Black Albert - De Struise Brouwers

jwc215

New Jersey

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

Thanks to bitterbill for this one!

Pours black with a than head that descends to a thin, lasting cover. Very nice head retention for the style. Some trailing lace sticks.

The smell is of plums/dark fruits, sour and tart notes with some smokiness.

The taste is of plums/dates - sweet, tart, sourish notes in the back. As it progresses, licorice/anise, some acidity and a hint of chocolate come through, adding to the already big complexity. A touch of woody smokiness adds to the mix in the finish. Very complex and well-balanced.

Full-bodied and creamy, the alcohol is reasonably well-covered, making the drinkability very high for the abv level.

This is an impressive brew that combines a traditional RIS with a Belgian touch/influence. Very interesting. Very enjoyable.

Thanks again for this gem, Bill!

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2008 16:50:47 | More by jwc215

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

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

This beer pours a very, very dark opaque brown, with chunks of sediment suspended throughout. The head is a light tan colour, and substantial, leaving a thick wallpaper of lace as it slowly recedes. It smells of fermenting black fruit - prunes, cherries, raisins - molasses, and alcohol warming. The taste is bitter, even sour at first, burnt malt, giving off essences of coffee, chocolate, and port wine. No hops are really evident, the sourness kind of masks that part of my tongue. The carbonation is quite mild, and the sour fruit mellows significantly as it warms, and the finish is actually quite clean, a little boozy malt lingering. The alcohol is very well managed, no direct heat, just that nice stewed fruitiness effect. This goes very well with some dark chocolate, but given the wine-like strength, one is good.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2009 02:04:32 | More by biboergosum

tempest

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to my Dad for brining this back from the Cracked Kettle in Amsterdam. Like the label suggested, I listened to La Brabançonne (the Belgian national song), you can too at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Low3ByYigQ

Pours pitch black with a thick tan head and lacing. Right away I'm struck by the long bitter roast aftertaste. The aroma is pure dark chocolate bar. The flavor takes off on the chocolate then hits a bitter, pepper and citrus hop note before diving into dark espresso and coffee roast that lasts and lasts. As the beer warms, the hops come forward with a lot of grapefruit and lemon flavors. And for 13% this beer is recently drinkable. I split the bottle with a friend, but could keep going.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2009 02:06:17 | More by tempest

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A 330 mL bottle courtesy of upsjeff.

A: The stout opened with a fizz and slowly foamed up, leaving a coffee-and-cream colored head slowly creeping out of the glass. In my snifter, the stout is dark, appropriately black for an imperial offering. Spots of lace result from the head.

S: The nose is interesting, dark and malty on one hand but fruity/spicy on the other. There is even a dry Irish stout aroma floating in there.

T: An interesting stout, continuing from the unique aspects of the nose. Dry malts, dark and roasted, lend a Guinness-like flavor, followed by a Belgian yeast profile of dark alefruits. A lactic creaminess is strong, adding a mildly sour, stale taste to the stout. The 13% pricetag is well hidden but this imperial stout seems more like an imperial Irish stout.

M: I'm not sold yet. The sweet lactic body is a little too sour, a little too loosey goosey. I like the fruit flavors that follow the lactose but they don't last long enough.

D: A tough drink with a heavy pricetag. It is certainly imperial, an ale that isn't afraid to shatter boundaries. Based on that, I kinda like it.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2009 22:24:40 | More by akorsak

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.53/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Oh yes indeed. Got some interesting news tonight and will begin my celebration with this fine brew. Let's see how this works.

Pours black with a thick brown head that doesn't go anywhere. Thick molasses nose. I mean distinct as all get out. Flavor is intense malty molasses with slight coffee tones as well. Robust and hearty. Nice thick flavor that gets even better as it warms. Feel is thick on liquid and carbonation is lower. Very easy to drink, even though it is quite hearty. Could go for way more than 11.2 ounces of this.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2009 04:26:31 | More by RblWthACoz

barleywinefiend

Washington

4/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I have to say thanks to my man Drunkmonk for hooking me up with this one.
Poured a deep black with a cocoa colored head, little carbonation. Nose is cocoa, figs, tobacco. Taste is cocoa, dried fruit up front with a sharp alochol bite on the end. The 13ABV is well hidden leaving this a hidden bruiser. Good RIS!

