Big John - Goose Island Beer Co.

Kendo

New York

3.93/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A: Poured from the bomber into a Piraat tulip/snifter-type glass - straight down the middle and with a modest aggressiveness when at first it seems too thick to create a head. Boy was I wrong - a chocolate-brown head builds upwards from the thick, black body, finally settling at about 2.5 fingers of thick, foamy, chocolate-meringue or moose-like head. Leaves behind thick lacing.

S: Chocolate and booze. Also some dried fruit - mainly raisins.

T: First impression: flavors don't come together like I was hoping/expecting. There's chocolatey malt and cocoa powder up front, but it finishes with a strong sense of alcohol and the warming booziness is felt quickly on the way down into the belly. Molasses is noted toward the back of the sip. Little or no real bitterness to offset the chocolate and overall sweetness. Vinuous at times, with a port-like raisiny taste buried in there somewhere. This bottle is uber-fresh given the born-on date of 12/5/12, or else I'd be wondering if it hadn't aged a bit given that port-like taste. After a few sips, however, everything beyond the chocolate and booze tends to be subdued.

M: At first blush it seems a bit too thin for the big flavor profile of chocolate and booze, but after a few sips I think it's OK. Call it medium in heft though - despite the motor-oil-thick appearance on the pour, it's not full-bodied at all.

O: Decent. Was hoping for better, but the price was reasonable and this isn't bad. A little too boozy at 11.5% ABV. . . .

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 01:48:08 | More by Kendo

bonkers

New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I poured from a bottle into a snifter. The pour is jet black, thin tan head, light lacing. The aroma is full of chocolate, dark roasted malts. The flavors mimick the aroma, also hints of licorice, finishes with a lingering chocolate malt. The beer is full bodied, hints of alcohol, definite sipper. Glad I was able to try it, good big stout.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 00:25:14 | More by bonkers

PicoPapa

Connecticut

4.11/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

22oz bottle with a Bottled date of 12/07/12. Pours a dark black color with over an inch of frothy brown head. Aroma is boozey and chocolatey. Not sweet but more of a bitter dark chocolate. Earthy with hints of smoke. The taste is of hot cocoa mix and chocolate syrup. Nice alcohol presence. Earth and bitter dark chocolate at the finish. Very chocolatey. Heavy, syrupy mouthfeel that goes well with the flavors. Pretty drinkable considering the high Abv and the amount of chocolate flavor but I did down a bottle of water with this one. I think I may like this one better than Night Stalker. Overall, solid beer worth grabbing again.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 04:28:52 | More by PicoPapa

davey101

Connecticut

4.33/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

2012 vintage, bottled 12/7/2012 #1445. 22 oz bomber into a GI wine glass.

A - Pours a nice dark black body. Initial two fingers of light mocha foams fades into a thin cap with nice edging. Thick lacing with zero retention. A swirl has a layer of alcoholic legs above the foam.

S - Very different from the taste. Its certainly a cocoa presence, but with an almost cherry and nutty thing going on. Bitter and roasty chocolate malt. On the end is some rich chocolate fudge and vanilla. Very sweet.

T - Oh man! Where to begin!? This is one of the richest and most genuine chocolate flavors I've ever experience in a beer. I'm not talking "lolol, Hersheys bar in a beer" chocolate, I'm talking hardcore balls to the wall gourmet chocolate. Starts off lightly bitter, then comes a wave of dry cocoa powder...and it does taste "dry" somehow. Then the beer goes through a roller coaster of sweet, roasty, nutty, rich, grainy and chewy. Throw in a dash of vanilla and cherries and you have yourself one decadent and insanely chocolaty chocolate stout. It so rich and strong, but never too sweet or too much. Coffee or roasted malts? Nope...chocolate occupies everything here. So imagine dipping your tongue into cocoa powder fun dip style, and then taking a sip of a rich and silky stout. This is that experience.

M - Thick and syrupy with a medium to high level of carbonation. Zero alcohol presence.

O - Amazing, amazing, amazing beer. Seriously wowed by the chocolate profile it had. So god damned tasty!

