Atwater VJ Black - Atwater Block Brewery

Mitchster

Michigan

2/5  rDev -48.8%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

$2.69 for a 12oz bottle @ BevCo. "Brewed with 6 different malts and Barley flakes and Magnum Hops", as well as presumably vanilla and coffee. OG=21d Plato, 24 IBU's and 11% ABV. Label notched for March 2012.

Clear, near black, forming a small light tan head with poor retention and sparse lacing, mild carbonation. The aroma opens with fresh vanilla, sour milk, and carob with some leafy green hops in the mix. The mouthfeel is REALLY thin for an 11% beer. I don't buy this AT ALL and would be very interested in analyzing this. I'm a homebrewer and have had hundreds of 11% ABV beers and this is definitely not one. Judging by other reviews, I'm not the only one to notice this. The taste opens with green leafy hops followed by leather and burnt wood. Very herbal with an odd sourness I don't get any coffee, just burnt malts, vanilla, sour and green leaves. Hrmm. Bitterness is moderate, with a burnt astringency as well.

Not digging this at all. Completely out of balance, sour, grassy and weird tasting. This is definitely not an Imperial Stout. Do not recommend this mess of a beer. Awful.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2012 02:47:38 | More by Mitchster

ThickNStout

Georgia

2.2/5  rDev -43.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

12oz botlle from Beer Baron (Detroit, MI). 3.69. Bottled 03/2012. Served in a Red Brick snifter.

Pour deep brown with ruddy hues around the edges. Less than a quarter finger pale tan head that fades quickly and leaves very little in the way of lacing.

Aromas of roast malts, dark chocolate and cocoa powder.

Tastes of hot chocolate powder, burnt cheap coffee, sugar and grape cough syrup. The alcohol is pretty well hidden but I don't much care for what it is hiding behind.

Medium thin feel with sharp carbonation. Long artificial cocoa finish.

Between this and their Coffee Vanilla Porter, I'll gave to concede that Atwater's head brewer and I have strongly different tastes. I'm fairly sure that I'm getting only cheap adjuncts and no barley, hops or yeast. Where's the beer? Pass on this one.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 06:06:41 | More by ThickNStout

mactrail

California

3.03/5  rDev -22.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Yipes! huge dark chocolate and vanilla. Near black in the tall tulip. Modest foam with some decent lacing along the glass.

Brewery says it's based on their Vanilla-Java Porter, which would explain everything. Full of malt but not too sweet. Charred flavors dominate. Sugar cookie taste along with a deep flavor of French roast coffee. Bitter as sin after the sweet ice cream flavors. Raspy and harsh.

One has to ask, "why?" Personally I think vanilla is not a good beer additive, though it's quite beery if you can get over the taste. From the 12 oz bottle.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2012 04:19:09 | More by mactrail

EricCioe

Montana

3.05/5  rDev -22%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

This pours a nice almost black that has some highlights at the edges, with a big two finger chunky head that leaves lace on the way down. On the nose it's similar to the regular Vanilla Java Porter that I just had, with the addition of some chocolate to sit over the vanilla and even further above the coffee. In the mouth there is again the mixture of bitter chocolate, bitter roasted coffee, and vanilla extract rather than beans. I'm not getting much in the way of toasted or chocolate malts, a recurring theme with Atwater for me so far. The body is the lightest I've had for such a high ABV stout, and this is probably the culprit for me not liking this beer or any of Atwater's as much as I might.

Everything I've had by them so far has a Diet Coke body and a medium at best finish. Vanilla Java Porter was okay for me, but definitely on the thin side. I was expecting this one to rectify those problems and it didn't. If this brewery ever stops skimping on the malt bill, they might have something. Until then, it's just watery versions of brews that have some potential.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2011 01:29:19 | More by EricCioe

n2185

North Carolina

3.05/5  rDev -22%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Pours black with half a finger of tan head that vanishes completely with no lacing.

S: Roasted malts with lots of sweet chocolates, licorice, and raisiny dark fruit aromas. There are some slight smokey notes toward the finish.

T: Light roasted malt flavors up front followed by a strong licorice and dark fruit flavor. The finish is sweet and charred tasting.

M: Thick body with lowish carbonation, this beer is not as creamy as I'd like.

O: An alright stout, overall, though a bit too sweet and licorice-y for me.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 00:51:41 | More by n2185

biglite351

Pennsylvania

3.15/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - A bit of red around the edges with a creamy light tan head.

S - Fruit, malt with a touch of prune or raisin... but something a little bit off.

T - Smokey prune, chocolate and malts. A touch of caramel in the finish.

