Night Stalker - Goose Island Beer Co.

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

3.86/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Pours a solid black color with a decent khaki head that slowly dissipates to a cap on top. Smells of citrus and pine with chocolate caramel and toffee malts along with a faint roasted coffee aroma. The flavor is a resinous earthy and pine filled mix of rich chocolate and caramel with just a hint of roasted coffee. A hint of fruit and a touch of alcohol round out the flavor on this one. Medium to thick body with a light level of carbonation and a creamy silky smooth mouthfeel. This is a nice imperial stout, but my personal preference is less hop forward in a big chocolatey stout.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 02:47:37 | More by johnnnniee

316nuts

Alabama

1.73/5  rDev -57.7%
look: 4 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5

Distinct and overwhelming soy and/or teriyaki profile in both the nose and body.

Bottled 11/19/2012 followed by the number sequence 1410.

Purchased a 22oz bomber. Poured into a large Duvel tulip.

Color was midnight black. Nice tan head. Thinner than expected mouthfeel.

Upon pouring there was an outstanding and overwhelming soy aroma. Hops and licorice in the background. Didn't notice chocolate. Any roast has been overwhelmed by the soy.

I thought and hoped the flavor profile would change as the beer warmed, but it did not. Alcohol bite showed up some more, but the flavor changed in no appreciable regard.

I can only assume this is an infected bottle. If not, it is the most unusual and poorly executed stout I've ever encountered. Reading other reviews, it sounds like what I consumed is way, way off. I can only assume it's infected/bad in some regard. I've had other stouts that were just "meh" and Night Stalker was entirely different. Didn't pick up sour or "funky" notes, just straight soy.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 22:48:22 | More by 316nuts

sevenarts

New York

4.43/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Deep rich black, with a generous tan head that fades quickly and doesn't leave much lacing.

S: A top layer of piney hops floating over a base of chocolatey malts, coffee, dark fruit, and a good amount of booze. Smells rich and complex.

T/M: Complex blend of densely interwoven flavors: coffee, chocolate, hints of pine and citrus, a touch of bitterness, a bit of alcohol burn. Ends with sweet lingering coffee. Smooth and creamy with just a small bite from the combo of booze and hop bitterness.

O: A great hoppy stout with great interplay between the hops and the underlying imperial stout flavors.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 23:17:58 | More by sevenarts

brod25

New York

3.58/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottled on 11/19/12 #1647. Read the reviews about the infected batch on 11/19 before having this beer and although I didn't notice it to be as bad as some mentioned, I didn't like it as much as I did when I had one a few years ago. Either my tastes have changed or there is something a little off with this batch.

Pours jet black with a light brown head.

Aroma of dark chocolate, booze and raisins.

Tastes of dark fruits and roasted malts. Definitely an underlying sweet taste with a slightly smokey/teriyaki flavor. Didn't notice as much of a hop presence as I thought I would, although there was some bitterness from the hops.

Medium to heavy body with moderate carbonation.

Overall a decent beer but not as good as I remember it being a few years back.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 20:36:39 | More by brod25

MarkJBurch

New York

4.28/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottled on 03/06/10

This is a very sexy beer. Almost no head after being poured directly into the center of a dogfish snifter. A thin lace encompasses the beer, creamy and light brown.

I smell raisins, licorice, root beer.

Taste like a bitter dark chocolate with fruit undertones, plum or date. Very smooth, probably from the age, it warms the throat nicely. This is an intense stout with sweet characteristics. There is an essence of smoke present.

Feels very nice entering the mouth, a sharpness that mellows quite well. I can't stop sipping this. Salvation for the days fatigue.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2013 03:56:26 | More by MarkJBurch

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

2.35/5  rDev -42.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Bottle says 11.5%. 22 oz bottle poured into a Duvel tulip.

A: Pours a pitch black color. The head is a one finger light tan color with poor retention. There's splotchy hints of lacing left down the glass.

S: Hey, someone misplaced catty Simcoe hops in my imperial stout! That green, citrusy aroma is unmistakeable. Underlying roasted malts, tart fruits, and cocoa powder try to balance things out, but there's something oddly medicinal in the nose. Please don't carry over to the flavor...

