Moa Imperial Stout (Aged In Pinot Noir Barrels) - Moa Brewing Company

Phelps

Arizona

2.4/5  rDev -31.2%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

A stout aged in pinot noir barrels. Poured from a green bottle (why still use these?) into a snifter.

One twist of the cork cage: everything’s fine. Two twists: fine and dandy. Three twists: BOOM! The bottle begins spewing foam like molten lava and the cork is lodged somewhere in the ceiling. This bottle could be used in warfare. What I manage to salvage sits in the snifter at about an 80-20 head-to-beer ratio — the head taking up the majority of the space. This is what overcarbonation looks like. The liquid is inky black; the expansive head a cavernous graham cracker-brown.

Acrid aroma. Bread burnt to char, licorice, tangy soy sauce, oak barrels, a touch of plum. Fairly wine-heavy.

The flavor isn’t much better. Dark chocolate and plum are sadly hidden behind blackened, overly bitter wood and soy sauce tang. The fruit imparted by the wine barrels is the only redeeming quality of this brew. Better as it warms, becoming fruitier and less bitter.

As expected, the liquid explodes the second it touches the tongue. A thin, whipped body quickly fizzes like aerated soap, filling the mouth with foam. Tang and burnt bitterness settle into the back of the tongue.

Moa's imperial stout isn't pricy, but it’s not even really worth the low price. I’m off to fix the ceiling.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2012 04:43:40 | More by Phelps

mxchap

California

2.25/5  rDev -35.5%

05-21-2013 04:20:29 | More by mxchap

bcuz7

Florida

4/5  rDev +14.6%

05-19-2013 22:14:26 | More by bcuz7

jakeox

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +7.4%

05-18-2013 23:46:33 | More by jakeox

TheBadger0289

New Zealand (Aotearoa)

4/5  rDev +14.6%

05-15-2013 10:24:10 | More by TheBadger0289

Morockm

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +7.4%

05-12-2013 14:00:17 | More by Morockm

Howlader

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev +7.4%

05-12-2013 02:30:59 | More by Howlader

DruC4

Michigan

4/5  rDev +14.6%

05-11-2013 18:50:15 | More by DruC4

ninetytwo

New Zealand (Aotearoa)

3.25/5  rDev -6.9%

05-10-2013 11:44:31 | More by ninetytwo

MightiestBeard

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +21.8%

05-09-2013 02:48:06 | More by MightiestBeard

JMS1512

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +7.4%

05-07-2013 20:04:01 | More by JMS1512

Prospero

Colorado

1.45/5  rDev -58.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.5

Terrible, agreed with others, tastes and smells like band aids. No coffee roast like one would expect in a RIS and while the pinot is apparent, it lacks the fruit character. It must be infected I can't imagine this being intended to taste like this. Like the rating suggests, the appearance is the best attribute and not that great as the head retention is next to none (somewhat expected with barrel-aging). Back to the drawing board on this one.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 02:49:30 | More by Prospero

Jason1337

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +14.6%

04-28-2013 15:33:05 | More by Jason1337

linnymtu

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev +0.3%

04-23-2013 00:55:55 | More by linnymtu

jmwildwest

Florida

3.75/5  rDev +7.4%

04-21-2013 22:21:38 | More by jmwildwest

hopnerd

Australia

3.75/5  rDev +7.4%

04-20-2013 10:37:27 | More by hopnerd

sukwonee

Washington

3.75/5  rDev +7.4%

04-15-2013 05:00:59 | More by sukwonee

Johnnyramirez

California

1.24/5  rDev -64.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

The appearance was the only appealing thing about the beer. I'm hoping it was infected because it smelled of antiseptic. When I drank it all I got was band aids, must have been dry hopped with plastic. As did everyone else at the tasting. Instant drain pour. Probably the worst beer I've ever had

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 05:27:52 | More by Johnnyramirez

iwantmorehops

Vermont

4.25/5  rDev +21.8%

04-13-2013 13:55:23 | More by iwantmorehops

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

4.44/5  rDev +27.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Black, pours with a nice tan head, thin ring of retention, hints of lace.

S: Dark caramelized raisins, licorice, wood, fruit cake, demerara sugar & booze!

T: Black strap molasses, oak, wine-like tannins, rum-soaked fruitcake, licorice, good bitterness, nice alcohol warmth.

M: Full body is viscous without much residual sweetness, average carbonation, light roasted acidity, drying alcohol finish.

O: Really great brew.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 01:23:10 | More by Derek

bbadger

Texas

3/5  rDev -14%

04-08-2013 00:52:01 | More by bbadger

emergency_beef

Texas

3.5/5  rDev +0.3%

04-06-2013 04:47:10 | More by emergency_beef

ThirdEyePA

Texas

3/5  rDev -14%

04-06-2013 03:21:19 | More by ThirdEyePA

tmaestro

Texas

4/5  rDev +14.6%

04-03-2013 23:22:40 | More by tmaestro

WickedSluggy

Texas

4.34/5  rDev +24.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Wow, an excellent beer that is not getting the right attention...

I'm getting none of the reported issues with over-carbonation.

The beer is lovely. Black, ruby edges. Low carbonation. Thick. Rich. Chocolate (can't drink it slow...)

The aroma is chocolatey and sweet. Restrained barrel characteristics. Frankly flawless.

Taste is equally restrained. Equally flawless. Chocolate is still present with some woody character... some tannins and slight astringent bitterness. Overall balance just towards sweet.

Medium slippery mouthfeel. Very nice.

Overall, a beautifully executed beer. I will be buying more if I can find. No negatives. A magic bullet for friends timid of big aggressive Imp stouts. This one isn't huge, but it is nicely round and has nice nipples.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 05:10:49 | More by WickedSluggy