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 04:26:35 | More by davey101

JoEBoBpr

Missouri

4.39/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Poured into a tulip glass from a 22oz bottle.
Bottled: 12-07-2012

Pours a thick and viscous dark dark liquid with a nice one inch tan head. The head is creamy and dense.

Aroma starts off with intense creamy milk chocolate notes as well as nice dark cocoa bitterness. There is some slight roast to the nose as well. There is some slight anise/licorice note to the nose as well. Very nice.

Flavor starts off with some great cocoa notes. Milk chocolate and some intense dark bitter chocolate. There is some mild roast and coffee notes that are behind the cocoa notes as well as some slight dark fruit notes in the background as well as some slight molasses notes to it. The roast plays perfectly with the chocolate notes. This brew has some awesome and delicious chocolate notes. Mouthfeel is tremendous, thick and oily and very filling. It coats the tongue perfectly.

GI really did a job on this stout. It is incredibly thick and creamy and very full bodied with an amazing mouthfeel. The coca notes are amazing, like rich fudgey cake. Great roasted finish that is sticky as well.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 01:46:38 | More by JoEBoBpr

BEERMILER12

Maine

4.2/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Bottled 12/07/12

A: Pours a pitch black color with 1/2 a fingers worth of tan head that is reduced to a thin cap

S: Big and roasty, with some dark chocolate, dark fruits, and light coffee. Alcohol comes through minimally

T: Follows the nose. Huge maltiness that combines roast, dark chocolate, and caramel come through the most, backed by some nice dark fruits and more of a sweeter chocolate from the nibs. Alcohol evident, but plays a major back seat in the flavor department

M: Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation. Creamy and smooth

O: A very nice Imperial stout with just enough chocolatey goodness coming through. Not sweet by any means, but pushing the it in that aspect. Average on the price, at $9.99 a bomber, but it is 11.5% and a solid imperial stout

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 06:40:21 | More by BEERMILER12

beerluvr

New Jersey

3.84/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Big Boozy John, drunk from a Victory snifter: a black as night pour with a thin light brown head that doesn't stay around long. Big malt nose with the requisite Imperial Stout aromas of roasted chocolatey/burnt coffee. Plummy dark fruits on the tongue with roasted malts, some not-over-the-top hoppiness and an alcohol burn at the end. Not a bit of the cocoa nibs talked about on the label but good all the same. Finishes long and strong, more dark fruit ending on a bitter note. Bottled on 12/07/12 and would benefit from some careful cellaring but I can't fault it for being sampled in its younger state. One to keep an eye on.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 06:05:02 | More by beerluvr

zaphodchak

Virginia

3.93/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thin orangey head, unctuous, oily black pour.

Smells like chocolate cookies, and a trace of roasty coffee.

Big roasty taste, bold and pretty darn well balanced. Lots of sweetness, almost molasses, but balanced by some serious bittering hops. A tad acrid, but I'm having this pretty fresh. Aftertaste lingers.

Oily. Straight up flip-the-milkshake-upside-down thick.

Like I said, big and really, really bold. Probably one to share. Definitely want to have with a glass of water. But pretty well balanced for what it is. Probably gets better around the 6mo mark-- bottle says it ages for a year (implying not longer). You'd need good cellar conditions anyway to keep this from turning into Kikkoman.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 03:55:55 | More by zaphodchak

MJasLee

New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Poured into a snifter glass, Big John is quite dark with very little light making it through the glass. It produces a large, tan head which sinks back into the beer quickly. Though it receded quickly, the head remained at about a ¼ of an inch until the beer was gone.

The nose, while not hugely expressive, wafts bittersweet chocolate, surprisingly noticeable alcohol, roasted malt and dark fruit. The aroma is reminiscent of many chocolate liqueurs

The beer is very-full-bodied, viscous and syrupy. It’s very smooth with very little carbonation. Chocolate notes are prominent, but not overwhelming with assertive dark fruit flavors, notably raisins and figs. Molasses and vanilla bean are also noticeable flavors. It finishes rather dry, with some hop bitterness to balance out the sweetness brought on by the chocolate. Heat from the alcohol coats the tongue for a few seconds after swallowing.

