Black Albert - De Struise Brouwers

jaasen64

Massachusetts

3.45/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Lot C purchased through Etre about 10 months ago and cellared since. Best before date of July, 2015. Not sure how old this is, but assuming it's got a little bit of age on it, at least a year. 11.2oz bottle poured into HF stemmed glass.

A- Pours a very dark jet black with a half finger of creamy mocha brown head that has decent retention and slowly fades to a flat top. At the end of the glass there is a couple brown sedimentation specs, but other then that it looks awesome for the style.

S- Some dark fruits, chalky chocolate, a lot of booze that almost makes it smell like you are drinking whiskey, not overly aromatic.

T- Chalky cocoa, roasted malts, fairly boozey, finishes with a light lingering aftertaste of cocoa. Not overly flavorful with a lot of chalkiness to it.

M- Fairly on palate but a somewhat smooth finish, medium bodied, low carbonation.

O- At first I thought this might be a bad bottle, but the other bottles of Cuvee Delphine/Kabert all had the same chalkiness and weren't overly flavorful. Overall I wasn't that impressed and there are a lot of better stouts out there. Perhaps drinking Kate the Great right before kind of ruined it a little bit. I'd like to try it a little bit fresher and see if that makes a difference.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 19:05:17 | More by jaasen64

Pinknuggets

Vermont

4.48/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle to HFS sniffer

A: pours dark like Motor oil black but has a more very dark brown color in the glass with a thin mocha head that leaves a ring around the edges

S: there is a fairly strong presence of coffee unfourtunitly there is also a hint of alcohol that is fairly prominent toward the finish

T: the taste follows the nose with a strong coffee taste that blends with what tastes like liquid dark chocolate creamy as well, and the alcohol is no where to be found which is impressive considering how much of it there is.

M: not too thick for how heavy it feels smooth and creamy with a leery light carbonation that helps to balance out the heavyness and make it quite easy to drink for such a big IS

O: I don't know why I didn't have high expectations for this beer but everything but the aroma was pretty freaking good. Really solid taste but I wish the flavors were stronger but I'm surprised I didn't have to age it to get rid of the alcohol taste. Furthermore the mouthfeel was one of the best I've had. I would definitely try this beer again and I recommend you try it.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 22:11:50 | More by Pinknuggets

aasher

Indiana

4.38/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

I was very pleased to see this beer back in Indiana.

Black Abert pours a thick, viscous midnight black with a big and creamy, dark mocha colored head. The nose is rich and smooth. There is plenty of dark roasted malt, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, cream, and not a hint of alcohol. Upon your first sip you noticed how full bodied this beer is, and just like it should be. The flavors are very rich and very well balanced. It features a nice, nearly perfect amount of roast without resembling coffee at all. It has a great chocolate aspect that merges the flavors of both dark and milk chocolates. While not the most inquest descriptors this beer nails them. You can tell that this beer is big but don't get any of the 13% alcohol that this beer boasts. It's really pretty remarkable, especially this bottle is fresh. I can see this one aging gracefully. Overall this is a fantastic beer and a great representation of the style.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 03:38:52 | More by aasher

DeanMoriarty

California

4.9/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Been meaning to try this one for years now - saw that it popped up at Holiday Wine in Escondido and had my brother snag me a 11.2 oz bottle for $10. - comes in capped dark brown bottle.

A: Pours, as my wife exclaimed, looking like molasses with a thick brown head that dissipates a bit early giving way to small amounts of lacing.

S: Noticeable hop up front - earthy & mossy, fresh baked brownies, charred wood, cherry & vanilla bean, trippy yeast strain, slight hint alcohol.

T: Dark chocolate, taffy, dried figs, woody coconut, cherry spiced rum (really balances the the 13% abv well with the cherry flavor) earthy hop lingers well beyond the hint of booze on the finish - outstanding!

