Shackamaximum - Philadelphia Brewing Company

FrankShirley

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I've been meaning to pick up a bottle of PBC's Shackamaximum for a couple years now and always seem to forget. While, finally picked one up today since I live near the brewery...

This beer poured black with a deep mahogany two finger head. Nice retention on the head, about 1/8" remaining all the way through.

The first smell I notice is the malt and not much else. This beer hits the mouth smooth and creamy. Taste is that of the chocolate malt-- not too sweet though.

Overall, I didn't get too much more than the malts in the taste. It's not the most complex beer you'll find for the style, but still one of PBC's best offerings of the year.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 14:18:00 | More by FrankShirley

InspectorBob

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%

05-20-2013 14:40:19 | More by InspectorBob

Illos

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +4.2%

05-08-2013 02:17:52 | More by Illos

LambicKing

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%

05-04-2013 20:27:50 | More by LambicKing

Jason1337

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -21.9%

04-26-2013 15:08:58 | More by Jason1337

Squidly

New Jersey

4.75/5  rDev +23.7%

04-26-2013 01:22:12 | More by Squidly

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.81/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Pours black with five millimeters of foam scum. Looks big in this pint.

Molasses, chocolate liquor, roasted barley grain, medium roast coffee, and Fig Newton. Ok.

Lots more of that chocolate and black strap molasses combo. More dark fruitiness between dried fig, raisin, and date. Coffee is almost no longer here. Barley grains are wet and medium-dark roasted. Sweetness pushes out any desirable bitterness. Off-balance that way.

Drinks medium with some stick, as far as body. Carbonation is a little quieter, but realistic. Booze is at that sneaky 8% range that I'm familiar with.

Nothing wrong with this beer, at all. It's quite tasty, albeit very sweet. Roastiness is more of an afterthought for the style.

Serving type: on-tap

04-16-2013 13:51:54 | More by thecheapies

jackrodgers77

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%

04-06-2013 13:58:10 | More by jackrodgers77

justintcoons

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a tulip pint.

Appearance
Pitch black with a short tan head.

Nose
Cola, cocoa and caramel with hints of espresso.

Taste
Cocoa powder, semisweet chocolate and caramel. Cola with hints of espresso and cocoa nib. The finish carries some dry oakiness.

Mouthfeel
Medium-full bodied, silky, smooth, bitter and dry.

Overall
Nothing exceptional, but the french oak is a nice touch.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 14:04:37 | More by justintcoons

moreyswig

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +4.2%

03-04-2013 19:04:28 | More by moreyswig

emericanchaos

Pennsylvania

2.6/5  rDev -32.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

The darkest of ruby red pours from this 12oz bottle. In casual lighting it would appear black as day. Thin head of milk chocolate brown caps this brew before quickly subsiding.

Smells of dark cocoa nibs and some dark coffee. Alcoholic. Grainy.

Asserts itself full force up front. Suggestions of big coffee and roasty chocolate flavors. Quickly subsides into an alcoholic tinge on the outsides of the tongue. Somewhat bitter but nothing tremendous for an "Imperial Stout".

Moves easily in the mouth. Seems slick and thin. Doesn't coat the palette well.

In all this is a miserable example of this style. More an imperial porter than any type of stout. There's an obvious lack of coffee, chocolate, lactose and hops which beers of this style and body almost always offer as a consolation to the large amount of two row or six row used to boost the ABV. This beer presents itself as a very thin stout lacking the richness and depth that this style has become known for. At least where American brewers are concerned. If you can get this in 22oz or six packs it may be good as a a stout to cook with. I can picture it as a steak marinade with black pepper, soy sauce some onion and mushroom and a touch of something sweet or spicy depending on taste. As a drinking beer there's better options in the price range.

If you're looking for a good imperial porter or a session imperial stout (wtf is a session imperial stout?) this is your drink. If you're looking for a competitor to stand against stormking, old heathen and other imperial stouts in the philly area it's best to consider other options. I consider both suggested alternatives very good representations of the style so Your Mileage May Vary...

Not recommended at all.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 08:16:42 | More by emericanchaos

jpd7374

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%

02-23-2013 00:52:45 | More by jpd7374

Bouleboubier

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A: not a lot of head, but the liquid is damn near jet black and lookin' thick....no lacing of note

S: dark coffee, a bit of licorice....malty undertones, slightly oxidized (wet-papery)...malty foundation (cookie and some caramel)....perhaps some toasted raisin....clean, light, neutral alcohol

T: rich, bittersweet, roasty....slightly coffee, more molasses with a moderate touch of licorice and sweet cereal malt (Munich?)....not cloying, but certainly sweet....nice toasted raisin, molasses, and booze in the aftertaste....hops and a Hershey kiss flavor late

M: pretty clean, some (but not much) residual syrupy quality on the taste buds....medium-bodied....the alcohol does warm, but it's nicely balanced, nicely executed, woven into the background - it's not hot or biting in the least

O: actually a bangin' beer from PBC!....would be great to see this as a cheaper local draft (yet to cross paths with it)....not that heavy (taste, feel) of a stout for 8%....satisfying

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 05:30:55 | More by Bouleboubier

browniewithnuts

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +17.2%

02-14-2013 03:43:06 | More by browniewithnuts

JMartin

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -15.4%

02-04-2013 17:40:25 | More by JMartin

Travcofarms

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%

02-02-2013 11:20:03 | More by Travcofarms

qthompso

Minnesota

4.14/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours nearly pitch black with two fingers of creamy mocha head. Lots and lots of lacing.

Smells of some rich bittersweet chocolate, coffee, black licorice, caramel and residual sugars.

The taste is deep, rich chocolate, creamy lactic acid, remarkably roasted grains, and some lingering hop bitterness. For being 10%, this one hides the heat really well.

Full bodied with good carbonation. A nice well balanced stout.

Overall, quite pleasant. I wouldn't put it up there with the other juggernauts in the category. To me, this one drinks more like an American stout, which could be dangerous.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2013 01:52:18 | More by qthompso

WEBBEER

Pennsylvania

3.51/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured into 14.75 oz. porter stemmed tulip. 1/4 inch of dark root beer colored head dissipates quickly. Very dark beer, light barely penetrates. Thin lace. Excellent strong coffee and chocolate smell. Taste of roasted malts, and generous amounts of hops present throughout serving. Some earthiness from the hops. Strong cling of alcohol viscosity as expected from an imperial. Love this local brewed example ofSláinte the stout genre. Sláinte!

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 20:17:59 | More by WEBBEER

waddellc2

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%

01-18-2013 18:27:26 | More by waddellc2

pogoowner

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +4.2%

01-14-2013 23:58:35 | More by pogoowner

beerborn

Michigan

3.25/5  rDev -15.4%

01-07-2013 14:25:14 | More by beerborn

ryser2k

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +17.2%

01-02-2013 15:35:42 | More by ryser2k

vfgccp

New York

2.43/5  rDev -36.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

A - Nice solid black/brown body with trace cola highlights. Khaki head with nice lace and ok retention.

S - SUPER sweet; cotton candy, caramel, molasses, Rolo's, milk chocolate.

T - Caramel, dark roast malt, sweet latte, brown sugar, green moss. Lingering woody bitters.

M - Medium-full, but finishes surprisingly light.

O - Cloyingly sweet with a bitterness that feels out of balance for the profile.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 19:08:04 | More by vfgccp

ejimhof

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -21.9%

12-25-2012 19:16:04 | More by ejimhof

TrickkyGangsta

Florida

4/5  rDev +4.2%

12-23-2012 21:13:04 | More by TrickkyGangsta