Though surprisingly boozy, Big John makes for an excellent dessert beer. I could see the alcohol calming down a bit after a few months in the cellar. Sweet, but not overly so, this is a fantastic beer with which to end the day on a cold winter night.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 00:03:02 | More by MJasLee

jtierney89

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

pitch black with a 2 finger brown head. smells like bourbon county but without the bourbon and a bit more chocolate. the nose itself is kind of muted for such a big brew. black chocolates roasted malt faint woodiness with a very small touch of licorice and dark fruit.

tastes rather nice, like a De- bourboned bcbs, lots of good flavors rich dark chocolate giant syrupy mouthful nice underlying bitterness. bit of cola licorice and earthy dirt. well blended and rills over the tongue quite nicely. without the bourbon barrell aging the beer has a bit more detectable alcohol even though it is lower in abv. overall a nice imperial stout that showcases the rich great malt body that bans has.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 04:56:58 | More by jtierney89

mjpolzin

Wisconsin

4.34/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

I am glad I bought this beer! I was going back and forth on picking this one up. I kept thinking: I have way too much beer at home so I don't need more, I should spend money on my homebrewing instead of buying more beer, if I am going to buy beer, I think there is other stuff I want more. I had plenty of reasons not to pick this one up but something persuaded me to buy it. The other strange thing is that I drank it right away as I usually sit on big beers like this for months or years at a time. To repeat my first sentence of this review, I am glad I bought this beer! This beer was one of my favorite imperial stouts ever which is tough to say since I have had a lot of good ones. I guess now I have to go buy more Big John for cellaring purposes.

A lot of Imperial Stouts (Russian or American) are very roasted or hoppy tasted when they are fresh and mask the dark fruits, liquorice, malts and chocolate that I love to taste in an Imperial Stout. With Big John, the flavors I love were present with a fairly fresh bottle (only a few months old). I didn't pick up much cocoa in the taste or smell like the marketing tells me that I should. But as I just said, all of the other flavors that I love were there and this beer was damn smooth as it went down pretty easy. It essentially tasted like a Bourbon County Stout without the bourbon. This was for sure one of the better imperial stouts I have ever had and I hope I can pick up another bottle to cellar.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 06:06:53 | More by mjpolzin

EkimGram

New York

4.23/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: 650mL bottle poured into a large snifter as recommended by the label. Colour is a very deep and dark brown, toffee coloured ring for a "head". Has a bit of a reddish hue to it.

Smell: Tons of roasted and burnt malt, sweet cherry-chocolate, and a touch of alcohol.

Taste: Rich chocolately goodness with a mellow malt backing. Sweet but not cloyingly. Fruity, similar to dark cherries or raspberries.

Mouthfeel: Full body is surprisingly light, soft, silky, and smooth. Very mild level of carbonation. Finishes sticky.

Overall: This brew creates its own class of Imperial Stout. What is usually a massive roasted punch this shows off the more delicate side the style is capable of. Almost a little too sweet but that is forgivable.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 03:37:57 | More by EkimGram

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4.04/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

3/25/11 bottle. Thanks Dobby!

Appearance. Pours very deep brown, black in the glass with half a finger of espresso foam head.

Smell. Sweet dark chocolate, some smooth booze and molasses, a little coffee and licorice. Smells like a big chocolate stout to me!

Taste. Lots of dark chocolate along with some molasses and a little black licorice with some dark coffee and roasty malts in the finish. Sweet, but not overly as the smell suggested. Pretty nice stuff here!

Mouthfeel. Full bodied, slighlty syrupy and a bit sticky with medium-low carbonation. It all suits the beer pretty well.

