Night Stalker - Goose Island Beer Co.

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

4.23/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A-Pours a viscous, dark black. Minimal light penetration. Thinner tan head leaves light lacing freckles along the glass.

S-It really reminds me of an amped up Diesel from Sixpoint. Vegetal, green hops dipped in fondue chocolate. Mocha-coffee and piney hops. A hint of ash with a tiny whiff of dark fruitiness.

T-Again, it is very similar to a gargantuan Diesel. Piney, veggie and even some green onion hops draped it a viscous dark chocolate fondue. Also reminds me of the dark chocolate version of a Terry's Chocolate Orange; there is some citrus in there too.

M-Viscous and heavy. Soft carbonation. High bitterness. Booze is hidden quite well. Flavor lasts and lasts.

O/D-Yet another stalwart Stout by Goose Island. I love the hop expression here. Its pretty amazing how wide of a spectrum Goose Island can place their Stouts in terms of flavor. Although Goose Island's Stouts are dark and oily, the quality shines bright (cheesy final sentence makes this review completely invalid).

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 03:18:22 | More by VelvetExtract

chanokokoro

Illinois

3.18/5  rDev -22.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Poured from a 22 oz. bottle dated 11/19/12 into a Goose Island Brewpubs branded snifter

Pours midnight black capped by a dark tan one and a half finger fluffy head. Above average retention and splotchy lacing. Huge citrus hops, bakers chocolate, and hints of roastiness on the nose. Bitter pineapple upfront, largely unsweentened dark chocolate, and big bitter citrus rind and roasted malt. Full bodied, smooth, oily, and slightly syrupy mouthfeel. This beer's finish just doesn't work for me, intense and unbalanced. Not a terrible beer, but certainly not a brew I'm in a hurry to revisit.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 05:15:36 | More by chanokokoro

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.16/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled on 11/19/12

A: Pours an opaque very dark jet black in color with some light to moderate amounts of gentle carbonation and a light amount of dark amber highlights. The beer has a finger tall creamy very dark mocha head that slowly reduces to medium sized slightly thicker patch with some larger bubbles, a thin film covering the remainder of the surface, and a medium thick ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate aromas of dark roasted malts with some notes of licorice and chocolate. Over the top of the malts, there is a moderate amount of citrus/orange hops and a light amount of pine hops. Just a light hint of alcohol.

T: Upfront there are moderate amounts of roasted malts flavors with some light amounts of sweetness and just a touch of vanilla. There are moderate flavors of dark chocolate and some light notes of licorice as well. That is all combined with some moderate to strong flavors of citrus/orange hops and light to moderate flavors of pine hops. Moderate amounts of bitterness and just a touch of alcohol in the finish.

M: Full bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Smooth and creamy with a light to moderate amount of alcohol heat in the finish.

O: This is a bottle from the questionable batch but definitely no infection here so it clearly doesn't effect everything from 11/19/12. This is quite an enjoyable beer but definitely a big beer that needs to be sipped slowly and savored - not the easiest to drink since the alcohol is not as well hidden as I might have liked.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 01:04:14 | More by dbrauneis

MCain04

Illinois

3.44/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25

on tap into a 14 oz snifter

a: very dark. 1 finger tan head. good retention and lacing.

s: not a ton on the nose, but lots of hops. can smell some vanilla, some heat, some malty roasty character.

t: hoppy up front, then sweet. then alcohol. then and odd funky taste with soy sauce.

m: creamy, medium carbonation and a little sticky.

o: a beer than I've heard is best after a year. I plan to let my bomber age. I did not care for this beer fresh. heard rumors it's infected... I doubt it really is but it just is a very unique taste that isn't for everybody.

Serving type: on-tap

02-13-2013 01:30:57 | More by MCain04

paperkutt17

4.01/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I love almost every thing ive ever had form goose island and being from Chicago maybe im a little biased but I had a bottle of the supposed bad batch but to tell the truth it taste good and got the desired affect i was looking for so theres no bad review from this satisfied customer.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 03:25:57 | More by paperkutt17

ericlawton007

Connecticut

1.1/5  rDev -73.2%
look: 3 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

Was really hoping I got a good bottle. Did not happen as the smell was very much like the worst thing you could smell when expecting an imperial stout. While I cant fully explain what comes out in the aroma, the taste is all teriyaki and soy sauce. I contacted goose island with my bottle date and time stamp just so they could try and limit the people that wasted over 10 dollars on this and instead of letting me know that they were looking into this, they sent me a generic letter saying how they used different hops and it brought on a different taste from years past. They did not go on to explain why people who have tried multiple bottles from this years batch have tasted two really different beers. I would have felt better had they not emailed me a response back at all.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 01:28:38 | More by ericlawton007

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4.01/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thank you Steasy66 for yet another killer beer! Bottled 2/6/11.

