Black Damnation V - Double Black - De Struise Brouwers

SpeedwayJim

New York

2.8/5  rDev -37.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

A huge thanks to Mikey711 (Mikey) for this one. 2oz. pour from a capped and foiled 750ml bottle into a stemless wine glass. Had at a tasting on 6/4/11. Reviewed from notes.

A: Standard pour yields a .25 dark mocha head with great retention. Beer is a dark, opaque, motor oil black. Lacing is spotty and stringy with decent cling and thick, oily legs. A masterpiece considering how heavy it looks.

S: Nose is straight booze that covers almost everything else. Some chocolate and molasses make its way out little by little but the alcohol covers everything else. Not a fan.

T: Opens sweet soy sauce, chocolate, raisins, booze, mocha and molasses throughout. Sharp booze lingers in the background. Chocolate and molasses in the finish with an added touch of cocoa in the aftertaste. Nice but not much above average.

M: Full to super-full bodied. Sludgy and thick in the mouth almost like a protein shake. No carbonation. Oily and filmy going down. Messy finish with a lingering aftertaste. Way over the top here. Too much body.

O: This is a meal in a glass. Again, I'm not sure I'm drinking the same beer as those that say this beer hides its abv well.I could barely choke down 2oz. of this monster. In a world of over-the-top beer, this one is king. It's not for me though.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2011 12:28:20 | More by SpeedwayJim

6string

Germany

3.28/5  rDev -26.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 5 | overall: 2.5

Pours like 15-year-old used motor oil! Black! Little head once poured in the glass, which is dark brown in itself. Whoa was it thick! My tastemates all said it looked mean! (Ended up tasting mean, too!)

It burned on the lips, and kicked my ass! Do I shoot it or sip it??? The tastes are there...chocolate, caramel, coffee, even notes of cinnamon. The history is quite clear...the barrels keep the taste very potent but not overbearing. The first beer to warm my chest like my whiskey, it was awesome going down! An outstanding beer, I was extremely excited to be able to say I've tasted it. As it warms in the glass, the bite grows stronger.

Maybe this brew would be better appreciated by some experienced brewmasters, I thought it was a good beer but I can't justify rating it an A+ or 5, because I wouldn't buy a bottle again. Good, heavy content. Like my trip to the Grand Canyon, it's cool at first, but in the end, it's just another attraction based on hype that I don't fully understand. I rate my beer based on whether or not I'd drink or buy again, and I simply wouldn't do neither on this one. The two beers that ultimately create this beast are exquisite, but this monster wasn't for me.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2011 12:24:04 | More by 6string

mulder1010

Australia

3.33/5  rDev -25.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Thanks to bluebetty for this one

A-- Poured soy sauce black. No light, no visible carbonation, not much really. Did get a very short lived dark chocolate head that went away quite quickly. Massive dark chocolate oily residue left in the glass afterwards. Took two washes to get it all out.

S-- Soy Sauce, chocolate syrup, molasses, and dark fruits. Nose is quite light for the size of the beer and the ABV level. Very little alcohol smell.

T-- Soy sauce, burnt rubber, ash, char, molasses, honey, tobacco, chocolate, roasted malts. I could go on with the taste as there were a lot of flavors with this. What i liked was that the char, ash, and burnt rubber were subdued. A drinkable Mikkeller black I thought.

M-- Big, evil, mean, slick , syrupy, oily, and peaty. Really came across as a massive scotch to me. As soon as it warmed up some the ABV was in full force. Made it hard to drink for me. Zero carbonation.

O-- Could not drink more than a few ounces. Some points it was brilliant, other times not. I was at a massive disadvantage as that I was driving and could not do more than a few ounces. Either way it was difficult for me to drink and just gave up. Base beer is far better than anything Mikkeller or De Molen has done but I would not buy or really want again.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2011 14:03:49 | More by mulder1010

womencantsail

California

3.4/5  rDev -23.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

Thanks for sharing this, Bobby!

A: The beer pours black, viscous, and surprisingly carbonated with a tan head.