Overall. A nice big stout with all the classic flavours as well as that extra chocolate. Great for desert.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 03:35:23 | More by Rutager

MaximalC

Illinois

4.44/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Pours nearly black with a meager head of mocha foam that barely manages to exist, even with a moderately vigorous pour. Aroma smells of dark fruit, molasses, and booze with some roast and dark chocolate thrown in. Flavor here is absolutely massive--you can almost taste it before it hits your lips. Molasses, dark fruit, caramel, chocolate, oak, roast, and an abundance of alcohol that melds in such a way that it manages to come off more luxurious than overbearing, which is a feat considering the massive ABV. The oaken vanilla character facilitates a slow, smooth finish that is succeeded by a robust haze of roasted chocolate and booze that lingers nearly indefinitely--truly impressive.

The mouthfeel is thick and slick, complementing the flavor profile perfectly. Palpable stickiness lingers on the lips from the very first sip. This is everything an artisanal imperial stout should be--big, complex, powerful, decadent, assertive, smooth--I could go on. It may not be for everyone in light of the prominent alcoholic presence, but for an imperial stout afficionado, this brew is a pleasure.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 02:17:30 | More by MaximalC

justintcoons

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22oz bottle poured into a snifter.
$13.99 in PA

Appearance
Pitch black with a brown head that dissipates quickly. Thick film clings to the glass.

Nose
Dark chocolate, fudge, black licorice, booze, roasted barley, molasses and scorched sugar.

Taste
Syrupy sugars, fudge, toffee and molasses. Dark chocolate, black licorice and cocoa nibs. Tons of roasted barley. Touches of alcohol heat, cherry cordial and burnt chocolate. The finish is charred and earthy.

Mouthfeel
Full bodied, oily, syrupy, chewy and warming.

Overall
Tons of chocolate and candy sugar. Big, thick and syrupy sweet. Great sipper.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 20:07:19 | More by justintcoons

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4

A-Pours black. Almost no light penetration. Nice viscosity. Head is attractive as well. Beige colored head holds its stature for almost a full minute before dying off to a thin seam of bubbles. Crowns and whips of lacing.

S-Roasted coffee and a deep, fudgy milk chocolate note (thanks cacao nibs). Flat root beer and burnt barley. There is also a semi-vegetal, earthy hops note. Hops smell drizzled in melted milk chocolate. Also some dark fruit too. Interesting nose.

T-The flavor brings forth much more dark fruit than expected. After the fruit comes the cocoa powder, dark and milk chocolate. It morphs into a fully roasted blend of tasty coffee. The hoppiness brightens up the flavor and adds depth. Flavors really last on the palate. Lots of chocolate but its still far from being labeled 'overboard'. This really has a bunch of different flavors to dissect.

M-The best part. Divinely creamy and viscous. Thick but velvety. Carbonation is just noticeable enough. Booze is there but it is masked quite well for a beer hovering around 12%. Quite drinkable despite its girth.

O/D-I have heard mixed reviews about Big John. I found it to be a pretty awesome brew. Complex and nearly sensual on the palate. I am happy I grabbed this one. Big, sweet and complex. Cacao nibs is also a great pairing of words…its just fun to say.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 19:49:36 | More by VelvetExtract

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

4.41/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Bottled 12/07/12. Acquired in a trade with BrewStew58.

Pours oily black and completely dark. Light brown head held back after a half-inch of rising. Fell to the surface and left a thick ring.

Creamy dark malts, dry chocolate, dark fruits and berries, earthy hops, and tightly-spun alcohol. A sultry, but friendly, aroma.

Bold cocoa and dark malts, robust and decadent. Some berry fruits of blackberry and raisin and a sting of alcohol warm booze and licorice. Mocha and burnt sugar. An elegant and full-on beer that stands alone in one night.

Velvety smooth and rich with body. A diffused soft carbonation creates some chew. A near-perfect sipper, with that proper boozy medicine. The feel of integrity.

