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Black Damnation XI - Special Kay
De Struise Brouwers
- From:
- De Struise Brouwers
- Belgium
- Style:
- Russian Imperial Stout
- ABV:
- 22%
- Score:
- 96
- Avg:
- 4.39 | pDev: 9.11%
- Reviews:
- 26
- Ratings:
- 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:
Reviewed by 77black_ships from Belgium
4.71/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
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, 2013Appearance: 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.
More User Ratings:
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
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, 2017Little 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!
Reviewed by Alieniloquium from Florida
4.47/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 3 | overall: 5
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, 2015Appearance - 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.
Black Damnation XI - Special Kay from De Struise Brouwers
Beer rating:
96 out of
100 with
74 ratings
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