T: It's not as harshly bitter as I feared...actually, it's too far in the opposite direction; more on that later. A bit of roasted coffee appears initially, before ending with a lot of bright fruit sweetness and a bit of booze. The finishing hops bring along a significant grapefruit presence - actually, the finish is downright candy like in its sweetness combined with the chocolaty, fruity flavors. It's just like biting into chocolate-covered grapefruit. Without a doubt, it's too sweet at the end of the day - I really need some roasted bitterness here (if not some herbal, piny hop qualities too) to balance out the citrusy/chocolaty nature. A bit of hop harshness appears when the beer warms up, which doesn't balance things any.

M: A bit thinner and more carbonated than I expected from the base of BCBS. The finish is quite sweet and lingering, which kind of kills the drinkability in conjunction with the booze presence. Despite the sweetness, it doesn't feel sturdy or substantial like it should.

O: Not what I was expecting. This comes across like a glorified citrus-and-chocolate dessert liquor instead of an awesomely balanced hoppy RIS; I REALLY wanted more hop and roasted bitterness. All the Simcoe dry-hopping gives it such a weird cloying flavor that's even a bit unpleasant. Time to cork this bitch up - no way I can drink this in a single sitting.

---

Readjusting my scores; I sampled about 1 oz. from another bottle (also dated 11/19/12) and it tasted exactly the same - there's far too much strange sweetness and offputting citrus character. I'm still torn on whether it's infected or just not very good, but I'm lowering my scores regardless. Two bottles tasting exactly the same doesn't bode well for this batch, if not the beer in general.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 04:27:32 | More by ThisWangsChung

SerialHiker

Illinois

3.1/5  rDev -24.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: Pours midnight black…tons of head formed and a thin layer of dark brown stuck around…very nice, solid head…(4/5)

Smell: Dark fruits and brown sugar right off the bat…next, I get chocolate (think milk chocolate minus the sweet lactose), roasted malts, chocolate liqueur, toffee, pine hops and alcohol heat…a good amount of alcohol heat…the smell is okay, very thick and rich, but the alcohol heat is too much and detracts from everything…(3.5/5)

Taste: It’s a lot like the nose, dark fruits in the beginning, roasted malt and earthy/piney hops in the middle with a sweet dark fruit finish…there is definitely an alcohol taste that’s very dominant, too dominant for my taste…(3/5)

Mouthfeel: Medium to heavy body with loads of carbonation…tons of fluffy milkshake that almost overwhelms the entire flavor in the beer…that’s unusual…a very chewy beer…it’s actually kinda hot on my palate…too much alcohol heat! (2.5/5)

Overall: It’s good, but way overdone…the alcohol content in this is way too much and completely overpowers anything else here…it’s a thick beer that I will be sipping on for a while, don’t expect to drink this with your buddies…this ain’t that type of beer…it’s a brew for a movie and casual night in with the lady where at the end you’ll probably be fairly buzzed and she’ll be all sleepy…it’s good (alright), but I was expecting an outstanding stout and got some kinda desert liquor…(3/5)

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 03:44:53 | More by SerialHiker

LtCracker20

Connecticut

4.03/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Pours a pitch black body with about a finger's worth of a tan head. Retention isn't bad, and holds on as a decent cap. Nice frothy lacing sticks around.

S- Black licorice up front, roasted malts, burnt bittersweet chocolate, also, a lot of piney hops in here a swell. Bottle does say it's a hoppy RIS. The hop aroma does almost mute the rest, though.

T- Taste is piney up front, then you get the roastiness and some bitter chocolate. Flavor is fleeting, though. It really doesn't stick around too long, I'm a little dissapointed in that.

MF- The body on this one is a little thinner than I would've liked, but the texture is silky smooth and that makes up for it.

O- Not great, but pretty good. Glad I finally got to try this and will probably try it again sometime.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 19:28:08 | More by LtCracker20

Gavage

New Jersey

4.43/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: pours a black color with a short dark tan colored head that dissipates quickly.

Smell: loads of roasted malts, dark chocolates, and alcohol are detecteable here.

Taste: roasted malt, dark chocolates, some coffee, prunes, pine, and some citrus provide a nice complex imperail stout. Bitterness is big and the alcohol is very warming.

Mouthfeel: heavy in body. Smooth at the start, smooth and velvety late with a long dry aftertaste.