S: The aroma is intense to say the least. Tons of roasted malt, dark chocolate, and booze. A decent amount of molasses and brown sugar with hints of licorice and dark fruit. There's a bit of vanilla as well.

T: Overly sweet. Tons of brown sugar, burnt sugar, molasses, and licorice. A little too much booze presence for my liking. Roasted malt and char, as expected, with some oak and more booze.

M: Thick and full on the tongue with a low but sufficient carbonation.

O: This was a very cool idea and I really wanted to try it. But, it was just too much. My couple ounces were more than enough.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2011 14:24:29 | More by womencantsail

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.43/5  rDev -23.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours oily black with virtually no head. Reddish brown highlights in the colour as we sip it.A Bitterness that gets worse not better as you drink it. It becomes altogether not such a great bitterness and that limits the drinkability as does the extremely high abv. An OK smell. In a word,Unbalanced. Liam's bomber straight from the brewery this year.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2011 00:03:55 | More by northyorksammy

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -19.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Urbain shared BD 5, 6, 9, 10 next to each other. Shit man! Black, rich creamy dark tan head with amazing retention. Nose is huge, dry earthy notes, peaty, faint cardboard, fair bit of roasted malt and light chocolate. Taste is obviously enormous, peaty and earthy with light cardboard and some dark fruits. Bitter chocolate with rich roasted malt in back. Heat there but pretty well hdden for the abv. Body is extremely thick and viscous with strong carbonation and dry finish. Tons of flavor with some minor issues and average integration.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 15:23:13 | More by cpetrone84

Sean9689

Illinois

3.7/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I've had this from the bottle @ DLD (thank to Eric aka Turd) and on-tap last night at the West Lakeview Liquors Meet & Greet Event w/ Urbain. Obviously, Urbain brought the keg...

A - Pours black, slight tan-colored head, some bubbles here and there. There's a huge motor oil quality to this beer, as it leaves a brownish/gold hue that coats the entire glass. Sticky, viscous, black...damn(ation)!

S - Smells like booze, lots of char, roast, some chocolate. There's not much sweetness (some chocolate, some dark fruits), as it's covered up by the huge booze and char. It smells like what it is, a huge monster of a beer.

T - Slight dark chocolate, dark fruits, lots of char, lots of booze. There's a harsh/char hot boozy note on the finish that makes me grab my water after every sip. A little off-putting, but I contribute this to the huge amount of alcohol in this beer.

M - Full, rich and viscous, light carbonation, creamy finish.

O - I enjoyed sipping on this one on two occasions, but one or two 4oz pours is just enough for me. I'm not dying to try this again in the near future, but would love to see how this ages down the line. I'm sure the booze will smooth out and make it more enjoyable. It's good but a little too much for me at the moment.

Serving type: on-tap

05-03-2011 13:37:53 | More by Sean9689

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.74/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

First had: on tap at Farmers Cabinet, Philly, PA

Dark black hole color, topped--surprisingly--with a small, sturdy cap of tan head. Aroma of dark malts, roasty, pretty heavy with booze, dark sugars, a hint of anise. Definitely hot on the palate, but that's to be expected with the reported ABV. There was an almost bourbon-barrel-ish flavor profile here, roasty dark malts, dark chocolate, burnt molasses, anise, coffee. Chewy mouthfeel, pretty intense, body on the heavier side of medium, though the boozy kick seemed to thin it out a bit in the finish. Nice overall; not exactly an easy drinker, but delivers what is promised.

Serving type: on-tap

03-12-2013 00:04:35 | More by Rifugium

craytonic

District of Columbia

3.75/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Motor oil black with a mocha head. I got some of this on my hands while pouring and it is literally oily.

Aroma: Very strong double-strength coffee, very bitter, with lots of dark roasted malt, vanilla and tar. Boozy. Well integrated but too bitter.

Taste: Similar to the nose, although perhaps a bit more boozy. Lots of the 8-hour coffee, chocolate, vanilla, and roasted malt. Just too much booze, coffee and bitterness for me.