Tremendous imperial stout with almost all of the qualities I look for. A bit muddled in the nose, but exceptional mouthfeel and delectable dark flavors make up for that and more. A highly recommended beer that I will begin seeking out again immediately.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 04:32:25 | More by thecheapies

martyl1000

Wisconsin

4.78/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

A deep black-brown of murk, with a skim of khaki head from a bomber into a tulip glass. What brown lacing clings to the glass slides off, given the slippery astringent alcohol. In fact, one looks for the aroma of the cocoa nibs, but one only really gets tart booze in the nose, at least while this is still refrigerator cold. Actually, now that it's warming, the cocoa nibs appear as a rounded ghostly shadow through the heat-wave mirage of alcohol fumes.

In the mouth a savory beef-like (or is it orange shrimp fat!) protein flavor barges in with an adamant, careless assertion of its brazenness. I recommend taking this on the broad flat of the tongue; it's just too intense to keep in the front of the mouth, say, aerating languidly through the teeth like you would with a more polite brew.

The chocolate is definitely in the mix. But the complexity of date/prune/raisin sweetness and roast-malt/hop bitterness pushes the cocoa nibs surprisingly to the rear of the stage. The umami savoriness lends a whole-cream milkiness to the chocolate. Then you get the bitterness, which is a welcome neutralizer with its mildly citrus, floral hops. In that, it reminds me of Weyerbacher Tiny. It has that same bright hop and alcohollic spice combined with a salty, anchovy meatiness.

Quite chewy, very full body, smooth.

I wish I had a bunch of these for the cellar. Sadly, this is the only one I've seen in my five local bottle shops. Label dated "12/7/12" . . . Pearl Harbor Day.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 01:13:31 | More by martyl1000

BeastLU

Virginia

4.19/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Bottle dated 12/7/12. Poured into a snifter.

A - Nice pour. Dark. Pitch black dark. Thick brown head, which dies down but does not completely dissipate.

S - Strong boozy nose. Don't smell much of the cacao. Smells like stout and alcohol.

T - Huge flavor. Definitely taste the cacao. Big strong stout with big booze and chocolate flavor. Its great but, it is too boozy. I think after some cellering it would be fabulous.

M - Carbonation is a little low but I expect that in the style. It has the perfect viscosity for a IS. The after taste is a little harsh and warm do to the up front alcohol.

O - Obviously some drawbacks but a great beer over all. I drink them pretty frequently.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 23:45:52 | More by BeastLU

BlurryVisi0n

New York

4.1/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a snifter glass.

Appearance: Nice thick opaque black. I mean this brew is very dark, with a thin body to the head. Settles thin with even lacing coming off your normal tan color you would expect.

Smell: A deep cocoa scent that feels that it makes love to your nostrils. You smell the deep malts with strong molasses to go with.

Taste: Strong rich alcohol, not really my favorite but this taste quite appealing. You feel the deep cocoa which gives it a slightly sweet finish. The bitterness is smooth with nothing really to dislike.

Mouth: Smooth finish with a heavy molasses feel to the after-taste.

Overall: This is a very good brew, on an empty stomach it can do some damage to you. It is a slightly sweeter version of Nightstalker (which is one of my current favorite imperial stouts by Goose island).With Imperial Stouts I prefer less sweet and a touch more bitter, but doesn't mean you are drinking something bad. All you need is a glass and you will thank me, Salud!

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 06:56:58 | More by BlurryVisi0n

JamesShoemaker

New York

2.88/5  rDev -29.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

650 ml poured into two stemless wine glasses. First and last time for this guy!

A - pours jet black with some lingering foam, mid tone brown, looks more like an RIS than a double.

S - phew, lots of rubbing alcohol, roasted malts, and some dark fruits. After taking a sip, the smell is even worse.

T - not good, really not very good. Plenty of dark fruits, plums and currants, but nothing is stronger than the isopropyl alcohol. How do I describe a beer than simultaneously hides its alcohol and punches you in the face with it?

M - some redemption here. The alcohol doesn't sting the mouth, but the consistency is viscous - too syrupy.

O - one of the worst stouts I've had to date. Truly worthy of the BMC that Goose Island is surely soon to be.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 01:09:54 | More by JamesShoemaker

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

4.28/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bomber poured into a tulip

A- Pours pitch black with red reflections. A one finger of a brown head. Subtle alcohol legs.