M - Creamy body but no real tingle or action.

O - Nothing bad about it but nothing that would make it a top pick either.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2011 11:10:48 | More by biglite351

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.33/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Opaque black with little head. A little roasty and boozy aroma, with a spot of vanilla. Somewhat thin for the style,perhaps the oiliness gives my tongue this impression, not so well integrated. Bitter chocolate and some vanilla, bourbon, coconut. A sipper, not so drinkable.
Ken's bottle.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2011 14:08:31 | More by northyorksammy

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours jet black with a tan head. In the aroma, coffee and a roasted malt. In the taste, coffee and a roasted malt that runs sweet to dry. A small bite and medium bodied mouthfeel, with a dry coffee in the aftertaste. Nice coffee and hides the 11% nicely.

Serving type: on-tap

04-22-2011 17:02:08 | More by OWSLEY069

warnerry

Michigan

3.43/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottled March 2011

A - Pours pith black with two fingers of light brown head. Head had good retention, and leaves some decent lacing.

S - Huge vanilla aroma, which seems to mask the other aromas initially. Eventually, aromas of chocolate, cola, molasses and some roasted malt come through.

T - Taste follows the smell pretty closely, with a lot of sweetness and vanilla, followed by some chocolate, faint roasted malts that become more prominent on this finish.

M - Mouthfeel is a bit thin for the style, and somewhat watery, though there is some creaminess to it. Sweet throughout, but it dries out a bit on the finish, which has a subtle bitterness.

O - Not a standout, and the sweetness and strong vanilla will not be for everyone, but this was pretty enjoyable overall. With all the available options for an RIS, I can't see buying this again. Did not get any booziness out of this, which was a pleasant surprise.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2012 00:52:08 | More by warnerry

jondeelee

Massachusetts

3.48/5  rDev -11%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

VJ Black opens with a whiff of yeasty dough and malt, much like rising bread, which clears away and opens into a deeper, darker series of aromas that include heavy kola nut and caramel, a distinct almost Dr. Pepper-like spice and sugar blend, and more subtle layers of tobacco, anise, and black malt. For an Imperial Stout, the nose is heavily sweet and spicy, overflowing with molasses and brown sugar, pepper, and an almost smoky nutmeg or allspice spike. The aromas are certainly intriguing, but do bear more than a passing resemblance to a soft drink or a sugary root beer, and thus throw the nose off. It’s only the subtle dark ash and anise undertones that reveal the beer’s stout base, and these can be easily lost.

On the tongue, the beer continues to bear a good resemblance to a soft drink or root beer, with sugary spice flavors predominant, backed by dark ashy notes. Kola nut, sarsaparilla, cane sugar, vanilla, and a near-burnt allspice seem to make up most of the spice profile, and when joined with brown sugar and molasses, create a very non-Imperial-Stout-like flavor profile. One has to dig a bit deep to find coffee, ash, and black malt—but again, these can be easily lost. So sweet is the beer that it actually becomes almost sucralose (i.e. Splenda)-like around the edges, leaving a strange super-sweet rim that doesn’t quite mesh with the ash and coffee. The aftertaste is more of the same, though a touch more ash and coffee come through, the entire profile lingering on the tongue (along with the sucralose bite) for a long time. Mouthfeel is a slightly watery medium-light, and carbonation is medium.

Overall, this is definitely one of the more strange Imperial Stouts on the market, and one where the flavors don’t quite seem to mesh well together and provide a nice balance. On a good note, the beer’s 11% ABV is very nicely hidden beneath these flavors, detectable only late in the aftertaste as the vapors rise from the tongue. But the beer itself feels like it’s suffering from an identity crisis, not quite sure what direction it needs to go in.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2012 23:08:43 | More by jondeelee

lurpy1

Minnesota

3.53/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Atwater Block sure is proud of their Vanilla Java concept. Swing a dead cat and you'll hit a bar selling VJ Porter. At the same time it's damn near impossible to find another Atwater beer on tap. Here's the problem: VJ Porter is, in my opinion, pretty bad and poorly composed.So when the VJ concept shows up on tap as a stout at Dusty's, it is against my better judgement that I order a sample, and then snifter full, after not being put off by the sample. Man vs. Atwater's VJ Stuff, take two.

The pour is a nice deep black, bottomless in the snifter. Not much head. As with the porter, a very good smelling beer. Frappucino or vanilla ice cream come to mind. There is a little bit more coffee and malt in the stout. It may smell a touch better.