MOuthfeel: Thick and oily.

Overall: Interesting try, but not really drinkable. Just too much, a few ounces is plenty.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2012 03:30:30 | More by craytonic

russwbeck

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Black pour with a minimal amount of brown head. It's the darkest of the three and coats the side of the glass very well. 4.5

S: It smells like straight alcohol. Basically a combination of vanilla and rum. All of the aromas from Black Albert and Cuvee Delphine are completely gone. 3.5

T: The flavor cuts off at the end, which I've experienced with eisbocks in the past. There is a slight chocolate base there and it actually isn't the booziest beer I've come across, despite the crazy high ABV. There is a slight amount of vanilla, but it's really all about the rum. The flavors attack the palate...and then disappear. 3.5

MF: The beer is deceptively drinkable, but very thin. The booziness does not accurately represent the ABV. 4.5

O: It's amazing that its this good after all this beer has gone through. I felt the after-effects of this beer once I stood up. I am impressed, but still believe Black Albert is the best in this series. 4

Serving type: on-tap

04-15-2013 01:56:34 | More by russwbeck

mikey711

New Jersey

3.78/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Maltzilla for sending this bottle my way.

A: Black, and thick, I mean really thick. I have never seen this thick a beer before. It left impressive lacing behind that was incredibly difficult to wash off of the glass.

S: Very chocolately with some hints of bourbon and vanilla. Lots of roasty notes with a little bit of dark fruit as well

T: Heavy chocolate and roast with dark fruit notes as well. Big toffee molasses and brown sugar flavor as well

M: it is literally a milk shake. Each sip felt thicker than the last. The alcohol was present but was hidden more by the fact this beer was so thick

D: What a monster of a beer. I took one sip and felt it go straight to my head. Be advised that this beer needs to be shared with probably ten people.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2011 14:08:20 | More by mikey711

HopHead84

California

3.83/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

5/8/2011

Big thanks to Alex (Masterski) for the growler. I'd been wanting to try this for a long time. Poured into a snifter.

A: Viscous and dark black with a frothy tan head. There's a reddish tinge near the edges when held to light. A swirl of the glass leave a thick booze coating on the sides.

S: The aroma shows big fudge and dark chocolate notes with accompanying brown sugar. Bourbon is light, and there's some oak. It's pretty damn mellow for a 26% ABV beer. I'm surprised. Alcohol is faint. Malt is heavily roasted and there's a little coffee in there, as well as some earth. Restrained smoke notes waft from the glass to coalesce with alcohol vapors.

T: Strong roasted malt profile, with light coffee notes, dark chocolate, and pronounced alcohol. A little prune and plum, but those notes are subjugated by the roast, dark chocolate, and alcohol. This is very powerful stuff. Light smoke notes with some charred oak and coffee. Alcohol is definitely noticeable, but it seems more like 16% than 26%. There's a good deal of chocolate brown sugar sweetness midpalate, but the beer is dry initially and in the finish.

M: Full in body, obviously, with moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel is silky, sticky, chewy, and dry, with substantial alcohol warming.

Overall: A real beast of a beer. High quality stuff, but 4-5 ounces was plenty for me.

Serving type: growler

05-09-2011 04:00:39 | More by HopHead84

alcstradamus

Illinois

3.83/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.5

Pours surprisingly with a head on top of an inky black body. Dark, sludgy legs cling to the side of the tulip with each sip.

Aroma is roasty, boozy, and bitter coffee. Emphasis on the booze. Stinging and harsh.

Flavor is less harsh. Big and sweet and boozy....flavor nuances are abundant. I could list them for the next 5 paragraphs. It is a bit messy, but not as harsh as I would expect for a 26% stout.

The mouthfeel is thick and creamy and perfect. One of the best mouthfeels I ever experienced.