Appearance. Pours thick and black with almost a finger of tan head.

Smell. Big citrusy hops and dark chocolate. There's some dark roasty malts as well but the hops and chocolate are the big players here.

Taste. Oranges and plenty of dark chocolate give way to some roasty malts and a little coffee and grapefruit.

Mouthfeel. On the low side of full bodied with medium-low carbonation.

Overall. Interesting beer with lots of flavour and big hops, even with some age. Very nice but would imagine the hops might be a bit much when fresh and in full force. This bottle was very tasty though.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 03:29:37 | More by Rutager

allenson21

New York

2.21/5  rDev -46.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

Now it all makes sense.

I bought this bottled last week at Whole Foods in Columbus Circle in NYC along with Sam Smith's Organic Chocolate Stout and the a 4-pack of the amazingness that is Founders Breakfast Stout. I had seen that Night Stalker was highly-rated on this site. As I do with many beers, I purchased it with no pre-research so that my taste/opinions of the beer remain unbiased.

Had a ROUGH hump-day at work and decided: instead of a snack/desert, tonight was the night for 22 ounces of 11.5% alcohol deliciousness. I headed straight for the Night Stalker bottle in my foyer.

I popped it open and poured. Jet black. The head took a few seconds to form but once it did it looked lovely: dark tan 2 finger head with rising carbonation. Lacing and it receded at about the rate that you would expect from an imperial stout.

Here's where the trouble began: I took a big whiff of it. Oh boy. Oh no. My first though: it's just an extra hoppy stout. Smell again: oh no, this smells infected.

I tasted it: ugh. But this is not the worst infection ever. The booze does a good enough job of concealing it. But there remains little actual taste. It's basically just sour, alcohol, hops, and hints of what could be: malty earth and chocolate (maybe I just really need a beer).

I sign on to Beer Advocate: lo and behold there's a problem with my batch. This leaves me with a sour taste in my mouth ;)

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 02:28:48 | More by allenson21

Seanniek91

New Hampshire

4.38/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a bomber into a Grey Sail pint glass. The "infected" batch.

Appearance- Blacker than black with thin mocha head that went very quick. No lacing.

Smell- Coffee. Bakers chocolate. Chocolate malts. Light hoppy notes. No booze. Very nice RIS smell.

Taste- Citrus hops up front, then tons of coffee. Lingering chocolate and coffee notes. Sweet chocolate malts. Great lingering tastes. Very mild booze comes through.

Mouthfeel- Smooth with mild carbonation. Not overly thick. A little sticky. Some warmth at the back of the throat. Could be a bit fuller in body.

Overall- This is a nice impy stout from Goose Island. Good thing mine wasn't "infected".

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 22:13:13 | More by Seanniek91

ironchefmiyagi13

New York

3.75/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

This bottle was of the controversial 11/19/12 batch

Upon opening and pouring into an oversized wine glass, I did notice the ester/lacquer/nail polish aroma, so I decided to let it sit for about five minute, swirling it every so often as to open it up. I have to say, it helped tremendously with the scent.

Aroma is not as sharp and inviting as the majority of Impy stouts I have tried. This beer is very 'green' and would do with sitting and maturing for a little while, just to mellow out the aggressive hops and overly sweet notes

That being said, I do believe this beer has potential, thus the fair grade for a beer I didn't get to enjoy Immediately and have to wait before it is truly enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 07:18:18 | More by ironchefmiyagi13

kevanb

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

22oz bottle poured into a Goose Island Chalice.

The beer pours a lovely jet black color, thick and fairly viscous in texture from the bottle, a thin, fizzy, caramel colored head appears briefly with poor retention and leaves behind no lacing. The aroma is peculiar, burnt, roast coffee, a touch of charred malt and rich chocolate with a bright bitter citrus layer, comes across a bit like a chocolate covered orange, but still a bit muddled and the balance is a bit rough. The flavors are just as interesting, lots of citrus and floral, hoppy notes straight away with lingering chocolate, a touch of coffee roast and toasted malt with just a bit of lingering stone fruit at the end. The flavors are much more cohesive than the nose, but I’m still not convinced the hoppy stout is a pleasurable style. The body is fairly rich, but a little light for an imperial stout, higher than average carbonation with a very dry finish.