M: Big fulled bodied, lightly carbonated - which is nice for the style, lending well to the creaminess of this one. Hop oils leave a bitter finish like a good IPA which is rare for this style, but is just another dimension it reveals, especially as it warms up a bit.

A pricey brew, but one that won't let you down!

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 03:24:35 | More by DeanMoriarty

Thickfreakness

New York

4.9/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

2010 bottle that I received on one of my first trades a couple of years ago. He also sent a first bottling Black Albert (2007) which I waxed and still have in my cellar. Wish I could remember your BA handle so that I could hook you up again!

A- Pitch black pour into my Ithaca Excelcior tulip! Two fingers of caramel/sand colored foam billows and dances like a cloud atop of this dense, chewy stout! It fades slowly and leaves little islands of lacing as it settles into oblivion. No carbonation or movement on the surface.

S- Holy Shit! Sour Cherries covered in chocolate... that got rolled around in a barnyard! This brew has some serious funk to it! Never had an Imperial Stout with this much compost/manure in it! Delightful dark fruit bite with a tender and sweet chocolate overlap! Some roasted bitter coffee, figs, cranberry/raisin/prunes with an underlying pine hop... really weird, unusual and delicious!

T- Just like the nose! Damn! Like dark, bitter, Belgian Chocolate that was dragged thru a Horse stall! LOL!!! Dark cherries, mission figs, raisins, compost, horse blanket, cocoa, jazzy black coffee, and just a touch of pine sap and smoked peat/malt. This is really intense! Every inch of my tongue is begging for more! Each time I swallow, something different is happening and confusing my taste buds! I've NEVER had my taste buds "thinking" like they are now!

M- Full, chewy, funky, tart, sweet, bitter (in 3 ways), and vivid!!! It really sticks to your tongue and glides down! The bitter doesn't strip the mouth.. but it cleans it so that the tart, sweet, and funky can shine thru! This is rediculous!!! More depth than any beer I've EVER had!!!

O- Eat a rich and delicious 85% chocolate bar, while drinking Kona coffee and sucking on cranberries while sitting in a stall at Saratoga Raceway... that's it... and it's perfect! The "subtleties" will slap you in the face... and the "in your face" tart/manure/cocoa notes will KISS you gently and make you close your eyes and forget where you are! If you've been searching for a RIS with everything you want, and even things you didn't know you wanted... it's perfection in a glass!!! Who knew tart poop and chocolate went so well together? I don't want this glass to end! DAMN!!!

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 00:20:08 | More by Thickfreakness

zeledonia

Minnesota

4.28/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Not really sure when this is from, as the code is a challenge to translate. Tasted 15 November 2012, reviewed from notes.

Pours black, as it should. Thick and deep. Medium tan head, fluffing up to two fingers or so. Good retention, nice lacing. I'm intrigued.

Smell is fantastic, IMO. Rich and roasty, with a strong Belgian twist. If I didn't know it was brewed with Belgian yeast, I might think it were infected. But infection sometimes works out nicely, as this does. It adds a light fruity layer on top of the deep figs and plums. Delightful. Certainly smells like a Belgian Royal Stout.

Taste is nice, but not on the same level as the smell. Rich and deeply fruity, but it fades out pretty quickly. A lot of buts. Good, but not that good. One thing I give it, though - that 13% is darn well hidden.

Mouthfeel is lovely. Rich and creamy. Carbonation is low, but foamy and stirring. I like this.

A very good beer - pretty darn tasty. Rich and fruity, with a lovely Belgian twist, especially in the nose.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 20:48:39 | More by zeledonia

wd40

New York

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

Very dark brown/black appearance. Aroma has raisins, figs, and caramel. There's definitely some alcohol present in the nose. The taste is sweet and very malty. It kind of reminds me of a Thomas Hardy ale or a J.W. Lee's in that sense. Some of the high alcohol content becomes apparent in the taste especially as it warms up. It's a good beer and I might try one again with some age on it to see if that calms the alcohol down, but only if I can get a good price on it.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 01:42:41 | More by wd40

siradmiralnelson

Iowa

4.48/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 12oz bottle into Globe glass.