S- Smells like coffee, chocolate, a ton of roasted malts. Caramel, roasted toffee. Touch of alcohol. Enticing stuff.

T- A bit of hop bitterness and some bitterness from the chocolate as well. A lot of chocolate in this beer. There is a massive roasted malt in this beer almost to the point of making coffee flavors. There is a little alcohol in this beer but it's passable. A sweet beer that has a dry roasted aftertaste.

M- A thick and syrupy beer. It is sweet and chocolatey. A great desert beer. Warming and drinkable.

O- I really enjoyed this beer. A nice chocolate forward stout that cant disappoint.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 00:46:06 | More by TwelveOunces

argock

Virginia

4.4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 22 oz brown bomber into a clear glass snifter. Bottled on 12/7/12 stamped on side of label. Purchased at Wine Warehouse (Charlottesville, VA) for $9.79.

A: Black hue with thick, frothy dark tan 2-finger head with decent retention and even a few spots of lace.

S: The aroma is thick with chocolate and some fig, raisin, and plum aromas. There is some earthy, floral, and citrus hops aromas as well, but they are not strong.

T: The flavor is outstanding and is a great example of a very strong but not boozy, chocolate-bombed imperial stout. The chocolate flavors are complex and varied and work well with the dark fruit flavors. There are dark and milk chocolate, cocoa, mixed with soft coffee and pretty strong dark fruit flavors of fig, plum, and raisin. There is moderate bitterness, both from the dark chocolate component as well as from the citrus, pine, and floral hops contribution. This is a superb fresh IS. Night Stalker on the other hand, is way over the top hoppy and will probably be better with age. I can see Big John going through some rough times in the short term with aging as the chocolate flavors fall off. I am planning to drink 2 of the other 3 of mine in the next 3 months. I think the alcohol component is well-hidden - I shared this bomber with my wife 14/8 oz and I drank my portion in about 20-30 minutes.

M: The mouthfeel is right on par with other good imperial stouts with mildly chewy, full body and very smooth. I am not sure where people are getting the booze from -- this is very fresh and I get only an accenting alcohol character, and one that does not thin the beer's feel, as do some not so well done barrel aged beers.

O: I was very pleasantly surprised by this brew -- very well-balanced with a strong and powerful chocolate presence but a very solid background stout with just the right amount hoppiness. I am going to try to find a few more bottles of this around. One of the best chocolate imperial stouts I have had. Great beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 03:25:06 | More by argock

briiguy

Illinois

4.79/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A-Jet black, two finger creamy deep brown head that leaves behind some lacing.

S-Chocolate and roasted malts.

T-Starts with chocolate and roasted malts. Extremely sweet. Ends with bitterness (60 IBUs, the same as DFH 60 minute, absolutely amazing). Well balanced and mouth watering

M-Medium bodied, smooth and creamy.

D-An amazing beer. A sipper but a great sipper at that. I love this beer, one the best I've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 03:17:24 | More by briiguy

spointon

Illinois

3.8/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I poured this one from a brown bomber bottle into a 20oz Imperial pint glass with a nucleation point etched in the bottom.

A= Poured opaque and black as midnight. With a vigorous pour at cellar temp this put up a 1" tan head that lasted a long time. Lots of stickage on my glass.

S= Aroma was pretty subtle, but there were detectable notes of chocolate, molasses, caramel malts, some fruity esters, and alcohol.

T= first flavor impression was sweetness, then chocolate, then faint caramel. No real hop presence, and the esters found in the aroma don't really show up here. The alcohol is there adding complexity but was never hot or harsh. Finished pretty sweet, with a long complex chocolatey aftertaste.

MF= Huge thick body...I mean damn it is chewy. Carbonation was actually pretty high, but the body just overwhelmed it with sheer viscosity.

D= The first sip made me think this would be a chore to finish because of the huge heaviness of this beer. However, it is very well balanced and the alcohol stays hidden making it all too easy to put down.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 05:24:22 | More by spointon