Verdi Imperial Stout - Birrificio Del Ducato

mrfrancis

Kentucky

4.18/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a completely opaque black with a thin ring of khaki lace.

S: Aromas of leather, chili pepper, roasted grain, burnt toast, coffee, and dark chocolate are surprisingly delicate on the nose. If you're expecting a ton of roasted grain, chocolate, and pepper character you're barking up the wrong tree.

T: Fairly intense notes of leather, molasses, dark chocolate, espresso, plums, figs, raisins, tobacco, burnt toast, roasted grain, and chili pepper wash across the palate. The finish is tingly and warming with a great deal of pepper, chocolate, dark fruit, and espresso character underscored by mellow alcohol.

M: Very luscious, smooth, and velvety in the mouth. Very full-bodied compared to many other stouts. Carbonation is surprisingly active, but not quite forceful, rendering this beer's smooth texture relatively undisturbed and intact.

O: Birrificio del Ducato is definitely on my list of breweries to watch, and with quality products like Verdi Imperial Stout, it's little wonder why. This ale is perfectly balanced and displays a tremendous depth of flavor. Even the chili peppers are incorporated well and with restraint, imparting neither oily sensations nor unwanted heat. Very well executed.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2012 17:41:15 | More by mrfrancis

Halcyondays

California

4.15/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Beachwood BBQ,

A: Pours a dark ruby brown, almost black with a mild head, no lace, good colour.

S: Dark roasted malt with some sweet milk chocolate in the finish.

T: Coffee all the way on the first taste. Stays coffee-like throughout the duration with some great dark malt/dark chocolate flavour. The chiles are minor and don't really come out until the finish.

M: Full-bodied, smooth, light capsaicin heat on the back end.

D: This is a delicious imperial stout, I'm quite impressed.

Serving type: on-tap

05-06-2010 23:26:47 | More by Halcyondays

Altenor

California

4.15/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Not always do two of my passions coincide, beer and opera. So I couldn't let it pass and had to try it.

A: Dark brown with hints of red brick with a big billowing creamy tan head. Not a common color but interesting. I would say it's the result of the peppers that were used.

S: Hazelnuts, leather, roasted barley, milk chocolate, vanilla, and a hint of spicy peppers. Really dig the smell. Some sweetness too but everything is very subtle and delicate.

T: Lots of hazelnut and only a little of the hot feeling of the peppers. I also get some minerals in the middle of the palate but then the sweetness and spiciness follow in the finish. Very interesting brew for sure. All the flavors are pretty balanced. Very well made. I also get some smokiness. Complex and more leaning towards the sweet side which is good in order to balance the peppers.

M: Feels very smooth and creamy. A little sticky and full bodied. Goes down really well and love the feeling of the peppers, probably because I am Mexican. It reminds me of chipotle chiles with the smoke profile or of spicy Mole with roasted nuts and chocolate flavors.

O: Wasn't expecting a great brew from this. I was mostly interested in the concept of being brewed in honor of G. Verdi, one of the best opera composers of all times. Happy to have tried it and will definitely seek out another bottle. More and more the Italian breweries are getting my attention. Try it if you can!

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 06:22:13 | More by Altenor

TMoney2591

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served in a Bruery snifter.

Big thanks to cbeer88 for this bottle!

Reviewed blind as part of Blind BIF 7. This stuf pours a straight obsidian topped by a finger of staunch tan foam. The nose comprises cocoa, mild roasted malts, dark fruits in a Port vein, molasses, and a whisper of cinnamon. The taste brings in more of the same, though the cocoa is now more of a dark chocolate character, the Port-like fruit is now a darker berry-style thing, and some coffee makes an appearance. In addition, towards the finish, a lightly lingering pepper heat comes into play, but it remains fairly subtle for me until things warm up a bit. The body is a strong medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a lightly chewy feel. Overall, a damn nice stout, one that nails complexity without drowning your tongue in confusion. Good times, indeed.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2012 14:51:09 | More by TMoney2591

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - nice pour, black with a nice looking mocha head. Good resilience to boot.

Aroma - decent roasty character, but not all that impressive.

Taste - nice roasty flavor, good rich maltiness without a lot of sweet. The swallow has a little bite, a little heat to it, kind of peppery. Ahh, a stout brewed with hot chili, so says the back label. Makes sense now. A warm finish on a few fronts, a little malt roast coming through on the finish.