A. Pours a full finger of dark tan head. Good lacing. Good retention. Color is jet black.

S. Molasses, bourbon, vanilla, roasted malt, some dark chocolate, a bit of coffee. Really big ol RIS smell. Smells a bit hot, but not overpowering. Lets you know your about to drink something good.

T. Yum. Molasses, coffee, roasted malt, some oakiness on the finish. Big stout flavors. Doesn't drink as hot as it smells. Nice balance between sweet and bitter.

M. Full bodied. Medium/low carbonation.

O. Black Albert delivered. Smells a bit hot, but really nice stout aromas. Drinks pretty damn smooth and balanced for 13%. More sweet than bitter which is my personal preference. To be honest there isnt much that I can find wrong with this beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2012 23:37:31 | More by siradmiralnelson

thierrynantes

France

4.48/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Beer bottle (33 cl.), tasting session may 2012 (Chez Clem).

Appearance : black color, with tan foamy head.
Smell : roasted malts, dark chocolate and coffee aromas.
Taste & mouthfeel : dark chocolate and vanilla flavours with notes of prune, heavy bitter with a long long duration.
Drinkability : a very nice beer in the style Russian Imperial Stout. The 100 IBU ! are hidden behind alcohol (13 ABV) & roasted malts.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 15:08:52 | More by thierrynantes

metter98

New York

4.2/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: The beer is jet black in color. It poured with a thin dark tan head that left some lacing on the surface and a thin ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass.
S: There are aromas of dark fruits in the nose—plums and prunes seem to stand out in particular. The smell intensifies as the beer warms up.
T: Like the smell, the taste is dominated by strong flavors of dark fruits. It's a little one dimension, but seems like you are having a Belgian Strong Dark Ale that's on steroids.
M: It feels medium- to full-bodied and rather smooth on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation. No warming sensations from the alcohol are perceptible.
O: The label calls this beer a "Belgian Royal Stout" and this is something I definitely agree with because it seems like an imperial version of a Belgian Strong Dark Ale. Judging this beer on its own merits and apart from any of the common styles, I found this beer to be remarkably easy to drink considering its strength because the alcohol is exceptionally well hidden. This is a pleasant beer to sip.

Note: June 2007 Vintage (BA No. 14)

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 12:38:05 | More by metter98

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

BA No. 14 (Brewed in June 2007 according to Lot No./Bottle Code)

A: Pours an opaque very dark black (almost jet black) in color with some dark amber notes when held up to the light. The beer has a quarter finger tall dark beige head that fairly quickly reduces to a small patch of larger bubbles, a small to medium amount of extremely thin film, and a thin ring at the edges of the glass.

S: Moderate to strong aromas of dark fruit (plums and prunes) with some moderate amounts of sweetness. Maybe just a hint of anise.

T: The flavor of this beer is very similar to the smell, lots of dark fruit (plums and prunes) followed by lighter hints of roasted malts and anise.

M: Just shy of full bodied with light to moderate amounts of carbonation. Silky smooth.

O: I am surprised, the high (13%) ABV is extremely well hidden making this beer much easier to drink than one might have expected form the ABV on the bottle. Almost feels like a hybrid between a Russian Imperial Stout and a Belgian Strong Dark Ale. Complexity increases as the beer warms up.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 23:39:41 | More by dbrauneis

madtrixter787

Virginia

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

Poured into my DFH tulip from a bottle I picked up in maine a year or two ago (can't remember, I have two bottles from two different trips!). After deciding it's about time to drink down my cellar I figured I'd start with this. Pours a jet back with little to no head (though I poured slow because of the sludge at the bottom of the bottle). Smells like belgian candied sugars with a hint of booze, very nice. Very good taste, quite bitter from the 100 IBUs and not as much of an overpowering booze aftertaste as I anticipated, just a very well balanced imperial stout. Another great beer from de struise, just wish I could get them here in VA!

