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 03:24:04 | More by zac16125

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

4.16/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Awesome extra given by leschie! Thanks Kurtis!

poured into tulip glass.

reviewed from notes taken on 1/8/13.

bottle # 2384. Vintage 2011.

Appearance: black bodied beer with a thin tan cap.

Smell: bog black licorice notes and a hint of barrel notes.

Taste: Black licorice is the big flavor upfront. Oak and tobacco. Touch of a bourbon bite. Light leathery note. Chocolates. A touch of oxidation.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied beer with carbonation levels at the high end of low almost a medium carbonation level.

Overall: really good 50/50 BA stout. Really glad that I got to try it.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 13:57:42 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

BierJager89

California

4.88/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A: Pours pitch black, with almost no head, just a few brown bubbles.

S: Nose is all bourbon, vanilla, caramel, coffee, toffee.

T: Vanilla, caramel, bourbon, roasted malt, a touch of alcohol, but it's necessary to cut the sweetness. I like sweet things, but this is too sweet.

M: Full bodied, rich, and creamy. vanilla notes, caramel, bourbon, roasted malt, a touch of alcohol, but it's necessary to cut the sweetness.

O: This would be the perfect beer for my taste, if it weren't so sweet. Worth $30? No, but I'd buy it again anyways. Can't wait to try the 12. It is better than Four Roses in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 06:02:33 | More by BierJager89

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

4.58/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2011 Vintage with white wax. Thanks to Robbie for this bottle. Poured in to snifter.

A - Black with one finger of medium mocha brown head.

S - Sweet bourbon and toasted oak up front with a hint of vanilla as the barrel qualities come through. Chocolate, fudge, char and roast aromas are also present. A wonderful nose.

T - A big sweetness at first: bourbon, charred oak and vanilla from the bourbon barrel shine. A big chocolate fudge presence enters mid-palate with roast, molasses and light char notes. The big bitter roast profile and a touch of warming alcohol cut through the sweetness nicely, creating a superbly balanced beer.

M - Full body. Thick and chewy with a nice silky texture. Light carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 01:35:35 | More by TheSevenDuffs

merc7186

New York

4.38/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Huge Thanks to Anotherjoe for sharing these great bottles.

We did a side by side of 2011 (18 year Elijah Craig barrel)(bottle #317) and 2012 (20 year Elijah Craig barrel)(reserve). The score reflects the 2012 version, both white wax tops.

2011 Version
A: Dark Opaque Hue, Passes No Light, Brown Head Ring, Some Lacing
S: Vanilla, Bourbon, Mildly Oaked
T: Bourbon, Mild Vanilla, Mild Brown Sugar
M: Average Carbonation, Medium to Full Bodied, Semi Boozy, Mildly Sweet

2012 Version (barrel reserve)
A: Dark Opaque Hue, Passes No Light, Brown Head Ring, Some Lacing
S: Mild Bourbon, Mild Vanilla, Mildly Oaked
T: Boubon, Vanilla, Mild Brown Sugar, Mild Honey
M: Average Carbonation, Medium to Full Bodied, Mildly Sweet, Mildly Boozy

Overall, the 2012 was the better of the two bottles, no boozy heat, very smooth and the tastes blended very well, outstanding.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 18:08:24 | More by merc7186

s1ckboy

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2011 bottle aged a little over 1 year.

A - Black body, slim tan head.

S - Oak, vanilla , chocolate, boozy

T - A lot of bourbon, good amount of bitterness, chocolate, oak ,vanilla , molasses. Slightly harsh finish.

M - Medium to full, decent amount of carbonation.

Didn't enjoy this as much as the Elijah Craig 12 yr though they are very similar. After having the Rittenhouse Rye version, which was a lot smoother, this came off as a little harsh.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2012 18:51:52 | More by s1ckboy

yamar68

Minnesota

4.65/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Really a nice looking big stout - dark oily black body with a spotty finger of light brown head, large gauge carb, tons of really interesting thick lacing.

Beautiful smooth bourbon character, some butterscotch, honeycomb, sweet milk chocolate, vanilla extract, cocoa powder, musty wood notes, insanely well balanced smelling beer. Needless to say it's quite similar to the EC12 variation.

Perfect velvet mouthfeel, not as sweet as I remember the other one being, soft chocolate, some brown sugar, a lot of vanilla, the honey plays such a delicate but integral role in the overall flavor profile, bourbon-soaked oak lingers forever on the finish, zero heat - this beer is just fantastic.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 03:00:03 | More by yamar68

Holland

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: dark brown to black, not very viscous, very nice tan head with excellent retention creating a froth on top.

S: vanilla, nuts, wood, cream, and slight alcohol smell with the bourbon scent.

T: more bitter than expected, which creates a nice balance with the sweet malt and dark fruit notes. Roasty flavors are more hidden beneath the dark fruit and vanilla and bourbon.

M: missing some body, but overall very good. Well carbonated.

O: excellent beer. When I first opened it, I didn't think it would be very good. Wrong. Hope they make it again, and make it at a less steep price ($30/22 ounce bottle at most places).