Mouthfeel - super smooth and silky. Low carbonation and a big body. Great.

Drinkability - a fine chili stout. Great for a cool night outside by the fire.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2009 04:06:22 | More by brewdlyhooked13

ThreeWiseMen

California

4.1/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle purchased at Healthy Spirits in San Francisco, CA. I don't see a bottle date anywhere.

Poured into a 7oz. snifter.

Appearance: Pour yielded a tall, thick, cake-like layer of brown foam. Beautiful! Body is pitch black and muddy; looks very thick. The huge (initial) head takes awhile to calm down, but it eventually settles as a creamy film with thick outer ring (and it maintains its gorgeous brown color). Thick, sticky lacing. No faults here.

Smell: Roasted barley, oats, dark chocolate, and a touch of "hot chili." Chili, caramel, and barbecue sauce pick up steam as the beer warms. With time, leafy greens and milk chocolate also emerge. I wasn't too wowed by the aroma at first, but it really comes to life once it warms. I dig.

Taste: Mocha, dark chocolate, oats, and "hot chili." I absolutely love when brewers and chocolatiers combine dark chocolate and spicy peppers. Mmmmm... so good! The chili oils really cling to the palate, making each sip spicier than the last. In this instance, the chili peppers actually outshine the roasted malts and hops in the aftertaste. That's cool with me - I love spice - but I'd actually prefer more balance between beer and chili. Still very good.

Mouthfeel: Cool, creamy, and malty upfront; spicy, oily, warm, and dry in the back. Soft carbonation adds a pleasant, massaging aspect. I really like the transition - it's very unique.

Drinkability: A bit too much heat. It's not that I couldn't handle it, but the pepper drowned out the other flavors and really inhibited my taste buds. Will I buy this again? Maybe. It was definitely a fun experience. If you're a fan of chili-infused stouts, then this one's a must! If you're sensitive to spice, you might wanna pass.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2010 00:41:13 | More by ThreeWiseMen

PittBeerGirl

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

My first stout from Italy- very cool.

A- Body appears to be a dark brown, nearly black hue-but when held up to the light it glows and murky translucency comes forward. Pours with a 1/2 finger milky head.

S- Dark chocolate is dominant with very faint chili in the nose and a mild roasted malt background that gives off the impression of coffee.

T- Initial flavor is mild and offers cocoa, smoke, and roasted malt with a very faint accent of chili. The flavors intensify for the finish but remains pretty consistent all the way through-with roasted malt and chocolate being the highlights.

M- Carbonation is low and body is moderately thick.

D- This is a very good, easy to drink brew overall. The chili and spice are very faint all the way through and provide a nice compliment to the chocolatey stout in the background. This is a classy, not over the top, well done brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2010 14:13:53 | More by PittBeerGirl

Richardberg

New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - poured into wine glasses. Very dark, nearly black, small tan head, moderate lacing.

S - baker's chocolate, chili powder, vanilla extract, charcoal. Doesn't sound too unusual but trust me it's complex and interesting.

T - also complex, but quite different. Slightly bitter from start to finish, in a good way. Chili only comes out at the very end. Even the primary chocolate malts are subdued vs the aroma, in favor of the burnt, almost peaty flavor.

M - has definite weight, though not super heavy. Best part is it's super oily and sticky.

D - all of the above, coming in >8%, yet very easy to drink in my opinion. One of the first really well crafted Italians for me (many others have showed promise but ultimately disappointed).

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2010 01:48:43 | More by Richardberg

CrazyDavros

Australia

4.05/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours black with a large tan head.
Nose shows cocoa, earthy coffee and chocolate syrup along with roasted malt underneath. Pretty delightful.
Similar rich flavours, lovely cocoa notes and roasted coffee. Perhaps a bit too sweet.
Nice creamy feel.