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 01:57:51 | More by madtrixter787

harrymel

Washington

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

Best before Jul, 2015

Pours nice dark black with a solid mocah sheet of loose bubbles. Smells of chocolate, date, nougat, graham and hints of licorice. Nice nose. Flavor carries leather, tobacco, dates, figs, brown glazed molasses, some bits of dark plum and a hint of toasted graham cracker. Slightly thin body and low carb with a semidry finish. Nice beer, I would drink a bit of this on tap at the right price. The alcohol is surprisingly absent in the beer despite the hefty 13% marking.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 06:54:54 | More by harrymel

Alieniloquium

Florida

4.33/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

330 mL bottle poured into a De Struise chalice. Bottled June 2007.

Appearance - Pours a dark black (redundant?) with lots of murky sediment as I pour it. Pours with a nice mocha head. Settles to a thick collar.

Smell - Belgian characteristics all over. Cherries most predominant. Raisins and chocolate behind it. Boozy, too.

Taste - The dark chocolate is pervasive, but it's all combined with a great cherry flavor. Chocolate covered cherries. Mmm. Very hoppy in the back end. Loses its roastiness and becomes more of a BSDA in the end.

Mouthfeel - Thick and chewy. Definitely boozy, but well carbonated. No signs of age, even at over 5 years.

Overall - A really great hybrid of BSDA and stout. The fruit flavors blends extraordinarily well with the deep chocolate roast. The booze is forgiven for this quality of flavor.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 01:32:19 | More by Alieniloquium

Altenor

California

4.33/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Dark, almost totally black with a chocolately head that dissipates fairly quick. No signs of lacing on the sides of the glass but good looking RIS nontheless.

S: Black cherries, chocolate powder, raisins, some gooey dates, light booze and a touch of funk. Enjoyed the smell quite a lot. It was sweet smelling and welcoming. Couldn't wait to try my first sip.

T: Lots of sweet dark fruits, molasses, a touch of vanilla and nutmeg. Very round and a long, long chocolate milkshake finish. I don't know why but I get a little of a marshmallow taste as well. So yes, it's sweet. A touch of roasted malt and caramel is present too. I just have one question, where's the 13% ABV? It goes down so easy, a little too easy for 13% which makes it dangerous.

M: Good carbonation in the palate gives it a creamy, silky mouthfeel. I wouldn't say it's full bodied, more medium that moves quite nicely and full of flavor.

O: A great beer. I was expecting a lot from it and don't know if it really lived up to the hype, but it is well made and full of flavor. Definetly would recommend, especially if you prefer sweeter stouts.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2012 06:58:28 | More by Altenor

vfgccp

New York

3.6/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Creamy mocha head. Poor retention and lace. Midnight brown with murky brown highlights.

S - Red grapes, kiss of booze, chocolate covered raisins, black cherries.

T - Sweet black cherry opening. Molasses, caramel and malt center. Milk chocolate and booze finish. Balanced a shade too sweet.

M - Medium/light, especially for the style.

O - Sweet with a porter-like body.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2012 14:48:13 | More by vfgccp

Etan

Illinois

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

330ml into a snifter. Batch "0", Ba no. 14, so 2007 maybe?

A: Pours a nice jet black with a thick dark chocolaty head. Great retention.

S: Lots of chocolate, molasses some dark fruit esters. Sugary with some vinous esters.

T: More robust and bitter than the aroma. Heavy roasted malts and grainy bitterness, black coffee and dark chocolate, slightly sweet alcohol and some grape-like dark fruit esters.

M: Yep, this is thick as all hell. Slight carbonation, viscous and creamy body.