Verdict: A interesting Imperial Stout from Goose Island, the hoppy, citrus elements feel a bit clunky and the cohesion is a bit lacking. Certainly an interesting experiment, but not one I’m interesting in seeking out again.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 05:21:29 | More by kevanb

mfavoino

Washington

4.21/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

2011 bottle number 1253 courtesy of Treebs. Thanks! Split three ways on 2/3/13.

A: Pours a thick black with some fizzy espresso colored head that turns into a rim around the glass.

S: Big burnt, roasty malt, molasses, coffee, smelling some of the booze hotness.

T: More coffee than I was expecting, roasted malt, grainy, a subtle herbal hop bitterness, booze as it finishes. Hops haven't totally diminished.

M: Medium to full-bodied with a touch of carbonation. Didn't feel too heavy. Some warming alcohol.

O: A very good stout from GI that held up well after two full years. I was surprised that I still got some of the hops. I have a 2012 bottle that I'm nervous to open because of all of the complaints of infection...

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2013 17:22:09 | More by mfavoino

weonfire

Kentucky

2.64/5  rDev -35.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.75

First this was bottle on 11/19/12- please take that into account.

A - Jet black. Small pencil head that dissipates in a minute or 2.

S - This is very odd. I smell gin. Pine. thats it.

T- Can even taste the pine. Add in roast, chocolate and almost a sour taste? that can't be right...

M- Full flavor. Excellent mouth. Does burn a bit down the throat as it goes down.

O- I'm not sure what to think. I think something may have gone wrong with the oxidization in the brew process of this particular batch of night stalker. Gin? not a beer flavor. Goose Island makes tremendous beers- something isn't right with this.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 04:28:45 | More by weonfire

CMUbrew

Michigan

4.23/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Bottled 3/08/10

Poured into a snifter

A: Pours about as pitch black as you can get. Doesn't look as viscous as some other big stouts, but it comes fairly close. Mocha head on top that fades to a ring fairly quickly.

S: Right away the initial scent consists mostly of dark fruits, more on the date/plum/fig side, not really raisins. Around this there is malt - dark and toasted, fruity alcohol, and a little hint at dark chocolate.

T: Flavors of dark fruit, dark toasty malt, amzingly a little bit of hop character - grapefruit, pine, grass, and earthiness. Esters and a little bit of charred malt and dark chocolate bring up the rear.

M: This is where Night Stalker shines for me. The feel is quite luxurious. Soft, smooth, and full-bodied, with a little bit of oily slickness to make it go down easy. Excellent.

O: Though I have not tried this beer fresh, I can say at nearly three years old this beer is still great. Anyone with a surplus of fresh bottles should put one away for a while. Though not mind-blowing, I think this is the most I've enjoyed a stout dominated by dark fruit flavors. Worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 06:18:53 | More by CMUbrew

dctriman

Virginia

2.35/5  rDev -42.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.25

I think I might have had a bad one. Funky flavors overpowered much of anything else. Bought in early January 2013 in downtown DC. Served at recommended temperature with appropriate glassware. Disappointed to say the least. Will try next year's batch, since I absolutely love BCBS and the variants.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 02:08:49 | More by dctriman

Stevedore

Wisconsin

3.65/5  rDev -11%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

(Note: my scoring system uses only whole numbers)

22oz bomber dated 11/19/12 1351 into a tumbler.

Aroma: Smelled really grassy right out of the bottle before the pour. Got me excited as it smelled like some IPAs do. After the pour, I get a noseful of earthiness and a little bit of black chocolate. Not a whole lot else though. Pretty average. (3)

Colour: Pretty much jet black, pours with a beautiful brown head that gets up 2-3cm and sticks around for a few minutes before dissipating, leaving traces at the edges. Laces seem to be particulate, sticking on the glass in discrete areas. Beautiful looking stout. (5)

Flavour: Actually pretty good, even with all the beatdown on this beer by BA about it being infected. Initially I get a kick full of thick teriyaki flavour which dominates this beer. The flavour somehow evolves from that initial burst of teriyaki to a brief middle with hints and hints of bitter black coffee and dark chocolate. Then I get a lot of earthy, grassy flavours at the end. Pretty good and very distinct from any other stout I've drank, but certainly not amazing like BCBS or Black Note and does not really have a whole lot of roasted malt flavour you'd expect from a stout. In scoring this, I'm going to go off my enjoyment of this experience. (4)