Serving type: on-tap

10-18-2012 05:54:01 | More by CrazyDavros

Suds

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This beer has a beautiful, tall tan head and a thick obsidian color. Truly great appearance. The aroma is of roasted, burnt malts and barley. There's also a distinct barbecue hint in the background, due (I'm sure) to the chili in the brew. The taste is fantastic...lot's of malt and charred grain flavors...smoke, wood, roasted, and charcoal qualities. Long after the finish, though, a little heat creeps into the sensation. The heat lingers and adds to the experience. I really haven't had a hot-spiced beer that's been this well done....very nicely melded with the flavors. Full and creamy mouthfeel. Excellent.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2009 21:26:07 | More by Suds

glid02

Georgia

4.03/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Brick Store.

Pours one shade from black with a two-finger brown head. The head recedes into a wispy layer on top leaving light lacing.

Smells of dark chocolate and roasted malts mostly with hints of earthy peppers. The pepper notes are very slight and I'm not sure I'd recognize it unless I knew it was an ingredient.

Tastes good. As with the smell dark and mildly bitter chocolate and roasted malt flavors dominate. Midway through the sip the peppers poke their heads out for a bit of earthiness before fading into the background before re-emerging for a bit of heat in the finish. The ending is solidly bitter.

Mouthfeel is very good. It's got a very smooth thickness with moderate carbonation.

Drinkability is good. I finished my glass and could have another without a problem.

Overall this was a tasty beer however I was hoping for a bit more influence from the peppers. Still, well worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

12-29-2009 06:09:39 | More by glid02

jamie2dope

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I must admit that I bought this beer simply because I liked the shape of the bottle. Anyway, it comes out completely black, with a couple fingers of tan heading. The nose is of dark chocolate, chillies, and not much else. The chillies are not as much pronounced in the flavor, more aiding in the path of the dark chocolate. Body is medium to heavy, and luckily very drinkable. I tried Cigar City Hunahpu recently, and this is definitely the closest thing I have found to it. They really use the chillies to a point where they compliment the chocolate, and do not overwhelm at all. Verdi is an excellent stout that I recommend completely.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2010 02:13:31 | More by jamie2dope

kbutler1

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Draft. Sampled at Kickbacks. Poured into a snifter a dark brown/black color with a light tan head. Roasty, malty, chocolate aroma with a touch of the pepper. Medium/heavy mouthfeel. Roasted chocolate and coffee flavors with a touch of bitterness. The pepper is mild but builds. Overall, rather nice drinking. Some lace left in the glass. As I let this sit a while and warm the hot peppers for sure become more apparent, not too much in the upfornt but rather in the end and starts with a mild heat that starts in the throat.

Serving type: on-tap

04-13-2011 12:33:06 | More by kbutler1

Reaper16

Alabama

4/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

11.2oz. bottle served into a snifter

Pours a dark chestnut brown. It isn't quite black, but it's getting there. I got next to no head on my pour, but I was able to coax out about 1/4 of a finger of khaki foam. It laces in spots like Morse code.

The first thing that I notice on the nose is a slightly sour, kinda acrid malt note that is reminiscent to me of some British Porters. There's definite coffee grounds in here too. A bit of char of some kind. Maybe I'm only saying this because I know that its brewed with chile peppers, but I smell some roasted red pepper here as well. There's an essential red pepper flavor, nearly "fruity," as well as some charred skin. There's just a twinge of the heat that other beers brewed with chilies tend to have in their aromas. This does not at all smell like an Imperial Stout, as the beer's label claims it to be. But it is interesting and on-point as far as a Foreign/Export Stout goes.

The taste is quite unexpected. I didn't really smell any chocolate character at all, but the flavor is mostly milk chocolate. This is a chocolate bomb, truly. Milk chocolate for days. There's also a bit of red bell pepper flavor, and a small tingling sensation from the chiles that comes across like Big Red chewing gum. Maybe some coffee on the finish. Verdi reminds me of a less-complex version of Mikkeller Chipotle Porter. It's certainly in the Foreign/Export Stout category. Hell, if it was labeled an Imperial Porter than no one would bat an eye. It's pretty tasty -- enough pepper flavor to make keep the milk chocolate in check.

It's got a thinner, more Porter-like mouthfeel. Smooth carbonation. It works with the flavors, and that's the reason I'm scoring it a 4.0 instead of a 3.5. Overall, this is a fine, fine Foreign/Export Stout. It's tasty and easy-drinking. Is it worth purchasing? No. I paid $10 for this 11.2oz. bottle. Why do Italian craft beers have to cost so much? It isn't worth $10 but it is pretty darn good. If you're a big fan of light-but-flavor-packed stouts then you will enjoy this beer as an occasional treat. It's too expensive to make it anything else.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2011 03:24:17 | More by Reaper16

david18

New York

4/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had heard about this beer a few times and was glad I found it when I recently ate at a high end Italian restaurant in New York. Overall a very good beer, just a little expensive.

