Big Operator - Big Boss Brewing

sommersb

Tennessee

3.86/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Tasted On: 01-22-2013
Freshness: Not indicated
Packaging: 12 oz. brown bottle, pry-cap
Glassware: Tulip
Purchased: Single from Brawley's Beverage, Charlotte

A: Black and opaque brew, with a finger's worth of tan-colored head. The head shows low retention and just a little lace.

S: Aromas have dark bread, roasted malts, raspberry fruit and wood/oak notes. Very nice

T: The taste features a coffee-like bitterness from the toasted malts, as well as the raspberry fruits, bittersweet chocolate and some earthy hops.

M: Full-bodied mouthfeel with a moderate amount of carbonation. The finish is multi-layered with notes of raspberry, chocolate and toasted grains.

O: A good solid ale here, with lots going on. It tasted more like a stout to me than a Belgian-style beer, however.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 04:44:03 | More by sommersb

Zaccharomyces

Illinois

4.36/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Bought from Tasty Beverage Company during my most recent trip to Raleigh. Love that place!

A -Black, with a fizzy tan head which disappears immediately

S - You get the raspberries & chocolate malt pretty quickly, with the roasted malts and a vaguely boozy aroma in the background

T - A second sipper, for sure. First sip did not mesh with my expectations of a Big Boss/Escazu colab (aggressive, robust flavor), which sort of disoriented me. Then, with second sip you really get that signature Escazu cacao roast flavor. Its just so well integrated that it is not necessarily obvious. The raspberry and roast malts are blended in just as nicely.

M - Thick & chewey, but the light acidity present from the raspberries really helps lift the beer of your palate. Very drinkable.

O - Definitely not what I expected, but in a good way. I don't think I really get the Belgian yeast character at all. Cocoa and raspberries? Oh yeah. If you're lucky enough to be familiar with Escazu, I think you'll be especially able to appreciate this beer. Either way, its definitely one to try if you ever get the chance.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 03:50:51 | More by Zaccharomyces

FUwolfpacker

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%

05-18-2013 03:09:00 | More by FUwolfpacker

cosmicevan

New York

3.25/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

big thanks to cardsfan for the brew. enjoyed from a big boss brewing dimpled stein.

a - brew pours a fairly rich black with a thin dark tan head that was gone quick leaving a ring and thin islands throughout the surface. BSDA? really? not a stout? attractive, but not belgian.

s - crisp black chocolate malt. roast. big roast. i reiterate...BSDA??? really???

t - taste is interesting. my first thought was oxidized. upon 2nd sip...i got a big blast of spiciness...below that was roasted malts. below that, some dark fruit. not really sure what's going on here. sort of a hodgepodge...kind of like a stew with everything you have in your kitchen. perhaps this should be called mystery beer? even some notes of coffee. am i crazy? was the wrong beer put in the bottle? BSDA? really?

m - medium to full bodied. fairly chewy and thick. lots of carb.

o - overall...i don't know. this is definitely different. feels more like a stout. seems like i'm not the only one who felt that way. as a belgian this is a miss, as a stout, it isn't all that bad...as a beer in general...not all that bad, but definitely does feel like it is going through some sort of identity crisis when you really focus in on the beer and the nuances since there are some belgian qualities in the background, but they are poor american examples which pull down the stoutiness of the beer. either way, glad to have had the experience and this was far from a drain pour...worth a taste if you get the chance but i wouldn't go out of your way for it.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 04:04:23 | More by cosmicevan

chinchill

South Carolina

3.93/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Consumed this under the description of "chocolate raspberry stout" which seemed passably accurate, Brewery website says "BELGIAN BLACK RASPBERRY ... black ale". It is near black in color with a dark tan head that leaves very good lacing. The aroma fits "raspberry stout", with little detectable chocolate. The flavor has a well-balanced mix of chocolate, raspberries, and dark malts. Perhaps a touch too sweet despite a kick of bitter in the finish from dark roast and hops.

M: creamy smooth but a tad thin.

Serving type: on-tap

05-12-2013 20:28:16 | More by chinchill

jsteele

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%

04-14-2013 20:25:41 | More by jsteele

MeadGuyfromMD

Maryland

4/5  rDev +1.8%

04-02-2013 00:29:56 | More by MeadGuyfromMD

G_Rod

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +1.8%

03-30-2013 23:44:56 | More by G_Rod

BigTrubble

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +1.8%

03-22-2013 22:48:29 | More by BigTrubble

RWLawman

North Carolina

3.54/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Black in color. Minimal head left behind, even after a relatively hard pour.

S - Raspberry is apparent, as are the roasted malts and cocoa.

T - Raspberry upfront, then roasted malts, followed up by the chocolate notes which are semisweet, and there's also a bitterness to it, but the flavors all complement each other very well.

M - Mild carbonation. Very smooth, with somewhat of a sticky texture, probably due to the raspberry. Goes down smooth.

O - I really enjoyed this Big Boss offering. I consider myself a fan of the brewery, but this is above and beyond the majority of what they put out, in my opinion. Belgians aren't even my favorite, but the flavor in this is intriguing.

Serving type: on-tap

03-11-2013 01:38:58 | More by RWLawman

KevinGordon

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +1.8%

03-03-2013 21:41:44 | More by KevinGordon

Shatter

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +1.8%

02-25-2013 12:58:44 | More by Shatter

JohnnieNepal

Michigan

4/5  rDev +1.8%

02-23-2013 04:11:21 | More by JohnnieNepal

Lantern

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

02-20-2013 20:16:37 | More by Lantern

JacobTC

3.25/5  rDev -17.3%

02-17-2013 04:34:40 | More by JacobTC

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours an opaque jet black in color with some light amounts of dark brown highlights. The beer has a finger tall mocha colored head that slowly reduces to a medium sized patch of very thin film and a thin to medium sized ring at the edges of the glass. Light amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate to strong aromas of dark roasted malts with some lighter notes of raspberries.

T: Moderate flavors of dark roasted malts with some lighter notes of raspberries and some hints of dark fruits. Light to moderate amounts of bitterness in the finish which fade very slowly.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Smooth.

O: This is a very enjoyable beer with a very pleasant addition of raspberries to the Belgian Strong Dark Ale - the alcohol is well masked and the beer is pretty easy to drink. I enjoy this beer and am glad that I was able to pick it up when I visited NC (I missed this beer from back when it was draft only and I moved out of state).

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 02:50:44 | More by dbrauneis

adam_e

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +1.8%

11-19-2012 20:56:13 | More by adam_e

TerrapinWakenBake

3/5  rDev -23.7%

11-18-2012 20:15:16 | More by TerrapinWakenBake

dunix

Vermont

4/5  rDev +1.8%

10-29-2012 15:58:54 | More by dunix

suspect

New York

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

09-29-2012 03:53:49 | More by suspect

jtd1969

North Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Dark brown color, good brownish head

S - Roasted malts, almost like a a faint wine notes

T - Roasted malts, fresh raspberries, chocolate

M - Medium to full body with decent carbonation

O - Good beer. It is kinda a belgian dark/ stout hybrid.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2012 23:43:01 | More by jtd1969

t0rin0

California

3.25/5  rDev -17.3%

08-23-2012 02:08:52 | More by t0rin0

fehrminator

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +1.8%

07-29-2012 15:34:04 | More by fehrminator

BeerdNick

4.75/5  rDev +20.9%

07-14-2012 01:54:43 | More by BeerdNick

Jason_Quad

4/5  rDev +1.8%

07-13-2012 14:44:43 | More by Jason_Quad