Overall this beer is an interesting experiment. It is messy and hot and cloying, but those negatives don't stop me from reaching for the glass repeatedly for more.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2011 02:39:27 | More by alcstradamus

SpdKilz

Illinois

3.93/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Had on tap at Zwanze Day Chicago. Served in a plastic cup. First beer of the day.

Appearance – Poured into my plastic cup with more than I was expecting/wanting knowing I had a full day of drinking amazing beer ahead of me. The viscosity on this beer is exactly how the name sounds. Held up to direct sunlight I was cast in a shadow. Slight carbonation has lingering bubbles up top hanging on to the sides of the cup.

Smell – Booze, heavy roasted malts, chocolate, dark fruits, and lots of molasses. This is going to be one sweet alcoholic beer.

Taste – Loads of chocolate and roast. The dark fruits (fig and plum) kept trying to fight their way to the front but the sweetness of molasses and brown sugar won out. Bourbon and vanilla round out the flavors.

Mouthfeel – I will say, this has to be one of the thickest beers I have experienced. To put it into perspective, I had to wash my cup out two times to get the remnants of this beer out. It just would not leave the sides of the cup. Lower carbonation but still decent enough for this high abv of a beer.

Overall – This is a beer I am glad I was able to try and not have to purchase on my own. To be blunt, I was not overly impressed by it. That said, I had to keep reminding myself of the alcohol content and how it really did not taste like I was drinking a 26% stout. I understand the pushing of boundaries and new limits, however, this beer is more of a novelty for me. I really did not enjoy it and I have no inclination to seek it out in the future. A monster of a beer.

Serving type: on-tap

09-19-2011 02:01:48 | More by SpdKilz

mdfb79

New York

4/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From 04/30/11 notes. Bottlle shared at Dark Lord Day thanks to TurdFurgison; thanks Eric, really wanted to try this one.

a - Pours a very dark brown, almost black color, with an inch of tan ehad and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells very strong, smells of roasted malts, coffee, alcohol, dark chocolate, and dark fruits. A little bit better than the taste, and quite strong.

t - Tastes of of coffee, roasted malts, dark chocolate, and alcohol. Again, very strong, but good.

m - Medium to full body and moderate carbonation.

o - Overall a very nice stout. It is certainly a strong stout, but it doesn't taste like 26% ABV. Not my favorite Black Damnation beer, but good and I was very glad to try it.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2011 00:42:50 | More by mdfb79

TheGordianKnot

Tennessee

4/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very generously shared by Curtis at our Nashville tasting. I will admit that I'm reviewing this one from a pour into a small tasting glass- but honestly thats about all you need of this bad boy...

A- Black, just like motor oil dripping into my glass. Has no head whatsoever. Sticks to the glass like thick molasses. Very sinister looking beer.

S- Sweet aroma overall, though there are hints of roast. Brown sugar, molasses, milk and dark chocolate, figs, and a splash of alcohol- this really is a plethora of sweet aromas which is making me a little apprehensive to taste.

T/M- Damn, thats hot! A lot of perceived alcohol flavor. Also very sweet; much like a fig newton flavor. Some vanilla and cookie dough also hit the palate before a little bitterness comes into play. Coffee, ashy/burnt bread and dark chocolate. Body is a big bold bitch! Pretty damn full and slick, almost a jaw workout. No carbonation at all.

O- Well, definitely a big time want and it didn't disappoint, probably because I knew it wouldn't be my favorite beer of all time- I just really wanted to try it. The alcohol was a bit much, but overall there ended up being enough bitterness to break up the intense sweetness. Liked it, wouldn't spend $90 on it, but would like to have another to age...

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2012 15:26:17 | More by TheGordianKnot

birchstick

Missouri

4/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle shared by bsuedekum...Iced Stout, let's do this...

A - Pours black with a small head on it.

S -The nose erupts with dark fruits (plums and raisins), dark chocolates, and a little bourbon.

T - opens up amazingly sweet. Uber chocolaty malts move on to extremely bitter dark chocolates. Vanilla bourbon flavors move in next to help tame the chocolates. Some spiciness from the bourbon comes in next but is overtaken by piney hops. Whoa.