Overall: very slow sipping beer - this one lasted a long time. Deep flavors get better as it warms. Really worth seeking this one out.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 23:39:13 | More by Gavage

davey101

Connecticut

3.58/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottled on 11/19/2012, #1514. 22 oz bottle into a GI wine glass.

A - Pours a pitch black body. One finger of light mocha foam . A swirl produces light lacing and some alcohol legs.

S - Dark roasted malts and chocolate blended with pine and grapefruit heavy hops. An almost danky finish with lots of booze. Light on the stout notes, comes off almost chemical like.

T - Roasted malts, coffee and chocolate are interrupted by a biting pine and grapefruit bomb. Awkward aftertaste of orange juice and char. Bitter and boozy.

M - Smooth and slightly syrupy with a great level of carbonation. A bit harsh and boozy.

O - I seemed to enjoy this a bit more on tap. Sitting down with a glass I am now less than impressed. A black IPA that seems to have a bit too much hop punch which overwhelms the great base beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 03:37:25 | More by davey101

yamar68

Minnesota

4.43/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

2010 vintage:

Near pitch black body with a slight edge of ruby clarity, milky quarter inch of soft brown head retains perfectly and produces thick oily lacing. Gorgeous. Couldn't improve on this beer in this regard.

Mmm... caramel, fruit cake, coffee liqueur, cocoa... incredibly smooth without a trace of booze. An extremely faint sense of oxidation only compliments the sweeter fruit notes.

Nice. I sampled this vintage a few months ago and it was pretty damn oxidized, not the case here. The booze is more pronounced than the nose would indicate but it doesn't overwhelm, caramel coffee, bitter dark chocolate, it's a slow sipping delight of a beer.

I could see this one developing even more for years to come. Great stuff.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 01:48:16 | More by yamar68

BrownAleMale

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22oz bomber bottle poured into a Gulden Draak tulip glass

Appearance- Everything you want in an Imperial Stout. It is a slick looking jet black with 3 fingers of froathy khaki head that dissipates very slowly and leaves a thick multi layered lacing.

Smell- Lots of piney hops with some coco and dark chocolate undertones.

Taste- In the front of the toungue you get a combo of the dark chocolate and piney hops and then mid way you get a whisky/sherry taste with a nice warming.

Mouthfeel- On the lighter side of full body with a silky smoothness and nice warming both on the back of the tongue and belly.

Overall- Goose Island releases both this and Big John at about the same time and they both have an interesting similarity. Big John drinks kind of like a wine towards the backend and Night Salker drinks like a sipping liquor towards the end. I definitly give Night Stalker the advantage because of its complexity. A very interesting take on an Imperial stout!

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 07:05:29 | More by BrownAleMale

PicoPapa

Connecticut

3.78/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle with a Bottled On date of 11/19/12. Pours a pitch black color with over an inch of thick, frothy dark brown head. Lots of lacing. Aroma is very hoppy with some roasted malts and chocolate. Maybe hints of beef jerky? The taste is some pine and citrus hops, smoke, roasted malts and bitter dark chocolate. Boozey. Definitely reminiscent of a Black Ipa (namely the Stone 15th Anniversary). Heavy mouthfeel. Rich and smokey at the end. Overall, decent but perhaps slightly disappointing.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 04:07:59 | More by PicoPapa

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

3.88/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bomber poured into a snifter
2012 release. 11/19/12. 11.5 abv.

A- Pours syrupy pitch black like motor oil. a half finger of a brown head with very little retention. An intimidating stout.

S- A boatload of hops on the nose. A ton of pine an citrus fruit. Roasted malts, toffee and some chocolate. A strange and potent mixture of a black IPA and a stout.

T- An intense bitterness at first. Followed up by a sticky smooth roasted malt. The hops are very strong in this beer. A lot of pine and citrus flavors dominate that palate and mix very interestingly with the malts. The hop flavors and bitterness push this huge beer towards the Black IPA category more then imperial stout. There is a lot of roasted malt which gives the beer a dry feel but the flavor is mostly hops.

M- A thick, yet bitter and drinkable stout. It's about what you would expect in terms of size. The beer has a great overall feel. If you can do hoppy beers this is a good one.