Appearance was a very dark brown. Mahogany to black with a dark brown head. Opaque.

Aroma was roasty. Some chocolate. Very good.

Flavor was a little hot but overall well balanced and really enjoyable. Some chocolate, good bitterness. Great.

I love this beer and will buy it next time I see it in a bottle shop, regardless of the price.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2011 19:19:55 | More by david18

Converge

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4.5

330ml bottle poured into 16oz tulip.

A - Pours a deep, dark brownish-black, with a billowing light brown head of rocky bubbles. Head retained for a while, but not very well. No lacing for the most part. It does come in a rather unique bottle though!

S - Mild roastiness, with charred malt and coffee grounds coming through. Lots of sweet notes with dark caramel, brown sugar and cocoa. A distinct chocolatey character as well. Chili presence is very subdued, and is just hardly detectable. Hints of wood and smoke. After the head disappears, I get aromas of creamy vanilla and cherries. A very complex nose.

T - Follows the nose quite a bit. The roastiness from the charred malt and coffee beans is fairly mild. Molasses, caramel, brown sugar, and cocoa come through nicely. Really nice blend of sweeter flavors. Now I'll admit I'm not much of a hothead, but even I was underwhelmed with the heat in the finish. The chili is there though, and adds a unique dimension to an otherwise very nice beer to begin with. Feels much more chocolatey than chili-oriented. More of a tasty sweet stout with nice chocolatey, creamy, and vanilla flavors. Either way, an excellent beer.

M - A real weak point on this beer. The body feels full and smooth like an imperial stout should, but the carbonation is way too high. Feels fizzy and overdone, especially considering the style. A little sticky after time.

D - Despite the chili flavors never really coming through like I hopes, I still enjoyed this imperial stout a lot. I'll admit there's very few bigger stouts I don't enjoy, and this was no different. Something about the big roasty, often chocolatey profile just satisfies me so well, and although this brew might not be up to par with bigger, more renowned stouts, it was still an excellent beer. Props to Italy for a damn fine craft brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2012 04:52:58 | More by Converge

Dope

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours jet black with a very dense chocolate milk colored head. Fades decently slowly and leaves zero lacing, oddly enough. Retains a decent layer of foam at all times, however.

S: Some creamy chocolate mainly. I get some cinnamon and chile pepper as well.

T: Loads of creamy and smooth chocolate. As it fades away you get a decent amount of spicy chile and some spice - mainly cinnamon again I think. No real lingering heat, just the flavor.

M: Medium bodied, smooth.

O: A tasty chile stout, I definitely enjoyed it. It reminds me a lot of Clown Shoes Chocolate Sombrero in fact, maybe just a weaker version. Pretty much just creamy chocolate with some chile. Simple but I enjoyed it.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2012 03:35:27 | More by Dope

mday

Delaware

3.98/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from 11.2oz bottle into a snifter

A :: While pouring it was a thick, dark brown and as it lays in the glass it appears an opaque black with a thick tan head. The head dissipated to a thin coating and left some lacing behind.
S :: Coffee, sweet malts and caramel with a slight smoky layer. I was searching for the chili aroma, but couldn't find it. Maybe that's the smoke factor.
T :: Up front I had the taste of coffee and chocolate. This finishes with the nice heat in the back of your throat that you would expect from a spicy food. I was quite pleased overall and found it to be pretty balanced. The heat lingers long into the finish, but it's definitely not overpowering. As it warms, the beer takes on a woody flavor.
M :: Dry, light finish, but light carbonation keeps it smooth.
D :: I enjoyed this brew and could sit and sip one during an evening. With my recent love of Russian Imperial Stouts, this one is not quite as bold, but it's also not classified RIS. It was wonderfully balanced and the spicy heat in the finish paired very well with the bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2009 02:53:57 | More by mday

comfortablynumb1

California

3.98/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 11.2oz into a North Coast pint glass...