Somehow, the 3 competing flavors, vanilla, coffee, and stout, come together a bit more in this beer than they did in the porter. But the vanilla is still both dominant and problematic. It still tastes cheap and extracty. I would think a brewery this committed to vanilla beer would be resolved to take vanilla beer to the next level, probably through high-end vanilla beans. Atwater Block does not seem to be going in that direction.

OK, mouthfeel, and here is where I really question Atwater's chops as a brewery. This was ridiculously thin for a RIS. If Atwater had called it a stout, I'd be OK with it. But no. Check the website: "A huge Imperial Stout". Not sure the guys really know what a RIS is.

I still have a huge question mark regarding the artistry and craftsmanship of this brewery, but I did like this beer. I would drink it again, although due to the overarching vanilla sweetness, a one-per-night quota would be strictly enforced.

Serving type: on-tap

04-12-2012 14:34:19 | More by lurpy1

cvm4

Mississippi

3.53/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours black with a creamy 1 finger head. Minimal lacing.

S - Malt and coffee dominates for me.

T - Vanilla, brown sugar, dark chocolate. All sweet elements.

M - Lighter body than most imperial stouts I've tried. High carbonation.

O - It's not bad if you enjoy sweeter stouts that don't coat your mouth.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2012 01:56:11 | More by cvm4

DrJay

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Black with thin, ruby edges and a short cap of sticky, tan/brown foam. Decent head retention with fine, spotty lacing. Tons of caramel in the aroma, buttery toffee, vanilla, a bit of chocolate and faint roasted malts. Nice texture -- medium plus bodied with lowish, fine carbonation, creamy, well hidden alcohol and just a hint of astringency. Grassy bitterness didn't quite keep up with the malty sweetness, with more caramel and dry cocoa notes, light roast and hint of alcohol. Overall, an easy drinking beer for the abv.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2011 23:21:59 | More by DrJay

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

"VJ Black Imperial Stout, an 11% abv monster, sure to help you lose the last of the winter chills. VJ stands for Vanilla Java, and this massive imperial stout is a stronger, hoppier, maltier version of the classic Vanilla Java Porter"

Since nobody has reviewed it yet I guess I feel obligated to put in in.

A - Surprised in getting a solid two fingers of dark tan head. Pillow like and bountiful. The liquid itself is dark, just the way I like it. Lacing is pretty solid seems to be hugging the glass pretty well.

S - Kind of a one trick pony with mostly chocolate on the nose and moderate coffee. A slight bourbon booze tone is in the mix but not too in your face just faint in the background.

Letting this one warm up a while, at least till the head settles.

T - huh I get a weird sourness that I can't quite figure out takes the whole front of the beer, then a quick rush of chocolate and coffee quickly fall off the cliff of flavor. It does have a very slight sweetness to it with somewhat creamy tones but I can't get over the sour beginning. Maybe from the bourbon aging? After a while the sourness does get less noticeable leaving more of a roasted coffee finish but I can't say that I like it overall.

M - The best part of this beer is the ABV is completely invisible. I must say it drinks like a 6% medium bodied stout.

Overall it's just another mediocre beer that I was tricked into trying by a craft beer salesman and a guy with no taste. I did enjoy it in some time and kind of wish they just made a RIS instead of using the Java Stout as a base since it had tones of that mediocre beer. Worth trying if you like a beer with no body, a slight sour note, and a high octane ABV.

Might just be the best beer I had from them though so that is saying something

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2011 00:28:40 | More by DrDemento456

CaptDavyJones

New York

3.63/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a dark mahogany brown color from a 12 oz bottle.
Almost pitch black in the glass, with some light penetration. Becomes more and more translucent with every sip. For a RIS with 11% ABV I was expecting more darkness in the color.
One finger off-white head that dissipated fairly quickly.
Aroma is of chocolate malt balls with hints of coffee. One dimensional aroma to be honest.
Taste is likewise, there is a blast of coffee upfront that basically stays till the end. Hints of bitterness towards the finish. Slightly dry finish to this RIS. Pretty much a one-dimensional RIS when it comes to taste too.
Mouthfeel is a tad watery, which is not something I expected in a RIS. Makes me wonder if aging would add more to the character of this beer.
Overall, this is a decent RIS. Not sure if I would recommend this.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2012 19:43:23 | More by CaptDavyJones

soulfly1492

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Aroma: Chocolate, barley, toffee, alcohol, bready, some esters and hops.

Appearance: Pour pitch black, of course. One-finger, very dark head. Decent lacing and impressive retention.

Flavor: Sweet chocolate, grainy (barley & oats), coffee. I'm having a hard time detecting any hops whatsoever. Very slight bitter in the aftertaste, but nothing identifiable.