O- This beer is good, dont get me wrong but I find it to be and odd mix between a Black IPA and a stout and doesn't seem to excel in either category in terms of taste. Feel and drinkability are this beers strong suit. Worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 00:19:42 | More by TwelveOunces

ckollias

Maryland

4.13/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed this 750ml bottle out of a Beligian tulip glass.

A: Pours a pitch black hue with a thick, brown, 2-finger head that slowly dissipates down the side of the glass and ends in solid lace.

S: Strong malty and hoppy aroma with a huge whiff of alcohol.

T: Dark rich ale with agenerous syrup sweetness. Strong alcohol tones with almost like a wood quality. Chocolate, caramel, and roasted malt background. Lots of hops and finishes on the sweet side.

M: Very strong and boozy. Thick body and medium carbonation.

O: Excellent Imperial Stout. Nice sipping beer at 11.5%. Complex flavors and aromas. I like everything about this beer except the price.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 02:28:53 | More by ckollias

vonnegut21

New York

3.53/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

2012 bottle poured into a tulip.

A: Pours a thick, deep black with a finger of mocha head that quickly fades. Crazy lacing on this one.

S: Big hop presence up front. Wow. Bitter chocolate and roasted malt follow, but this is a hop bomb in the nose. If I hadn't just poured this, I would think it was a glass of Black IPA.

T: Dark chocolate and a strong punch of bitter hops. Roasted malt, coffee and hints of caramel. There's actually a really interesting raisin/prune/sherry flavor that comes through at the back of this thing. It's kind of nice. Unfortunately, the hops blow it away. I'd love to give this a try with a year or two on it.

M: Really nice thick, creamy mouthfeel. Nicely carbonated and super smooth. The best aspect of this beer.

O: This is a perfectly adequate imperial stout, I guess I just had higher hopes for this beer. Not bad, but probably not worth the price of admission. I'll revisit a vintage bottle eventually, but otherwise I'll probably go elsewhere for my imperial stouts.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 00:15:15 | More by vonnegut21

Teleweizen2

New Jersey

3.73/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours a thick chocolate sauce-like deep brown color. Just a touch of deep tan foam bubbles up from the murky liquid. Does leave some lacing against the glass after some swirling.

S - the nose is deep, complex and earthy. Notes of grainy cereal, cacao, and even hints of tar or dirt are first noticeable. Brown butter and tree bark as well as biting grapefruit, mango fruit, resin and sticky pine round out the aroma.

T - Dark chocolate sauce flavor up front. Bitter citrus rind flavors enter the in the middle as well as piney resin. Flavors meld into very dark and dried fruit character such as raisins, prunes, and dates. finish is long, bitter and chocolaty.

M - full bodied but creamy and buttery but overall very smooth. medium carbonation has enough scrubbing power to keep you wanting another sip.

O - Interesting beer. I've had some hoppy stouts before but this one seems a bit odd. The flavors and aromas don't add up to me as it warms. It is unplesant in a pruny sort of way at times, not sure if this is a not a great bottle or perhaps it was mishandled or something. But as far as this bottle goes it was nice to try but not something I'd probably seek out again.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 07:27:54 | More by Teleweizen2

boilermakerbrew

Indiana

4.38/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- Pours a viscous, thick black into a Founders snifter. A dense, chocolatey brown head forms about 1 finger thick. Retention and lacing is great. Overall, a delicious looking brew.

S- Lots of hops and chocolate. My first hoppy stout, and the hops are very apparent upon opening. Mostly pine aromas from the hops are present, mixed in with lots of chocolate flavors. Chocolate is very dark, with only slight sweetness and some lingering bitterness in the scent.

T- Just like the scent, except more complex. Starts with a brief moment of pure hop flavor. Full bitterness hits the tongue, but is not overpowering. Immediately following is the classic burnt malt flavors of a stout mixing in with dark chocolate flavors. When these flavor mix with the hops bitterness, a slightly fruity flavor emerges. It's a dark fruit flavor, maybe a deep grape to prune flavor. Hops bitterness lingers throughout the drink, and ends the drink with a slight bite and a little lingering aftertaste.

M- More like an IPA than a stout on the palate. Not as thick as most stouts, and pretty highly carbonated. Heat from the alcohol is present towards the end of the drink and provides a little burn on the way down, but nothing too bad. While not being too thick, the beer is smooth.