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2009 04:39:41 | More by barleywinefiend

Wasatch

Utah

4.35/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks goes out to warriorsoul for this brew.

Reviewed: 15 Dec 2010

Batch: 0
Lot: D
Best Before: Sep 2015

Been about 2.5 years since I last had this brew. This bottle looks totally different than the other bottles I had.

Poured into a chalice a nice black color, nice carbonation, very nice thick/creamy two-finger tan head, which leaves a HUGE oil slick in the middle of the glass, also has some nice sticky lacing. The nose is malty, with lots of chocolate/toffee notes, slight licorice, caramel. The taste is very nice, malty, slightly sweet, lots of dark stuff, licorice, vanilla. Full body, again the ABV is hidden very well. Very Drinkable, really enjoying this brew, Thanks Tom.

Thanks goes out to deepsouth and Bitterbill for this brew.

Poured into a tulip a very nice dark black color, very nice carbonation, a very nice two-finger creamy tannish head, which leaves some very nice thick sticky lacing behind. The nose is malty, slightly sour, with some toffee/chocolate/caramel. The taste is malty, slightly sweet/sour, nice touch of dark chocolate. Full-Medium body, the alcohol is hidden very well with a brew this high in ABV. Very drinkable, this is a very tasty brew, a nice little twist on the other RISs, but very nice for what it is. Highly recommended. Thanks Jason and Bill.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2008 22:48:40 | More by Wasatch

jdhilt

New Hampshire

4.3/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a one finger tan head that fades slowly to a thin layer leaving traces lace. Black color, no highlights, ton of yeast left in bottle. Good carbonation and heavy bodied. Molasses and chocolate nose. Flavor is sweet and bitter molasses. Dry chocolate finish. Tastes better than the first tap at Ebenezers Pub in Aug 2007. High ABV is completely hidden. Way overpriced at $10.99 for a 330ml bottle from Beverage Warehouse Winooski, VT.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2010 22:25:47 | More by jdhilt

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.22/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(Served in a tulip glass)

A- This beer pours a inky jet black body with a tin tan ring of foam on top. The body is too dense to see any carbonation.

S- The soft musty smell gives way to a smooth dark almost malty aroma and a note of figs finish the aroma.

T- The bitter inky taste of big black malt give way to a mellow but big black roasted malt flavor. There are some soft cherry hints and a faint tartness that helps finish this beer with a soft inky bitterness that lingers for a brief moment.

M- This beer has a medium-full mouthfeel with a soft fizz hint and no real alcohol heat but a smooth texture on the tongue.

D- The tartness is pretty bright which is interesting compared with the dark roasted malt. The big roasted notes were up front but the malt flavors seemed to be in the background. This beer was served a bit colder than I like and I wonder if that hid some of the complexity? There just wasn't much complexity but nice contrast of flavors.

Serving type: on-tap

01-06-2009 22:37:44 | More by rhoadsrage

Billolick

New York

4.5/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Small bottle, no feshness/vintage info, except for more marks on the side of the label which are of no help. Purchased at Julio's in Mass. all I remember about about the price was it was a lot! Over $5 for the 11.2 ounce bottle at least. Cool art on the label. Pours BLACK. Creamy, rich/dense dark mocha head, unrelenting retention and plenty of sheeting/lace. The nose is intensly and impresivly of dark chocolate, and double expesso. Thick and luxorious, loads of more bitter dark chocolate, expresso, nuts, brnt grains and everything doubly stouty and boldly delicious. World class stuff, go get some and enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2009 02:08:34 | More by Billolick

mdfb79

New York

4.25/5  rDev 0%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Poured from an 11.2 oz. bottle into a tulip. Batch #14.

a - Pours a dark black color with one finger of brown head and light carbonation.