Mouthfeel: Thick-bodied and creamy, as I would expect. Rolls in smoothly with a bit of heat, soothing my throat. Average carbonation for an imperial stout. Aftertaste has a good amount of earthy bitterness that peaks after a few seconds and lingers for as long as a minute if I let it. (4)

Overall: This is a very weird beer and I don't know how to rate it as this is the first year I've tried a bottle. If I rate it for what it is and how I enjoyed drinking it, I think it is overall above average, which would be a 4. But I should be judging it against other Imperial Stouts, and this is where it just doesn't measure up, in fact it would be a 2 because I'm not getting a lot of the roasted malt character that Imperial Stouts usually bring. I'm glad to have tried this because the flavour profile is interesting- certainly not infected- and is actually drinkable. But it's not what I expect from beers such as Old Rasputin or FIS. I'm going to take the difference and give this beer a (3).

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 22:24:47 | More by Stevedore

beerhan

Ohio

4.45/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

2012 night stalker on draft...here's a review I never thought I would give so positive. To preface, I have never liked this beer in the past and ignored it since 2011.

A-not the prettiest beer, dark black with a foamy short lasting brown head

S-very piney and tropical fruity with a little leather and roasted aroma.

T-starts out with fruit notes actually. lots of pineapple and raisin with a hint of dark chocolate. As it warms, some anise and fennel shine through very strong.

M-very smooth for the alcohol, there is some bite as it warms however and it is not the most drinkable.

O-I was pleasantly surprised by how tasty this was on draft this year. I don't know about the infection if there really was any but I truly recommend seeking this out as it is tasty boozy and affordable.

Serving type: on-tap

01-26-2013 04:34:32 | More by beerhan

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

4.08/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Poured from 22oz bottle into tulip. Pours a deep pitch black color with nice tan head. Crazy amount of hop aromas here...super bittering, lots of roasted black malts, and a hint of coffee. Taste is not nearly as hoppy as the aroma. Some slight pine hops, but mostly bitter roasted malts, some coffee, and a slight bit of vanilla maybe?
Its a bit harsh/bitter, but overall a really nice hoppy stout.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2013 16:34:40 | More by DrinkSlurm

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.78/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

i dont get the appeal here so much. this is a very strange stout, and im not sure it all comes together quite right. pours dead black, midnight and impenetrable. lazy tan head on top, lots of big air bubbles. smells like a stout all right, some dark dark english malts, hint of coffee and oddly fresh herbs. the flavor is where it goes weird. i taste a lot of chopped sage, a very potent herb in its own right, and standing out with the alcohol definitely not in unision. theres also quite a bit more yeast that i think belongs in this style. its a little funky and smells old, like feet, and tastes like it belongs in a saison somewhere, not here. alcohol is intense, and the roast on the malt makes it finish bitter. not a huge fan of this, its component parts never join hands. heavy body, enough carbonation, and a severe alcohol sting. im glad i had mates a around to share this one with, a major let down for me. sage flavor in a stout? not for me.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 20:25:40 | More by StonedTrippin

vic21234

Illinois

2.71/5  rDev -33.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75

22oz bottle poured into a snifter. Bottled on date of 11/19/12.

A- Pours a pitch black color with a half finger of khaki colored head that quickly fades. Pours rather thin looking for an imperial stout.

S- I get mostly a coffee and chocolate malt aroma in the smell. Some hop presence is notable as well.

T- I was hoping I wasn't going to have a write a poor review after reading about the 11/19/12 infection thoughts, but this is not tasting right. Initially I get an overly hopped taste with some coffee flavors. The aftertaste brings some hop bitterness and almost a sourness. Not a fan.

M- Medium bodied, carbonated well, bitter and odd tasting.

I last had Night Stalker 2-3 years ago and thought it was ok. This one tastes off.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 00:49:34 | More by vic21234

bigfnjoe

Pennsylvania

3.96/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bomber into a Westmalle chalice. Bottled 11/19/12, 1630....with all of the infection talk, better drink it now instead of later

A- pours jet black with a half finger tan head that fades quickly and leaves some modest foam. That...is not a good sign early on

S- light roast, along with some mildly resinous hops. No signs of infection in the aroma, but nothing really outstanding either

T- not really getting any infection notes...piney hops and a decent bit of roast and chocolate. Tastes like...well, what I'd expect Night Stalker to taste like. A hopped up imperial stout. it delivers in that regard.

