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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 AgentZero:
Reviewed by AgentZero from Illinois
3.71/5 rDev -15.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.71/5 rDev -15.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to Sean for sharing.
A - A black beer with a tan head. Had some solid retention that settled to a thick ring. Nice looking.
S - My initial thought on this one was apples, although not overly powering to make me think that something had gone wrong with it. Port influence gives way to some more traditional stout aromas including chocolate, slight roast, and vanilla.
T - Has some wine-like qualities up front. The alcohol on this is present, but at 22% is pretty mellow. Pretty rich, with dark fruits and chocolate. Good tasting beer.
M - Pretty close to full bodied, with lower carbonation.
O - Good beer. Not sure where the apple notes are coming from, but other then that there isn't anything to complain about. Glad to drink it, but would not try to acquire given how much it originally went for.
Apr 18, 2012A - A black beer with a tan head. Had some solid retention that settled to a thick ring. Nice looking.
S - My initial thought on this one was apples, although not overly powering to make me think that something had gone wrong with it. Port influence gives way to some more traditional stout aromas including chocolate, slight roast, and vanilla.
T - Has some wine-like qualities up front. The alcohol on this is present, but at 22% is pretty mellow. Pretty rich, with dark fruits and chocolate. Good tasting beer.
M - Pretty close to full bodied, with lower carbonation.
O - Good beer. Not sure where the apple notes are coming from, but other then that there isn't anything to complain about. Glad to drink it, but would not try to acquire given how much it originally went for.
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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