O: A very good robust RIS. Perhaps a little more sweetness in the taste would be good, but other than that this is very good.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2012 00:01:45 | More by Etan

dtmets84

New York

3.63/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Unsure of the bottle date but the notched lot is B-6-BB.

Black body, plenty of dark brown head.

The nose smells off almost a bit of a funk to it and the taste follows the nose. Warms up and becomes a bit more enjoyable

Body is thick and heavy, as it should be.

First time cracking a bottle, would not seek this out agaim.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2012 00:28:34 | More by dtmets84

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

4.28/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

BB April 2013.

Beer is black with a moderately sized tan head. Head fades fairly quickly. Some lacing.

Smell contains burnt caramel, candied dark fruit, fig, raisin, brown sugar, roasted malt. We are clearly in Belgian stout land. Has some similarity to the Pannepot series. Good smell.

Taste is similar to the nose. Burnt caramel, raisin, fig, candied fruit, sugar, roasted malt, wood, and a bit of chocolate. Reminiscent of port, or perhaps a dark rum. Aftertaste has a definite milk chocolate flavour. The alcohol is absurdly well hidden- is this really 13%? I would believe you if you told me it was 8 or 9.

Full bodied, low carbonation, velvety. Alcohol heat is present but shockingly low given the ABV.

Overall, very good. Not sure how far out they put the best before date, but this one clearly has a few years on it. Perhaps that is what has made it so smooth. It is a very nice beer but the thing that is most remarkable is how hidden the booze is- I just can't believe this beer goes down as easily as it does.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2012 20:32:16 | More by jrenihan

jazzyjeff13

United Kingdom (England)

3.7/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A 330ml bottle with a BB of Sept 2015. Batch 0, lot D. Purchased from a Belgian webshop quite a while back, and stored in my garage. 'Belgian Royal Stout' - indeed.

Poured into a Duvel tulip. Black as night; utterly inpenetrable. Large chunks of yeast can be seen floating around at the bottom of the glass. Produces a massive head of creamy brown foam with excellent retention; this slowly subsides to a surface layer. Aroma of dark, fruity malt with notes of brown sugar, molasses, marzipan, dried fruit and yeast esters. A warming whiff of booze in the background.

Tastes of rich, fruity malt with a spicy, alcoholic finish. Notes of dried fruit, molasses, brown sugar, chocolate, yeast and stewed hops. Very boozy; an astringent, almost solventy alcoholic character. Mild bitterness upon swallowing. Mouthfeel is thick and smooth, with tingly carbonation and great body. The booze lends it a spicy quality. Dries the palate, and leaves an aftertaste of fruity malt.

Decent, though not as good as the hype led me to imagine. Fruity and boozy - a daunting concoction. I was expecting there to be a more obvious roasted malt character with a defining bitterness, rather than the sweet fruitiness that is actually present. Both the aroma and flavour lacked something undefinable; the result was a well-constructed but sub-par RIS. Worth trying, just lower your expectations a little.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2012 02:06:02 | More by jazzyjeff13

Dope

Massachusetts

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

Lot B6BB

A: Pitch black pour with a nice big medium brown and dense head. Fades very very slowly, leaving just a smattering of lacing behind.

S: Huh, very interesting. I was expecting a huge roasted malt character but it's fairly mild. It is however, very fruity. Loads of raisin and cherry primarily. I swear I'm getting some berry. Quite earthy too. A bit of cocoa and molasses. It smells more like a quad than an RIS to be honest. Not a bad thing, just extremely unique for the style.

T: Again, loaded with dark fruits up front. Raisin, fig, and cherry. Fades into a chalky, earthy sort of char with some chocolate. Finishes with a bit of spiciness, earthiness and cocoa. Sweet molasses and some anise in the aftertaste.

M: Thick and smooth but not nearly as thick as you would expect for a 13% RIS.