M- not an overly thick body...almost on the medium side. Interesting for such a big beer, but it works

O- not a favorite, but not a bad beer at all. I'm sure people will be running from the hills with all of the issues people are having with infections, but my bottle was fine...just not a top level beer on the level of BCBS IMO. Not that that's a bad thing, of course

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 00:34:54 | More by bigfnjoe

kylelenk

Michigan

2.38/5  rDev -42%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Poured 11.19.12 bottle into traditional pint glass. I've had Night Stalker before, albeit after a few beers, and wanted to give it a sober review with a cleansed palate.

A-What an average pour. The head wasn't quite as dark as you'd find on heavier stouts. Crept up and didn't hang around for too long till it dissipated and left a syrupy liquid underneath.

S-So much going on here to not be a little bias with infection rumors. With enough inhalation, you can begin to pick up the smokey malts I'm sure GI was shooting for. Unfortunately, they are quite hidden behind a sticky hop aroma and something to be only described as "off." I couldn't quite relate it to the teriyaki suggestions out there but there was something funky smelly.

T-Where the beer falls short. At $10-$15 a bomber, you'd expect something more. While I wasn't positive that the beer was infected, it didn't bring anything special with it to dinner. The hops were immediately overpowering for a stout. To call it a black IPA could be viewed as appropriate....even a Black DIPA.

M-Disappointingly thin for such a heavy hitter. Ideally, if I'm paying top dollar, I'd want to at least feel that it goes to the overhead and cost of production. Night Stalker feels like a cheap stout. It's thin on the mouth and leaves an utter rock in your stomach.

O-Pass. GI has some great stouts and unfortunately, "Non-BBA BCS," as it was suggested, falls way short. I'd hope to see they make improvements to this beer as a year-round RIS would be welcomes from the brewery.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 21:41:34 | More by kylelenk

WillCarrera

Illinois

4.11/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

22 oz bottle, bottled 11/19/12, poured into a snifter.

A- Pours black and thick looking with a finger of tan head, leaves some spotty lacing.

S- Interesting blend of dominant hops, which lend some grapefruit and pine aromas, and roasty coffee and chocolate aromas beneath.

T- Initial burst of grapefruit and pine, once this subsides some rich flavors of chocolate, molasses, roasted grain and coffee. The malt flavors manage to balance rich sweetness with roast very nicely. Leaves some nice lingering chocolate flavors on the palate.

M- Full-bodied, has a smooth, rich, creamy feel with a mild alcohol warmth on the end.

O- A tasty beer, manages to walk the hoppy stout walk pretty nicely. It's also surprisingly drinkable with really well-hidden booze. A nice spin on the Bourbon County base beer, this is definitely worth picking up, although stout lovers and people who aren't into hoppy stouts will prefer regular BCBS and its other variants.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 01:41:38 | More by WillCarrera

rfbenavi80

Missouri

1.79/5  rDev -56.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5

22oz bottle poured into a Deschutes Snifter. Been reading a thread on this site that is talking about a possible infection in these bottles. Who knows, lets see if it tastes good or not.
Bottled on 11/19/12. Going to guess that the 1324 is a time stamp.

A- Pours black as night with 2 fingers of mocha colored head that doesn't hang around too long but does leave some mild lacing.

S- Hmmm. Hoping that reading that thread did not sway my opinion, but this one definitely smells like soy sauce and teriyaki sauce. Man it really smells like somebody is cooking Asian food. Hoisin Sauce is in the mix also. There might be some pine needles underneath all those Asian sauces, but it is not front and center. Not sure how I feel about this, but I'll keep going.

T- Follows nose to the T. Wow, definitely an interesting beer. There is of course the overwhelming soy sauce flavor with out the salty kick, followed by the sweet flavors often found in Asian food. Hoisin comes to mind. Also the sauce on General Tso's Chicken comes to mind. Not all all getting any of the typical Imperial Stout qualities here. Just seems like a big mess of a beer.

M- Not near as silky and creamy an Imperial Stout should be. Moderate amount of carbonation.

O- Going into this with an open mind, and trying not to be tugged either way with the whole "infection" debate going on I don't think I'm impressed. Maybe they are infected, maybe they aren't, I can say this. I will not be buying another bottle of the 2012 version to find out. In no way do I see a comparison to the Bourbon County Brand Stout. It's hard to believe that this is the base beer. If there is no infection and this is what it is supposed to taste like I don't think that it would have the score on here that it does.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 03:49:14 | More by rfbenavi80

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

3.86/5  rDev -5.9%
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