s - Smells of dark fruits, primarily grapes and cherries. Also hints of chocolate, roasted malts, and vanilla.

t - Tastes of chocolate, dark fruits, and alcohol.

m - Full body and low carbonation. Very smooth and easy to drink for 13% ABV.

d - I thought this was a great RIS. I thought it had a great dark fruits smell and the alcohol was very well hidden for 13% ABV. Would love to try it again.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2010 01:59:43 | More by mdfb79

jlindros

Massachusetts

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

Been saving this for a while for a nice stormy night. This one thanks to roopy40 and kkipple. Batch #14, best before April 2013.

Pours with a rich creamy and dark 1.5 finger head in the tulip/snifter glass. It fades at a medium pace with nice lacing, a Belgian messy style lacing. The beer is darker than the devil's asshole and pretty thick looking.

The nose brings pure darkness through. Lots of dark malts, roasted barley with a little coffee, some chocolate malts, a slight cocoa nib like aroma, some fluffy sweet nougat and almost chocolate marshmellow like aroma, a little caramel and vanilla, and hints of dark fruits like fig. It has a slight boozy aroma, but nothing for what I expected at 13%.

Taste comes fluffy and rich at first, more of the nougat and chocolate marshmellow like taste, with a little oatmeal and creamy feel. Plenty more roasted barley and chocolate malt. A little cocoa nib still, and some slight creamy chocolate milk. Plenty of caramel and vanilla. It's very deep, dark, and rich, but not overwhelming with burnt flavors or minerality. A slight Belgian like fruit flavor with more hints of fig and just a touch of raisin. Somewhat sweet, but not very, and a little boozy taste and warmth but nothing for what I expected for 13%. Some bitterness, but not a lot, mostly from the roasted malts, but I think a touch of chewy and earthy hops. It finishes with a little sticky feel but not very much, pretty dry, with a lingering bitter taste, and lots of lingering malts, vanilla and caramel, as well as chocolate.

The mouth is very rich, creamy, pretty thick, and a little bit of velvety texture, with decent carbonation.

It has a surprisingly good and extremely dangerous drinkability. It comes on with some sticky feel, and pretty thick, but it's pretty smooth, a nice dry finish, and drinks remarkably well for 13%, as it seems more like an 8%er.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2010 02:08:20 | More by jlindros

ppoitras

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

11.2oz bottle obtained in trade with Grbdg. Thanks for the opportunity.

Poured into a Chimay chalice, formed a 1" dark brown head over the opaque dark brown/black brew. Pillowy head is going nowhere fast, with a thick coating of froth lacing throughout. Aroma is dark malt, anise, and alcohol. Taste is unexpectedly restrained. Dark malt sweetness upfront, light lactic tartness in the middle, creamy roasted close with alcohol wamrth lingering. Mouthfeel is velvety smooth, and drinkability is way too easy for 13%abv. Possibly even worth the hype, if anything can be worth this beer's hype.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2009 01:49:18 | More by ppoitras

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appears a near black with dark brownish-red edges when held up to the light. A light tan head slowly fades into a mild cap and collar. Spotty lacing is left around the glass.
Smell is of unusual cocoa, hazelnut, astringent chocolate grain, perhaps a touch of brett clauseni, pineapple, basil, roasted nuts, caramel, and ripe, dark fruit.
Taste is of the mentioned aromas with some fermented Belgian yeast notes coming through with more cocoa, raisins, peanuts, and bitter cocoa...it sort of reminds me of a Chunky candy bar.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, with raisins, nuts, and a touch of funk flowing along the palate. There is also some astringent graininess found in the swallow, along with a mild alcohol burn.
Hmmm...
Maybe it's just me but I don't get it. It's really like Dark Raisinettes(do they even still make those?). It's certainly a pretty nice beer but not the orgasmic beverage that I had been expecting based upon the hype.

"Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see." -Ben Franklin

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2009 17:58:24 | More by weeare138

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

4.22/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big thanks to Voonder for sending this one my way in a recent trade. 12 oz bottle.

