Black Damnation XI - Special Kay
De Struise Brouwers

Black Damnation XI - Special KayBlack Damnation XI - Special Kay
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From:
De Struise Brouwers
 
Belgium
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
ABV:
22%
Score:
96
Avg:
4.39 | pDev: 9.11%
Reviews:
26
Ratings:
74
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 28, 2017
Added:
Aug 29, 2008
Wants:
  192
Gots:
  13
A blend of Kate The Great (10.79% ABV) and Black Albert (13% ABV), brewed by master brewer Todd Mott of the Portsmouth Brewery in USA and Urbain Coutteau of Struise. This time our beer was fractionally frozen to -15 ° C over a period of 20 days. This method allows the water which is present in beer, slowly but surely to be separated from the alcohol, and allowing the volume % to rise. Another Eisbock process but modified a la Struise, still allows the result to be called beer. "Special K" has previously been aged 10 months in Noval Port barrels before undergoing the Eisbock process.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by 77black_ships:
Photo of 77black_ships
Reviewed by 77black_ships from Belgium

4.71/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Had this several times draft. First time was fresh at the Kertbierfestival 2011 in Essen where I was blown away by it. Had about 6 tasting glasses of it. Many of those were from people who couldn’t manage to drink their own sample. Tried it since then again draft at the brewery and at their store in Bruges. Both times it was nice but paled in comparison to having it fresh on tap in Essen. Review is from the first time I tried it.

Appearance: Ridiculously dark, looks viscous and oily when poured. Incredibly it supports a bit chocolate mousse despite the very high ABV, courtesy of Struise’s special eisbocking technique.

Smell: Cold the booze comes through way to much, almost smells like vodka – not my thing. When warmed you get chocolate, thick roasted malts, ice coffee as thick as a milkshake but unfortunately the alcohol comes through still heavily.

Taste: Thick, very thick, thick syrup, super concentrated malt syrup, bucket of molasses squeezed into this, concentrated brown sugar, ice coffee & condensed coffee, sludgy, a roast which tries not to drown in the syrup & sweetly goodness, strong Porto (calvados?) aftertaste, warming but not really alcoholic.

Body: By far my favorite aspect of this beer, thickest RIS I have every head. Pure syrupy sludge – incredible.

Overall: The first time when I tried this, freshly made it was divine. An experience aided perhaps by the fact that this my first beer in this ABV category. Previous incarnations failed but I hear that the bottles are much better. I have never managed to convince myself to cough up the incredibly hefty price tag.
Jul 12, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 5 by Dutchcraftbeergeek from Netherlands

Dec 28, 2017
 
Rated: 4.78 by YvesB from Belgium

Aug 22, 2017
Photo of mothman
Reviewed by mothman from Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Bottle thanks to Yves!

Little tan head. Motor oil black.

This combines two beers I like with more Kate showing. This hides some of the Belgian yeast which I think is great. Oak and port. Chocolate. Very light roast. Oak. Fudgy.

This was fantastic. The 22% cannot be found. Very fine beer!
Aug 20, 2017
 
Rated: 4.5 by Hayley_86 from Netherlands

Jan 24, 2017
Photo of Alieniloquium
Reviewed by Alieniloquium from Florida

4.47/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 3 | overall: 5
750 mL bottle poured into a snifter. Stupid red clay dipped with a synthetic cork. What the hell?

Appearance - Inky black. Almost no head. Thin collar.

Smell - Intense roasted malt. Booze. Molasses sweetness. Some port and oak.

Taste - Serious booze. Fudgy and some dark fruits. I think the port lends to the dark fruits. Bitter dark roasted malts. Sharp boozy finish.

Mouthfeel - Heavy. Insanely boozy. Low carbonation.

Overall - This is delicious. As big and boozy as it gets, but it's really good.
May 19, 2015
 
Rated: 4.39 by wethorseblanket from California

Dec 30, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by olradetbalder from Sweden

Dec 02, 2014
 
Rated: 3.44 by Fumanchi

Oct 31, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by the_beerist from Massachusetts

Sep 27, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by tom10101 from Canada (QC)

Sep 23, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Axnjxn from North Carolina

Aug 28, 2014
 
Rated: 4.6 by Shaimless from Oregon

Aug 24, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Kurmaraja from California

Aug 24, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by Phobicsquirrel from Oregon

Aug 24, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by zestar from California

Jul 19, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by erg from California

Jun 29, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by Brabander from Netherlands

Mar 29, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by digita7693 from Germany

Jan 20, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by ncaudle from Virginia

Dec 01, 2013
Black Damnation XI - Special Kay from De Struise Brouwers
Beer rating: 96 out of 100 with 74 ratings