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 01:01:07 | More by Holland

cfrances33

Illinois

4.48/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle shared, thanks to scud. Poured into a snifter.

Pour: Completely black. Pours a little splashy, with a finger of khaki head that hangs around for a little bit. Little bit of lacing.

Smell: Really nice bourbon vanilla up front, with some toasted marshmallow. Chocolate and a light dark honey in the background.

Taste: Wow. Really nice, smooth combination of toasted marshmallow and bourbon. Nice vanilla and milk chocolate in there too. Some caramel sweetness.

Mouthfeel: Sticky, yet very smooth and goes down very easily. No trace of alcohol for me.

Overall: Awesome beer. I've always been skeptical of the Eclipse series, but this was amazing. Highly recommend

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 14:24:56 | More by cfrances33

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2011 vintage, bottle 4138

Pours a dark chestnut brown color that appears pitch black and completely opaque in the glass with a one finger beige head that quickly settles into a thin, lasting ring. Spotty lacing left behind.

Complex aroma with a prominent barrel presence that compliments the base beer without completely obliterating it's characteristics. Lots of dry oak and spicy bourbon along with subtle vanilla and toasted coconut followed by a robust roasted malt presence. Slightly smokey with hints of dark chocolate, gourmet coffee bean, burnt toast and oatmeal. Nice balance of oak, spirit and roasted malt preventing it from becoming acrid or overly boozy in the nose.

Medium bodied with a strong barrel character that's decently integrated into the flavors of the base beer. Very dry with lots of charred oak and spicy bourbon lingering over the deeply roasted dark malts into a bone dry finish. Unfortunately not as complex as the aroma suggests with the dry wood flavors eliminating the vanilla/coconut notes. Plenty of spicy bourbon flavor but it's not hot or tough to drink. Also, it's not as tasty as the 12 year treatment, tasting like a different bourbon to me all together. Underneath, there is a complex malt backbone with a balance of roasted coffee bean, oatmeal, burnt toast and sweet fudge/chocolate cake notes. This is still a really good beer but the oak presence is a bit too strong for my liking and the bourbon flavor didn't live up to my expectations.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2012 03:15:57 | More by corby112

MrVonzipper

California

4.6/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Rich brown color with a mild vanilla colored head with decent retention and spotty lace.

Nose is big, bright and robust. Big bright toasted brown sugar. A touch of vanilla. Fantastic!

Flavor is fantastic as well. Just short of the nose though it follows the characterics very well.

Mouth is pretty full and a bit tacky. Low carb.

Overall one of my favorite variations by far. A very well made beer!

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 23:20:30 | More by MrVonzipper

Beaver13

Colorado

2.45/5  rDev -45.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

22 oz bottle, bottle 3768 / 2011. Pours brown black with a small dark brown head that quickly foes to a thin film and leaves a little lacing.

The aroma is sweet molasses and dark fruits with a lot of sharp whiskey.

The flavor is roasted malts and sweet sugary dark fruits with a lot of sharp burnt alcoholic whiskey. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with low carbonation.

Overall, it's too sweet and boozy for me. It does mellow some as it warms, but still very sweet.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 04:50:38 | More by Beaver13

Treebs

Illinois

4.48/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22 oz. white waxed bottle served in a CBS snifter. 2011 vintage, bottle # 4685.

A: Pours a dark black color with a dark tan head forming on the pour. It recedes to a thin ring. Soapy lace is left down the glass.

S: Very smooth bourbon, some nice roasted malts, toasted marshmallow and sweet milk chocolate. Very balanced and the barrel is well integrated.

T: The taste is pretty similar to the nose. Really nice smooth and semi sweet bourbon. Some milk chocolate with a great barrel presence. Some light oak, but nice vanilla and caramel sweetness. There is a great roasted malt bitterness as well. The finish is nice and sweet.

M: Medium bodied with a medium low carbonation. Very creamy mouthfeel with a sweet finish.

O: The is definitely the best of Eclipse variants. Great barrel presence and everything is perfectly integrated. Very nice.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 22:57:47 | More by Treebs

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

4.28/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

650ml white waxed bomber poured into tulip 5/10/12 thanks Sean9689 and Masterski for sending the bottle

A black liquid with a thin dark cola edge, just a finger of dark tan head that fizzes out fairly quickly and leaves zero lace

S boozy smokey bourbon, woody, licorice, chocolate fudge is strong, just a little coffee, and sweet chocolate

T just a little dark fruit and chocolate covered raisin, everything I smells still there but stronger and its very rich, some charred wood and lots of barrel in general, only booze keeps this one from perfection

M silky with low-medium carbonation, thick but not as thick as I expected, warming booze almost hot, slightly sticky and almost floats your teeth with a slightly numbing effect

O tasty stuff for sure but I should've sat on it for another year or two, looks basic but all other areas are solid

a big boozy brew with nice qualities from the barrel, easy enough to drink but if I had another I'd sit on it for a while. Stoked to try it but top 100? maybe in a year or two

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 02:38:07 | More by wordemupg