Pours a cloudy and murky dark black, some red in the edges, thick tan head forms, drops some solid lace spots on the glass, and settles to a thick layer and ring, looks good. Smell is wacky, red wine, chocolate, yeast, molasses, wood and earth, figs, dark fruit, sour fruit, rye bread, sourdough, intense roast, interesting stuff. Taste is similar, very dry roastiness, chocolate, figs, wood, kind of astringent, red wine and fruit, brown sugar, yeast, very fruity, nice bitter roast finish, very dry. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium carbonation, alcohol is very well hidden, pretty smooth and easy to drink. Hyped up for me but still a really nice beer. Thanks Alex!

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2008 23:03:53 | More by Viggo

Bighuge

Minnesota

2.95/5  rDev -30.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

This black bodied beer has a fluffy brown head with great retention and substantial lace properties. Nice aroma of anise oil, cocoa powder, rummy alcohol and oily black malt. The flavor and mouthfeel are letdowns right from the get go. Body is medium at best. And gaseous and over carbonated. Oily feel to it, which is not bad in and of itself, but there's not much substance to it in the mouthfeel or flavor. Roasted chocolate malt flavors with some black licorice and winey characteristics. Tannic astringency is noted as well. I was expecting more out of this.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2009 04:02:01 | More by Bighuge

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.6/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From notes:

Pours a beautiful deep, dark brown, almost black color with a 2.5 finger frothy coffee-colored head that has excellent retention, only slowly fading into a lasting cap that streaks the glass with soapy lacing. The appearance alone of this beer leaves me salivating.

Huge roasted malt aroma with hints of roasted coffee bean, chocolate, toffee, burnt toast caramel and sweet alcohol.

Huge roasted malt flavor balanced out by subtle dark fruit notes, spice and alcohol warmth. Hints of chocolate and caramel along with toffee, espresso bean, licorice and oatmeal. Subtle hints of dark fruit along with sweet alcohol heat that creates a nice warm finish. This beer is dangerously drinkable considering the high ABV. Very well balanced with a dry hot finish. Excellent but definitely a sipper. I know a lot of people aren't into this beer but I think it definitely lives up to the hype.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2010 09:28:24 | More by corby112

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

4.18/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Another bottle drank during the epic March Madness '11 week.

Poured out a Saturday morning I believe, while many were still hungover, I pretty much drank this one to myself, black ass beer, deep tan head, mocha like in appearance. Aroma was heavy on the coffee and strong roast, but nothing too special going on, nothing offputting.

Taste is quite good at hiding the high abv. Obvious shout outs to dark chocolate and deep roasted malts (coffee). Stays bitter, but not to where it becomes a challenge or a negative. Belgian yeast seems to round the beer out nicely without detracting from the sturdy malt viscosity. I didn't really catch much in the way of dark fruit stuff that other reviewers did.

Enjoyable, but at almost $1 an ounce, this one has many more options of comparable quality at a much better price, which takes its overall score down a smidge.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2011 22:15:47 | More by Beerandraiderfan

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.68/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

On tap at Ebenezer's the other day.

The beer pours the expected rich, dark black color with very impressive head retention and lacing. Unlike the bottled version, I get a considerable aroma of chocolate, cherry and coffee. On tap this beer smells pretty nice. On the palate this beer is flat out deliciuos, and really doesnt' taste all that much different from the bottled version. While there is a goodly amount of rich chocolate and some coffee aroma, I also get quite a bit of cherry and plum flavor. The intermix of flavors is just lovely, and I really am impressed by how light, soft and creamy on the palate this beer is. Given the 13% abv, drinkability truly is amazing. While you can tell the alcohol is up there, there is nothing hot, heavy or tiring about this beer, though perhaps it wasn't the best idea to order a second glass (but how often does one get to have this beer on tap at Ebenezer's).