A - Pours black with a two finger brown head. Head does not stick around for long, and there is not much lacing to be had...

S - Coffee, a touch of spice, and a good amount of roastiness...

T - Chocolate, coffee, and dark roasted malts. Lots of roastiness to be had. Finishes on a hot chilli note. As the beer warms the spicy finish becomes more apparent. This one is tasty...

M - Medium bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. Smooth and easy to drink. Pretty much what you would expect from the style...

O - I really enjoyed the spicy finish. Good tasting brew, but not worth the money in my opinion. Payed 10 dollars for 11.2oz bottle. Glad I got a chance to try this, but probably something I won't be revisiting in the near future...

Cheers...

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2011 04:21:19 | More by comfortablynumb1

BDTyre

British Columbia (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Not a bad stout, and not a bad beer especially considering Italy is not known for its beers. Black body, big foamy tan head. Vinous, almost brandy-like nose; big roasted malts with traces of coffee and chocolate.

Slightly sour brandy taste, but good roasted malts, black coffee, dark chocolate flavours. Bitter coffee aftertaste.

Smooth, but somewhat light body. Alcohol is noticeable but not distracting. A bit thin, with a rather bitter aftertaste. But a very good beer, and I'll happily try more from this brewery. And the bottle is pretty neat too.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2011 05:53:29 | More by BDTyre

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

3.98/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a blackish brown color with good head retention and minimal lacing. The nose is pretty roasty, but is otherwise fairly complex, showcasing considerable coffee, licorice, maltballs, light chocolate, light vanilla and a hint of tobacco. The beer is moderately sweet on the palate, with a good array of flavor complexity that generally replicates the nsoe. The finish is fairly dry, with a light hint of bitterness at the end. Mouthfeel is moderate to full, with a fairly long, fairly smooth finish.

A pretty good, solid RIS, but clearly not among the imperial stout nobility.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2011 20:46:09 | More by johnmichaelsen

oline73

Maryland

3.98/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I had this on-tap at Max's, served in a goblet.

Appearance: Pours a very dark brown with some red at the edges. There is a half finger of fluffy cocoa colored head that fades to a ring around the edge of the glass.

Smell: I'm picking up some chocolate, with dark fruit, chili peppers, and some roasted malt.

Taste: Slightly sweet up front with some dark chocolate and bitter roast. There is some dark fruit with a spicy pepper finish along with the roasty bitterness.

Mouthfeel: The body is thick with smooth carbonation and a mildly dry finish.

Overall: This is a really good chili stout. NIce balance and I would have another. Just enough spice to be pleasant with out dominating.

Serving type: on-tap

01-20-2012 02:57:26 | More by oline73

mcann2pu

Delaware

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

Appearance: very dark black with a thin tan head swelling up in some areas.

Smell: diffidently a dark chocolate malt aroma is the most powerful smell,

Taste: the first thing I got was a good dark malt, after a fair number of simps the chili came through, this como worked well for this beer.

Mouthfeel: complex in my opinion, a little oily and light-ish, a little heavy and dark, very interesting and pleasant overall.

Drinkability: it's a very drinkable beer, however, if your not expecting the chili it will sneak up on you a bit.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2010 21:20:22 | More by mcann2pu

stcules

Italy

3.95/5  rDev -1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Near black, a lot of foam, brown, not too beautiful.
In the smell a good toasted note, coffe and chocolate in evidence. Good chili note.
Very smooth and soft in the mouth, rounding chocolate, some toasted, coffee and chili. Intriguing.
Smooth, pleasant ad very drinkable for the style.
Average body, intriguing spiciness, and a good aftertaste. With a pleasant warming.
Good done!.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 20:29:21 | More by stcules

GONZALOYANNA

Spain

3.93/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Smart champagne-shaped 330ml bottle. Palm Snifter glass. Enjoyed on may´12. Pours dark brown in color with light brown, small bubbled, creamy crown. Intense chocolate malts & hints of dark fruits to the nose. Toasted malt sweet upfront. Bitter cocoa & slightly ripe fruit flavors. Full body, medium to high carbonation. Subtle warming & dry hoppy finish. Mildy toasted grains of coffee on the aftertaste. Pretty well balanced beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2012 23:44:33 | More by GONZALOYANNA