M - thin body and TONS of booze

D - Wow...bold, full of flavor and really complex. I had a small pour of this and don't know if I could do more than 1/4 of a bomber in a sitting. This is packed of flavor and will smack you in the face if you're not looking. Definitely worth a shot, but not for the faint of heart.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2012 03:02:19 | More by birchstick

trappistlover

Arizona

4.05/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(sampled at Dak’s Memorial Day tasting). Pours thick and black with a tan head. This just coats the glass. Aroma has alcohol and plenty of chocolate and bourbon. Taste is sweet with some roasty bitterness. Full bodied with a sticky texture. This is a really nice beer with a nice mix of sweetness, roasty bitterness and alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2011 23:00:07 | More by trappistlover

dgilks

Australia

4.05/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle shared with Chris, Michael and Ben. OMG!!!

Inky black with a creamy tan head. Some lacing.

Sweet with some roast. Plenty of oak and alcohol. Surprisingly fruity. An interesting smokiness.

Intense is the right word. There is an interesting fruitiness and peat character. Some oak. Lots of malt and quite bitter. This is a big beer.

Full body with moderate carbonation. Sweet and sticky. This is big.

A really solid beer. Sure, not everyone will get this but the flavours stand up for themselves. Epic.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2012 09:48:24 | More by dgilks

AgentZero

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Mad props and much beer karma to Eric for sharing this one at Dark Lord Day. 900th review.

A - The beer is black, ominous, opaque, forboding, thick, viscous. Just a monster of a scary looking black beer. A little bit of brown head bubbled up for a second, but vanished almost instanly. Also, the bottle is awesome looking.

S - Huge amount of char and some roast on this one. Leather, tar, dark fruits, and alcohol. Given that it's 26%, the amount of alcohol is relatively light in the nose. It's pretty explosive and potent with the amount of aroma coming off the nose, but I think that's to be expected.

T - Lots of char and molasses with a load of toffee and dark fruits. God this is just ass kicking on the tongue with the amount of flavor in here. Some earth and leather notes, as well as a bit of tobacco to balance out the sweetness. There is booze in it, but once again, considering the ABV it is surprisingly mellow.

M - So freaking thick you can chew it. Lower carbonation, very smooth.

O - Not sure what to compare this to or how to rate according to style. I think calling it a double or imperial does it a disservice for what it is. It's more like a Quadruple Stout or a Double Imperial Stout. Huge beer that has a lot of great flavor and just a lot of flavor period, but really can only get through it in small doses. This is partially due to the high ABV and partially due to the load of char, sweetness, etc. Had this on tap a week later with a massive pour, and it became a struggle to get through. That said, it drinks relatively easy for how much alcohol it has in it and tastes pretty good. It's a sipper in small doses, not the best tasting necessarily, but good for what it is. If you open a bottle, just make sure to have a few people handy to split it with.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2011 03:31:03 | More by AgentZero

ktrillionaire

Florida

4.1/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

First off, I'd like to propose that Struise re-name this brew after its most ardent consumer, Alex. Anyone that witnessed him downing a pint of this stuff should know why.

On-tap at WLV tasting event

A - It pours a brown-black, with some wispy bubbles, and really looks like a fairly normal RIS, which it isn't.

S - The nose is quite a bit like regular Double Stout; it offers toffee, plenty of roast, sweet oat notes, anise, and cocoa; surprisingly, shockingly even, the alcohol is hard to discern.

T - The taste is right in line with the nose, although the sweetness is much more apparent that it was in the aroma. Booze is still masterfully hidden. There are notes of cocoa, and roast grain that dominate the flavor, with slight herbal,earthy and fruity undertones accompanying. Really amazing taste given the 26% ABV, and good taste regardless of ABV considerations.

M - The feel is viscous and softly carbonated; better than I expected.

O - Top 5 26% Stouts, no doubt.