The more I get to have this beer, the more impressed I've become. This is delicious stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

05-24-2009 13:04:37 | More by johnmichaelsen

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First had: bottle from Teresa's, Paoli, PA

They didn't have it in stock when we visited Ebenezer's, but I finally broke down and purchased the bottle from Teresa's fridge. Split between myself and the wife, I poured my half into an Ebenezer's snifter, and her half into a Pinocchio's tulip glass. The beer poured out a thick, oily black, with a pinky finger of chocolatey brown head that receded to a mere ringlet, leaving a few trails of lacing behind. Smell was booze-heavy, with notes of cocoa and dark fruits. Taste improved as the temperature rose, with a blend of dark roasted malts, molasses, rum-soaked dark fruits, charcoal, and hints of dark chocolate. Pretty complex, but still a bit more thin than I'd expect overall, so I felt the full range of flavors didn't completely come out like it should have. Medium body, and pretty drinkable, but not as good as say, a DFH World Wide Stout...not that many things are.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2011 02:15:49 | More by Rifugium

DoubleJ

California

3.58/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

One of Halcyondays' buddies brought this to Beachwood BBQ for the three of us to sample. Sometimes, one of the beer's you've been wanting to taste happens sooner than you think. On to the beer:

Obsidian black color shows no sign of giving way for any light. White head on top create a good contrast of colors. I was taken by surprise by the aroma. Yes, I could smell some roasted malt and chocolate flavors, but also some dark fruits and plums that you'd find in a more traditional dark Belgian.

Yet as much of a surprise the aroma was, the taste was a bigger surprise. It was strange, but still enjoyable in a weird way. A dash of cocoa, a part of dark fruits, some milk/lactose sweetness, and add in some lactic and sour qualities, and you got Black Albert. The lactic and lactose threw my palate off quite a bit....drink a little more and my palate becomes a little adapted to this. The best quality of the beer was how well the 13% ABV was hidden....where's the heat? Seemed closer to being medium bodied than full bodied.

Black Albert is strange. Ok, it's really different from your everyday Imperial Stout. If you're looking for something REALLY different in the style, Black Albert could be the cure, but the price and lack of availability aren't going to encourage me to seek a bottle for myself.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2010 01:08:33 | More by DoubleJ

glid02

Georgia

4.43/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Picked up one of these at Bruisin Ales in Asheville.

Pours completely black with a one-finger light brown head. The head sticks around for the life of the beer, eventually settling into a thin pancake of bubbles on top. Lacing is decent.

Smells of vanilla and dark fruits with a hint of roasted malt. The alcohol makes an appearance every now and then, but doesn't overpower anything by a long shot.

Tastes great. Sweet dark fruits fill the palate for a split second, then the roasted malt and bitter dark chocolate come through. It's a very bitter ending, but with just enough to not go into overkill. The flavors linger for quite a while. Alcohol is noticeable, but mostly as a warming sensation.

Mouthfeel is great. As someone else said, this is probably the best part of this beer, along with the aftertaste. Not really very thick, but the carbonation is small but plentiful and makes this go down very smoothly.

Drinkability is good. Actually, probably a little too good for 13%. I could have a few too many of these.

Overall I was a bit let down after the first few sips, but this one definitely grew on me. The smoothness is what sets this beer apart from others. Definitely worth a shot if you see it around.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2008 18:49:48 | More by glid02

wl0307

United Kingdom (England)

4.5/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

330ml slim brown bottle, with a BB date beyond comprehension; served lightly-chilled in Hapkin's bulb-shaped sniffer.

