Black Betty Imperial Stout - Reserve Series Aged In Whiskey Barrels - Nebraska Brewing Company

Cavery

California

4.03/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Masterski for placing this review where it should be, pasted from incorrect listing:

From notes, beer 750ml shared with Klym last weekend.

Not sure on the vintage.

Poured into over-sized wine glass

A: A firm one finger head boils in a cauldron of bark brown bubbles. As expected, the brew looks like a mine shaft. The bubbles fade to a light cream, with solid tulle lacing up and down. Black Betty is a pretty little thing.

S: A nose of cedar. Sweet barks with a bit of corn sweetness in the nose that anticipates whiskey. Slight chocolate note that's cut by cornbread malts. Sweet sweet sweet!

T: S'mores big time. Graham cracker sweetness, light milk chocolate, and a roasted marshmallow finish. Graham cracker really illustrates the biscotti malt sweetness. Delicious baked goods with yummy crusts reign supreme. This beer came from grandmas oven, and summer camping trips.

M: Relatively flat mouth, but it doesn't really hurt the beer. A soft spoken mouth allows the three phase taste to march in the parade. One of the few low carbonation mouths that doesn't compromise the experience.

O: Flavor separates this beer from others in style. A really great flavor driven brew. A master campfire pairing. A burly sweet dessert beer that would win some blue ribbons at your local fair. A proper beverage following the conquering of mountains and wrestling of bears. A manly outdoor dessert, that is best worn on a lumberjack's beard. Just don't let your bro's know it's only ~9% ABV.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2011 16:08:20 | More by Cavery

DeutschesBier

Maryland

4/5  rDev +0.8%

06-07-2013 20:20:40 | More by DeutschesBier

BMart

Pennsylvania

2.75/5  rDev -30.7%

06-03-2013 17:25:12 | More by BMart

pathman

Ohio

4/5  rDev +0.8%

06-02-2013 03:11:47 | More by pathman

ressling

Georgia

4.75/5  rDev +19.6%

05-27-2013 18:40:30 | More by ressling

AirborneBeer

California

4.25/5  rDev +7.1%

05-19-2013 05:31:22 | More by AirborneBeer

ajzy

Wisconsin

1.5/5  rDev -62.2%

05-15-2013 00:28:37 | More by ajzy

justforrazors

Missouri

4.5/5  rDev +13.4%

05-10-2013 01:59:33 | More by justforrazors

cadaugherty

Illinois

4/5  rDev +0.8%

05-08-2013 00:25:53 | More by cadaugherty

Dirtinabottle

New York

4/5  rDev +0.8%

05-01-2013 04:22:39 | More by Dirtinabottle

drgonzo2k2

California

4.25/5  rDev +7.1%

04-21-2013 14:08:55 | More by drgonzo2k2

oline73

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +7.1%

04-20-2013 20:27:41 | More by oline73

sethcroisant

Nebraska

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

A- even with a slow pour, it has a beautiful cascading effect. colossal brown head with lacing that cannot be rivaled. very impressive start.

S- very spicy, mostly from the hops and booze, but partly from the roasted malts.

T/M- creamy, almost sludgy feel with low carbonation. whiskey flavors are immediate and provide a bit of sweetness that lingers. the spiciness is very present and is pretty powerful. good amount of hops combat the sugary flavors well. bready characteristics are in the aftertaste.

O- an impressive and surprisingly balanced beer. hopefully brews like this will start to get Nebraska Brewing Co. noticed a little more.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 01:20:58 | More by sethcroisant

sulldaddy

Connecticut

4.23/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Sampled this bottle at cellar temp poured into a snifter. The beer pours a jet black color. A large beige fluffy and somewhat spongey 3 cm of head foaming up, fades very slowly. Large windowpane lattice develops as the head recedes.
Aroma is some dry wood and raisins with black licorice or anice notes mixed in. I actually dont get any booze on the nose, nor much of, if any hop presence. Texture is very smooth and gentle rolling carbonation makes this beer amazingly easy to drink considering the umph it is packing in calories and alcohol.
The flavor is similar to the nose with big dark malt, roasted grain and a hint of dark fruit. Moves to some dark chocolate and dark fruit, again raisins fit. Finishes with just a little heat and I find this to be an enjoyable beer for a cold winter day.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 13:10:00 | More by sulldaddy

DaPan

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +7.1%

04-11-2013 16:43:06 | More by DaPan

Sparky44

Illinois

4/5  rDev +0.8%

03-24-2013 18:47:51 | More by Sparky44

Seaba

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +7.1%

03-01-2013 14:08:38 | More by Seaba

teleforce

Nebraska

4.75/5  rDev +19.6%

02-28-2013 18:01:19 | More by teleforce

jpro

South Carolina

4.21/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

750mL bottle into a snifter...

A: Pitch black with a massive head of tight, khaki foam; leaves a few strands of lace.

S: Roasted malt and bourbon / oaky notes; the whiskey aroma isn't overpowering at all.

T: Follows the nose; crisp, roasted malt and dry oak notes; not much chocolate malt - more dry than sweet.

M: Very lively carbonation which makes it feel a little light.

O: A nice barrel aged imperial stout; the slightly lower abv enhance drinkability along with it not being a bourbon / barrel bomb.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 20:39:43 | More by jpro

YogiBeer

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +7.1%

02-19-2013 07:38:47 | More by YogiBeer

IrishColonial

Virginia

1.5/5  rDev -62.2%

02-11-2013 18:20:23 | More by IrishColonial

ryan1788a5

Massachusetts

4.19/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

750ml bottle poured into a large snifter. Consumed with about a year and a half of age on it.

A: Deep, impenetrable black on the pour with a one-inch brown head. Retention is reasonably good given the time in the barrel. Spotty lacing.

S: Chocolate syrup, black cocoa powder, chocolate cookies. Faint whiff of black licorice. Complex estery aromas of dried fig, black currant, and baked apples. Well hidden spike of alcohol. Barrel is subtly integrated with a slight charred oak and whiskey scent.

T: Black cocoa powder, brownies, dark chocolate truffles, fudge. Hints of smoke and barrel char. Whiskey flattens things out a bit on the mid-palate. A subtle caramel backing begins to emerge with time. Spicy alcohol. Estery black currant and dried fig climb to the forefront as the whiskey taste dies. Things pick back up again as it finishes strong with long, lingering fudge, chocolate covered black raspberry, blackstrap molasses, and slight char.

M: Thick and slightly sludgy with a very chewy mouthfeel. No carbonation whatsoever. It isn't missed too sorely, but it could help to add that last extra bit of dimension that would make it perfect. Ghost-like trace of whiskey heat and spiciness.

O: This is my second go around with the Reserve series Black Betty, and I enjoyed it more this time. The base beer is exceptional in its own right, but the whiskey barrel still flattens things out a little bit rather than having the seamless integration that the elite barrel-aged beers flaunt. That still isn't enough to derail this beer though. It really takes its time opening up on the palate, on both the nose and in the taste, but once it does reach its crescendo it never falls and finishes on a very high note. In this case it's the strong finish that leaves a lasting impression and ultimately saves this beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 03:25:19 | More by ryan1788a5

Cstromberg57

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev -5.5%

02-11-2013 02:30:05 | More by Cstromberg57

siege06nd

Virginia

2/5  rDev -49.6%

02-08-2013 03:51:13 | More by siege06nd

Rhettroactive

Virginia

1.5/5  rDev -62.2%

02-08-2013 03:50:29 | More by Rhettroactive