Mouthfeel: Full bodied, almost chewy. Nice and oily. Alcohol tingles the tongue. Slight carbonation.

Overall: Nice sweet/grainy taste. Lacking in balance due to the trace amount of bitter elements. I hate to say this, but it's too drinkable for an Imperial Stout. Could have been much more bold.

Note: I could not ignore that this brew smelled and tasted of spent gunpowder. Definitely reminded me of a morning at the sporting clays range. It wasn't really a bad thing, but it was just very curious.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2011 23:43:25 | More by soulfly1492

divineaudio

Michigan

3.68/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

bottled march 2010. tulip.

a - name does not lie, this beer is black. gave me an inch or so of dense tan foam that hangs around for quite a while.

s - big vanilla and chocolate aromas. faint port or sherry, faint cola.

t - big dark chocolate flavors with a more subdued vanilla sweetness. faint black coffee notes and dark fruits. angry roasted bitterness comes in toward the end to let you know this beer is serious. gets a little astringent as it warms.

m - heavier side of medium with lighter carbonation. very smooth and creamy.

o - i had some of these fresh and remember them being unpleasantly sweet, but at a little under a year old, this bottle is drinking just fine. atwater beers are hit or miss for me, but this one is pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2012 05:59:57 | More by divineaudio

gnemesis

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into chalice like glass on 04/10/2011.
Pours black topped with an off-white head with tan highlights. Good retention, and decent lace. Smells of chocolate and vanilla- i get a hint of tobacco and coffee. Taste is the same- reminds me of seafoam. Its good but not roasty at all- not how I like my imperial stouts. Medium body and low/medium carbonation. Good for Atwater but lacking the robust flavors that make for a good imperial stout.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2011 05:20:27 | More by gnemesis

GRPunk

Michigan

3.79/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

I've heard of a ZJ, I guess it's time to see what this VJ is all about.

Bottle notched J 13, poured into a Duvel tulip.

A- A normal pour created a 1-finger, brown head that settles down to a thin film and leaves really nice webs about the glass. The body is a dark brown that suggests near black through the middle of a full glass.

S- There's an initial waft of dried or stewed fruits, mostly raisin. Lighter chocolate and coffee at first. Roasted, toasty grains become almost charred at points. The char and chocolate increases. Vanilla sneaks in much later with some warmth.

T- Complex. 1st sip had that initial rush of raisin followed by a significant dose of milk chocolate. Chocolate really seems to be the major player here. I'm good with that. An injection of vanilla compliments nicely and increases as I drink. Hopping is present, though difficult to describe.

M- Full bodied as expected at 11%. Kind of a sticky sweetness. Fairly creamy.

O- What an odd beer. Not bad. Different. Similarities to Vanilla Java Porter. Vanilla is a nice touch. I like the way it compliments the chocolate aspects. Aroma doesn't really match the flavor. Good sipper. Maybe not my "favorite" RIS, but not a bad beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 21:16:26 | More by GRPunk

StoutHunter

Michigan

3.8/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

I got a four pack of Atwater VJ Black a couple weeks ago for $10.99 at The Lager Mill. When I was at the store I was told this just came in, I am a fan of their Vanilla Java Porter, so of course I had to try the imperial version of that beer. No visible bottling date, I know it is a 2011 vintage. Poured from a brown 12oz bottle into a imperial pint glass.

A- I am not a big fan of the label, it looks plainer then the porter and it should be more extravagant looking, but the sky line of Detroit in the background looks ok. It poured a nice jet black color that had some ruby edges when held to the light. It had two and a half fingers worth of fluffy tan head that died down to a thick lumpy layer that stayed the rest of the time and left some nice lacing.

S- The aroma of this beer is about the same as the aroma of the Vanilla Java Porter, but the chocolate is more pronounced and the vanilla aroma is slightly toned down. For being 11% I can't detect hardly any booze in the aroma. Smells good and about the same as its little brother.

T- This is where this beer differs from the porter. The malts are roasty and semi sweet but not as robust as I was expecting. In the porter the coffee is the dominating flavor, but in this brew it is all about the dark and bitter chocolate, the coffee and vanilla take a back seat to the chocolate. It had the same slightly acidic finish as the porter and does an excellent job at hiding it's alcohol, there is no way I would have ever guessed this was 11%, it is so well hidden it's dangerous.

M- Smooth and medium bodied, it was a little thinner then it should be, the porter had the same problem and I was hoping they would fix it with this brew. It was the highest carbonated RIS I have ever had, but it worked well with the thinner then average body of this beer.