A: pours a near-black hue, coming with an unknown level of carbonation and a super thick dark tan froth to last throughout the drink, leaving uneven lacing as it patiently retreats. Simply elegant.
S: the aroma is as "deep" as a dark ale can get, not extremely roasty or bold, but rather like a well-aged English RIS - vanilla and chocolates abound, but not really sweet, while sour black-prunes, marinated berries, faint staleness of old wood barrels, and aromatic tobacco manifest themselves in a truly elegant way. At the second layer of the aroma goes yeasty saltiness with a touch of chilli, while roasted/dark malts have almost dissolved amidst the fruitiness and sour elements.
T: a decently sour foretaste consisting of high-quality prunes and dark fruits precedes a clean palate of sweet roastiness of black/tarred malts, light cocoa, bitter-chocolate-flavoured toffee, and licorice-like herbal notes; the hop bitterness gradually chimes in along with bitter nuts and sweet coffee, resulting in a truly soothing and lightly chewy palate in the finish. But the quoted "100 IBU" is almost overly camouflaged indeed, if not printed wrong on the beer label ...?!
M&D: the mouthfeel is really really good, showing very little intervention of carbonation but still healthy & soothing in terms of fizziness. The 13%abv. alc. is definitely nowhere to be found, not even in the form of a belated kickback... In many ways, this RIS rings a bell of a young vintage English RIS that shows a good level of staleness and a settled profile of roastiness, albeit with a little bit more yeast presence, while the texture is still "young" and not quite to the level of being oily or lubricant. All in all, I find it a truly remarkable and well-crafted strong imperial stout that might NOT be so appealing to those hopheads who crave for their excessive hops even in this rather traditional beer style.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2009 20:33:28 | More by wl0307

beerthulhu

New Jersey

4.15/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured a viscose engine oil coloring with a 1 finger creamy cinnamon tinted head that was flat and smooth as it leveled off. Retention was good with a mostly lasting coating that remained for the remainder of the drink. A small sheet lacing that slides down the glass as the drink recedes finishes things off here.

S: The nose had a strong display of dark fruit (prunes, dates, and raisins) with a earthy moss and mineral notes. Some syrup and scorched wort add sweetness while a booziness of rum raisin was smooth and light. Hints of dry semi-sweet chocolate rounds things out. Overall the aroma was very polished and refined with a smooth delivery, but ultimately was boozy and full of dark fruit.

T: The flavor was dark burnt molasses with a earthy moss and fresh minerality The initial flavor was strongly bittered and full of dark fruit (prunes, dates, and raisins). A boozy rum raisine and milky creamer with wet lemons also add into the mix. A semi-sweet dry chocolate and a scorched sweet worty flavor adds sweetness as well. There is an apparent booziness from the 13%abv but not as much as one might think, it is really hidden here behind a very smooth flavor that goes down effortlessly. Bitter roasted barley, with dry milky creamer and a touch of charred wet woodiness also is well noted here. Overall the flavor was boozy but well mannered and with flashes of scorched malt sweetness and full of dark fruit well suited per style.

M: a good deal of carbonation with a edgy feel and texture. A fresh wet burnt earthy woodiness and roasted barley laces the tongue after the swallow leaving a dark and earthy bitter feel. The consistency was medium full slick with a warming of alcohol and a light chalkiness. This was perhaps the drinks best feature.

D: Very smooth drinkability especially considering the 13%abv which went down like a 7-8%. Well toned and you never feel the alcohol coming. Amazing drinkabilty considering its relatively high abv. Overall this was a good drink but probably not worth the price of admission $10 for a 12oz bottle. Good but ultimately not that good.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2009 22:02:10 | More by beerthulhu

DrJay

Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Black with the faintest of ruby edges. A regular pour produced a billowing three finger cap that was slow to settle. The foam was a light brown and was composed of fine bubbles that coated the sides of the glass. Great head retention. And the beer has legs. Faint grassy hop aroma was immediately surpassed by malted milk, rose water alcohol, dried fruits, and mellow roast. There's a lot going on and it's hard to pull apart. Alternating notes of mellow rubbing alcohol, chocolate, figs, and prunes. Bitterness was in the background, giving way to significant malt sweetness and alcohol. Roastiness stayed soft and had a cherry edge to it, while malt alternated between milk and dark chocolate. Higher alcohols added depth without contributing heat and dried fruits tied the sweetness together. Dry cocoa appeared towards the end, along with some toffee, particularly as it warmed. Full bodied with low carbonation that was very creamy, lots of alcohol warmth, and a faint dark malt astringency. Very smooth and delicious, definitely a sipper.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2008 00:01:02 | More by DrJay