O: What a unique brew. It tastes like a quad blended with a RIS and an english barleywine (all that sweet molasses) and then aged in a wine barrel. I don't know what to think, I've never had anything like it. I prefer my RIS to be super roasty and creamy. This beer definitely straddles some lines when it comes to style. You would honestly not expect this to be an RIS at all if you tasted this blind. It's still very complex, well balanced and tasty. Just a total hybrid style that's hard to judge. Super dangerously drinkable, I will say. Smooth as all get out.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2012 05:22:15 | More by Dope

Converge

Alberta (Canada)

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

330ml bottle poured into a 16oz tulip.

A - A gusher as soon as the cap comes off. Pours black as night with a thick, mocha brown head. Head retention is great, and leaves lots of sticky lacing. Surprising for a 13.00% ABV stout.

S - Very deep and complex. A rich array of dark fruits and candi sugar back by a subtle roasty backbone of charred malt and coffee. Figs, plums and prunes are strong. Underlying earthy notes of anise and tobacco. Molasses, cocoa, soy sauce, wood, cola syrup and some boozy dark rum alcohol notes all come through.

T - Certainly an interesting take on an RIS. The base of roasted malt, dark chocolate/cocoa, and coffee is there, but the Belgian influence is definitely there. Dark fruitiness reminiscent of a fine quad is strong; figs, plums, and prunes. A nice helping of Belgian candi sugar as well as cola syrup add a very sweet dimension here. Anise and woodsy notes make for a very earthy finish, with a strong presence of tobacco as well. Finishes with a boozy dark rum character, with lingering flavors of roasted malt, dark fruits, and molasses.

M - Very big. Thick, creamy, and boozy. Carbonation is actually more active than expected, but still very smooth all around. Warming finish, but that was to be expected. Bitterness is kept in check. Really sticky too.

D - While this is undeniably a unique brew, and a very interesting concept to approach an RIS with, it's not quite my style. That being said, I can't imagine an RIS with a Belgian twist being any better than this. True to its Belgian roots, this brew is rich, fruity, and not overly abrasive. I suppose I just prefer a more roasty and astringent profile with my imperial stouts. In the end, this probably wasn't worth the premium price, but I'm really happy I got to try it. While it didn't quite live up to the hype for me, it was still a very unique experience. Thanks to De Struise for crafting this one-of-a-kind brew!

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2012 10:12:37 | More by Converge

brystmar

New York

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

Pretty sure this is from 2009. Notched lot is B-6-BB.

Black body, plenty of brown head up top. Caramel and toffee precede the roasty malt, presenting a pleasant bouquet.

A well-blended stout, melding each of the above components with hints of dark fruit at the end. Notes of oak barrels in the background. The alcohol warms my throat as it descends, integrating well with the experience. Body is thick and heavy, as it should be.

Black Albert ranks among the best off-the-shelf RIS. Always happy to pop one of these :)

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 01:29:19 | More by brystmar

2beerdogs

California

2.15/5  rDev -49.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Well I got to try it.

Thanks to aandersen for this one.

Poured a swirl of mahogany. Nose is a confused melange of a mellow RIS and...a Flanders Red. I'm confused.

Yep, it's a mix of an RIS in mouthfeel, body, and a slight fleeting sweetness. But it has a souring, red wine meets madeira barrel dominance.

Can't say I hated it. It is very different; their own style. But it doesn't do it for me. However, I got to try it, and check it off my kist.

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2012 13:40:09 | More by 2beerdogs

Falcon91Wolvrn03

California

4.53/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance – Black with a beautiful brown head. Somewhat translucent, as I could see considerable sediment. Very nice lacing

Smell – Malt, molasses, and a very pleasant spice.

Taste – This tastes very good. Roasted malt, molasses, spice, and a hint of premium red wine.

Mouthfeel – Lightly carbonated, creamy, and easy drinking.

Drinkability – This is an amazingly drinkable beer for 13% abv. The alcohol is well hidden and it goes down easy.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2012 05:00:52 | More by Falcon91Wolvrn03