Overall this was a good beer and one of the best beers I have had from Atwater. The aroma of this beer was almost identical to the porter and it also shared some of the downfalls that the porter did like the lack of body. Where this beer shines is in it's drinkability, by far the most drinkable RIS I have ever had. I have no clue how the guys at Atwater managed to cram 11% alcohol in this brew, it amazes me because both this and the porter have the same amount of alcohol presence in the flavor and this beer is almost twice as strong. This beer can't hang with the big guns in it's style it's just not robust enough, but the flavors are still good and the drinkability is amazing. I am not sure if I will get another four pack since I don't know how this beer will age, but if you like RIS's you should give this one a try, the flavors and aromas won't blow your mind, but its great drinkability will. Good job Atwater with some tweaking this beer could be epic.

Update, had the 2013 release and it's the same, no changes, the original rating stays.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2011 03:19:25 | More by StoutHunter

dogfishandi

New York

3.88/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz. bottle at cellar temp poured into a snifter. FEB 2010 notched on the label, i take that to be the bottled on date, so about 1 1/2 years old. purchased as a single at beers of the world in rochester.

pours out opaque black with a big huge billowy tan foamy cap. very nice retention, thick sticky lace everywhere. i wouldnt really say a creamy head, but looks fantastic.

not the biggest aroma. i detect some nice rich brownie batter like chocolate and a bit of vanilla that smells nice. behind that theres a little roasted malt and maybe some coffee.

kind of sweeter milk chocolate vanilla, a little chocolate cake. similar to many milk stouts ive had. some roasted malt, but its definatly not one of the main players like in most impy stouts. finishes with a solid bitterness that lingers a bit.

the mouthfeel just doesnt deliver enough. kind of weak body for this style. after you take a sip, it just doesnt really feel like you drank an impy stout. hardly any alcohol detectable, which has its advantages. slightly chalky.

overall, a decent beer, worth a single, but i wouldnt strive to get this again. almost tastes a little artificial, has some flavors in common with mokah and choklat. way better than the beer this was based on, the vanilla java porter, but i want some more malt.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2011 00:38:40 | More by dogfishandi

wifehatesthebike

Michigan

3.95/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Feb 2012 bottle.

Appearance is black black black with a creamy head.

Smell is lactic, slightly hoppy and sweet.

Taste is whole milk, marshmallows, with a bitter toasty end. Very smooth. Taste is similar to a Left Hand Milk Stout on steroids.

Mouthfeel is excellent. Substantial, smooth, creamy and chewy.

Overall I think this beer is much better than some reviews from previous years. It is a bit strange in that the alcohol is no where to be found. Tastes like. 7% beer, not 11%. not the typical Imperial Stout.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2012 02:48:47 | More by wifehatesthebike

korguy123

Ontario (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into snifter. Label is notched MAR12

A- Pitch black pour with hazelnut brown around the edges. Finger width, short lived off white head. Lacing is spotty.

S- Dark coffee, loads of char and leather, a touch of vanilla, brown sugar and licorice. Bitter dark chocolate.

T- Vanilla right up front, sweet brown sugar and black strap molasses. Dark chocolate and dark roasted coffee.

M- Medium to full bodied, creamy with a touch of carbonation. Alcohol is at a 0 with this. Well hidden.

O- I love vanilla in my beers, especially if it's done properly. Atwater Vanilla Java Porter is very good and this is just as good if not better.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2012 01:49:52 | More by korguy123

superspak

Michigan

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle into snifter, bottled Feb 2012. Pours pitch black color with a nice 1 finger dense khaki head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Some nice soapy lacing on the glass. Aromas of chocolate, vanilla, roasted malt, coffee, cola, earth, cream, dark fruit, and light smoke. Some nice aromas with good strength and balance. Taste of big milk chocolate, roasted malt, vanilla, cream, coffee, slight fruit, earth, and light smoke. Very small roasted bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of milk chocolate, vanilla, cream, coffee, and roasted malt on the finish for a good bit. Big malty flavors with good balance; and no cloying sweetness. Medium carbonation and fairly full bodied; with a very creamy, slick, and thick mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with hardly any warming present on the finish. Extremely smooth to sip on. Overall this is a damn nice and very unique imperial stout. A ton of chocolate flavors with good balance; and extremely smooth for being 11%. Really well done effort.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2012 02:16:32 | More by superspak

57md

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours solid black with only half a finger of head that quickly dissipated and left little lacing. Cherries are distinctly present in the nose. Taste is dominated by sweet chocolate and malt. Mild bitterness on the finish. This offering is quite tasty, but it lacks any hint of a roast profile (something that I see as a minimum standard for stouts).

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2012 08:54:31 | More by 57md