Overall, this is an interesting and different stout. I'm not sure if I'm a huge fan of hopping a stout a lot, but it does provide a different drinking experience. This one reminds me of a black IPA more than a hopped up stout because of the more prominent burnt malts over the chocolate. Not sure if I'd go hunting for this one again, but as it is a GI imperial stout for under $10 a bomber, it is a solid value. Definitely a stout to experience at least once.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 01:20:59 | More by boilermakerbrew

jtierney89

New Jersey

2.3/5  rDev -43.8%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pitch black sticky light brown head. Looks like the head on a cream of muschroom soup, thick and solid.

A lot different nose than expected. Suprising amounts of tropical fruits from the hops. Roasted malt underneath, some coffee and chocolate. Lots of stuff coming at me.

The Fruity hop flavor doesn't come across as much on the nose which is good. Huge creamy mouthfeel, first taste that comes to mind is licorice. A strange thick malty sweetness up front, rich roasted character throughout. Hop bitterness through with bright fruits on the back end. Tastes like a candy bowl with chocolate covered fruit in it but in a bizarre way. Big bitterness but finishes semi sweet. Long tannic finish with flavors lingering for a while. not a great beer and definitely needs a hardy meal to accompany it.

Kind of gets perfumey, really hard to drink without food, feel like the hops and malts aren't exactly melding, plus there's an odd meaty, bloody, soap like taste underneath it all

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 01:03:49 | More by jtierney89

BlurryVisi0n

New York

4.65/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served in a snifter glass. Fresh bottle dated 11/19/2012.

Appearance: Pure darkness, can't call it an absolute black but definitely up there. Hard to see any bubbles (which makes sense) but you see the obvious carbonation when pouring. The head itself is dark tan, not super thick but rose enough not to drizzle off the glass to maybe 1/3".

Smell: It smells very good, light alcohol scent with a chocolate hint that lingers a little. It is a little light, I just wished it was a notch stronger.

Taste: Real rich molasses feel without the sweetness, a pleasantly bitter beer. You taste the alcohol but seriously smooth

Mouth: Has a lightly bitter milk chocolate after-taste, not to mention how smooth. Medium at best and just right.

Overall: Before even taking a sip because of the fact it looked so good, I took a deep a gulp and honestly incredibly impressed. Honestly this is one of the best imperial stouts I have had if not the best and yes I have had a lot! As far as taste is concerned and I will grab a glass of my other two favorite imperials (just to compare), but this brew is a true f'n gem. Salud!

P.S. Will pick up two more bottles tomorrow, one to age and another for my birthday.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 06:09:58 | More by BlurryVisi0n

WankelEngine

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22oz bottle into a GI Chalice
Bottled on date: 11/19/12

A: Pours a dark, black color, just a shade lighter than the standard Bourbon County. There is a small mocha-tan head which fades to a tiny ring of foam.

S: The aroma consists of an interesting roasted notes and piney/floral hops. Some dark fruit, figs and raisins contrast the sharper herbal and pine scents. A sweet combination of coffee and brown sugar becomes apparent as the beer warms up.

T: The flavor takes the aroma and expands on it. The roasted notes are deeper. I can pick out dark, bitter chocolate and some brewed coffee. These combine with some strong notes of pine which gives the beer a decided bitter edge. This is balanced somewhat by a thick, malty sweetness. Brown sugar, molasses, dark cherry and raisins. The finish is long and lingering, heavy on the roasted coffee and pine.

M: Fairly moderate in body for the style. Low carbonation and somewhat sticky.