Serving type: on-tap

05-13-2011 15:59:39 | More by ktrillionaire

thagr81us

South Carolina

4.1/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This one was shared by funkydelic with beeruser, StayWhatYouAre2, 67couple, others, and myself at a recent tasting graciously hosted by beeruser! Thank God we had quite a number of people to get down on this 750 mL bottle! Served from bottle into a Duvel Parra tulip. Poured pitch black with a minimal brown head that subsided to none quickly (guess the booze ate it). No lacing evident on this one (booze must have been hungry again). The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, roasted malt, dark chocolate, smoke, and sweet alcohol. The flavor was of sweet malt, roasted malt, dark chocolate, wood, alcohol (duh!), subtle soy sauce, and smoke. It had a heavy mouthfeel on the palate with no carbonation. Ovearll this was a pretty good brew. We all found this one to be a little smokier than we were expecting. The aroma on this one was quite nice and inviting which is kind of scary for a monster like this. The sweet alcohol note on the nose is what really made this one for me as far as the aroma. However, on the flavor the sweet alcohol flavor went away and became the stinging kind of alcohol that makes you cringe slightly when taking a shot. Still not bad though as the smoke helped to balance this out and in some cases, even overpowered it. A really well done brew that I would have again; just not in a 750 mL format.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2011 18:23:40 | More by thagr81us

Mora2000

Texas

4.1/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Cavie for sharing this bottle.

The beer pours an inky black color with a dark brown head. The aroma is very strong with a lot of chocolate and roasted malt notes. There is also a lot of oak and some bourbon notes in the aroma. Alcohol is also a big player in the smell of the beer, as can be expected from a beer this strong.

The flavor is similar. The two most prominent flavors are heavily roasted malt and chocolate. I also get some strong bourbon notes and some oak. The alcohol is also very present. I also can't quite put my finger on it, but there is something in the flavor that doesn't quite sit right with me.

The mouthfeel is about as thick as I have ever come across in a beer and the carbonation is low.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2011 01:21:26 | More by Mora2000

Phelps

Arizona

4.1/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This version of Black Damnation originates from Cuvee Delphine, which is simply a bourbon-aged version of Black Albert. Hoever, it’s then crystallized to a Hulkish 26-percent ABV monster form of its former self. This one was shared by ejyoung and poured into a tulip.

Triple, nay, quadruple black in color. No light getting through this one. One finger of cinnamon-colored, fizzy head becomes a thin ring after a while.

Heavy, sugary aroma. Bourbon, brandy, chocolate syrup, dark chocolate, figs, red grapes.

Whew! Rich, sugary stuff. I get crystallized sugar, maple syrup, toasted oak, dark chocolate syrup, vanilla, toffee, butterscotch, molasses, bourbon and a touch of brandy. Heavy flavor.

Thick like a milkshake, this is creamy and full in body. Tongue-numbing booze and some heat in the nose. Very, very light carbonation is almost not there. It’s like a meal in a glass — all it needs is a cherry on top.

So, so rich and heavy. Big flavor, big feel. Double Black is very tasty, but I’m also very glad we split the bottle four ways.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2012 22:02:50 | More by Phelps

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Huge, huge thanks to Eric for opening a bottle of this at Dark Lord Day 2011. Served in a mini snifter.

Pour yields a black-bodied brew with a surprisingly large mocha-colored head that persists for a bit of time. Not too long, but what can you expect from a 26% eis-stout? The aroma is intoxicating--strong notes of coffee, roasted malt, molasses, a bit of tar, smoke, and a hint of booze. Some light vanilla and a bit of darker smoked fruits in the background. Really nice and complex.

The flavor backs off just a bit from where the nose was, as the alcohol is quite a bit more prevalent here than it was in the nose. Still, there is great complexity with roasted and sweet dark malts plus vanilla, chocolate, coffee, smoke, and, of course, the alcohol. The midpalate is fairly nice and smooth, though the finish allows the alcohol to come through. Still, not many complaints given the ABV and how young this is. A really fantastic beer; thanks again, Eric.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2011 13:43:20 | More by Thorpe429