O: A very interesting beer. Highly hopped for an imperial stout. I like the interaction between the flavors although some friends disagree.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 02:09:14 | More by WankelEngine

harrymel

Washington

2.08/5  rDev -49.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Bottled: 19NOV12, reviewed 18DEC12

This is the freshest I've had this beer, and it's not a good thing. latest score based on latest bottle.... Pours black with a finger of nice mocha foam. Smells, like it's got sage, fruity pebbles, molasses and more sage and burnt rosemary (scorched). Nose is aberrant and sufferable. Taste is mostly dark malts, molasses, licorice, and bitter hops with some grapefruit. Medium bodied with moderated carb and a dry finish. This beer has waaay too many hops and is really dreadful right now.

on 14JUL11 - 3/3.5/4/4/4 - 3.85
Side by side of 2010 and 2011
2011: Pours a black ale with a transient mocha head which is less than a finger. This falls to nada leaving a slate surface. (3)
2010: Pours black ale with a single finger of mocha head which falls to a solid sheet of the same. No lacing. Clarity difficult to assess. (3)

2011: Smells hot, alcoholic. Hops are strong and resinous. Hints of roasty malts and a small molasses tone underneath. Man, I can't believe this has so many hops. Reminds me of Black Flag by Beer Valley. Lots of hops. (3.5)
2010: Alcohol is strong here. There are plenty of graham, malt, toasty tones with some prunes. A little bit of pepper on the nose. (3.5)

2011: Wow, the molasses is super strong on this. Plenty sweet with good hop presence, accented by some alcohol. The sweetness has some high quality quad tones to it: dark stone fruits, molasses, graham. (4)
2010: Rich and sweet. Molasses comes through even more than in the 2011. Graham crackers, brown sugar, licorice. This is super sweet. Not as sweet as Dark Lord, but sweet nonetheless. This would be great in the dead of winter. (4)

2011: Thick and chunky. Low carb. Long syrupy finish. (4)
2010: Viscous. Smooth with low carb. The finish is softly dry with a long velvet finish. (4.5)

2011: Good beer, wish the nose was a little more in line with the flavor profile. The alcohol seems a bit strong as well. (3.5)
2010: This is much better with a year on it. The alcohol has died down a bit and offered up a nice beer. (4)

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 05:45:51 | More by harrymel

steelerguy

New York

2.73/5  rDev -33.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Wow...I either got a bad bottle or this beer just does not agree with me.

A - No head, a touch of lacing on top if you tease it out. Dark brown, with a bit of mahogany around the edges.

S - Boozy with some burnt citrus.

T - Smoke, lots of smoke. The citrus hops try to come through, along with some dark fruit, but I get the overwhelming flavor of smoke It is like grapefruit and some cherries were thrown into a smoker and burnt, then put into a beer. A lot of sweetness remains, a bit of alcohol and bitterness with an acrid bite.

M - Thick and smooth, coats the mouth with a good deal of alcohol warmth. Unfortunate that it coats your mouth nicely with a not so great flavor.

O - While it looks good and has a nice feel, this beer is totally out of balance. Like a RIS that has not been fermented and an IPA mixed with some burnt logs from a fireplace. Not sure I can finish this bottle, so very disappointing coming from Goose Island.

*Edit 11/19/12 bottle here also...seems like this batch is just off.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 02:52:18 | More by steelerguy

ksimons

New York

4.23/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-very dark brown with a fingers worth of tan head

S-I knew this was going to be a hoppier beer, but wow, still was not expecting that smell! Lots of grapefruit and pine with a light bit of roasted aroma.

T-the hops aren't as present in the taste, but there is still a lot of pine and grapefruit notes with a bit of citrus fruit with a decent amount of roasted malt, coffee, and dark chocoalte. Alcohol not noticeable.

M-full body, medium carbonation, very smooth, leaves a dry roasted flavor in the mouth

Overall a very different tasting beer, definitely seems like a combination of RIS and an IPA. Very interesting taste, I like it a lot.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 23:59:50 | More by ksimons

justintcoons

Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

Poured into a wine glass.

Appearance
Pitch black with no light penetration. Nice brown head with good retention. Good amount of carbonation drifting up from the side of the glass.

Nose
Grapefruit, pine, lemon zest, toffee, Tootsie Roll, burnt sugars and some booze.

Taste
Grapefruit, pine, lemon zest and Fruity Pebbles are at the forefront. Tons of toffee. Tootsie roll, dark candy syrup and a touch of butterscotch. Finishes with fudgey dark chocolate, dark roast coffee and burnt sugars.

Mouthfeel
Medium-full bodied, warming, syrupy and oily.

Overall
This really doesn't have my favorite flavor combinations. A mediocre DIPA mixed with a super sweet RIS. Bad by no means but I wouldn't purchase it again.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 05:31:48 | More by justintcoons