Sexy Chaos - Marshall Wharf Brewing Company / Three Tides Restaurant

Drazzamatazz

Maine

4.38/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Reviewed from a growler I've had in the fridge for a few weeks now thanks to Chuckycheese. Had the hardest time ever opening this sucker up, which worried me, but from the first pour I realized the carbonation was still spot on.

A: Deep charcoal with a wonderful cascading mocha head. Nice clinging to the sides, and as soon as you pour you realize this is going to be a full bodied monster. I'm getting a little bit of coconut too, which I'm digging.

S: Tons of sweet vanilla with a little bit of char in the back. Typical stout aromas can all be found, but the biggest thing setting this apart is a tangy sweetness.

T: First thing to really come through is a tangy fruit note, my girlfriend says it tastes like "grape soda" take from that what you will. Right after that the vanilla really comes out along side the oak notes. There's still a lingering sweetness throughout, but the last notes are a smooth roasted char finish.

M: Full bodied for sure, not quite motor oil, but this stuff clearly fills your mouth. Medium carbonation is just where it should be for a big imperial stout. For being so sweet its surprisingly dry in the finish, like a big full bodied tannic red is the closest comparison.

D: Anyone who went to Novare for Valentine's Day beer & chocolate pairings would know how drinkable this one is, clearly the most talked about beer of the night. I've had it a few times before, and I'm excited to destroy this growler. Its big and in your face, but its also smooth and complex and there's no real high presence of alcohol to be found.

Serving type: growler

03-06-2011 22:30:59 | More by Drazzamatazz

ToasterChef

Maine

4.24/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Valentine's Day 2013 saw Marshall Wharf in a generous mood: offering for sale rare growlers of Sexy Chaos. This growler has been refrigerated since it was purchased, except for the long drive back from Belfast. I'm served myself in a tulip glass.

The beer is colored very dark brown. The head is a shade of light brown and about a finger or two in height. It settles down to a thin skim. Good lacing is left behind.

There are great vanilla notes coming off of this beer. I also smell a good amount of dark roasted malts. This makes it more roasty than sweet, although there is a bit of alcohol in the nose too.

The beer has a very smooth flavor with a good amount of vanilla and a touch of roasted malt. There are hints of chocolate and some alcohol in the finish. What is quite impressive is that this doesn't taste anywhere near as strong as a 11+% ABV beer.

Again, this beer doesn't feel as thick or sticky as other RISes of this strength. There is flavorful coat that has some roast and sweetness. Carbonation does tingle, but the overall level is a bit low (due to this being a growler pour, I assume).

Overall, this is a fine RIS. It is another great beer out of Marshall Wharf. If you get a chance to try it, don't pass up on the opportunity.

Serving type: growler

02-19-2013 00:42:14 | More by ToasterChef

Rochefort10nh

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev -4.1%

01-19-2013 18:49:06 | More by Rochefort10nh

MikeHRayn

Maine

4.75/5  rDev +7.2%

12-30-2012 17:12:55 | More by MikeHRayn

05Harley

New Hampshire

4.18/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Purchased fresh at the "5th year of beer" festival on 10/13/12.
(336 calories)

Price - $18.00/growler

It was a real treat to score a couple of growlers and just as good here as on tap. I can't wait to get this in cans off the store shelf ;-)
One of my favorite offerings from Marshall Wharf.

The appearance is what you would expect from a big, bold, Russian Imperial Stout. Not quite midnight black but plenty dark with red highlights near the rim. A tan creamy head tops it off but retreats fairly quickly leaving behind a thin veil and decent lines.

The aroma is not as strong as you would expect from a beer weighing in at 11.2%. It may not be "in your face" but you still can't hide the unmistakeable smell of vanilla, caramel, burnt sugar, dark chocolate, bittering hops and wood. Pretty complex when you take the time to nail it all down. Like a fine wine, it gets more impressionable as it warms.

Taste is roasty right from the start followed by a blast of vanilla, oak, licorice and coffe beans. Dark chocolate and alcohol round it out and complete the experience. Not too boozy but a sipper none the less.

The mouthfeel begins silky smooth but quickly switches gears to a hoppy bitterness. A nice play on balance and interest. This beer is full bodied and somewhat syrupy. Very little carbonation but a fair amount of heat is present due to the octane. Finishes with a near perfect dryness for the style.

This is an excellant example of the style and a highlight of the season. Winter is here, so let's get warm with a glass of your favorite Imperial Stout.

Serving type: growler

11-30-2012 18:59:11 | More by 05Harley

mkeene78

4.5/5  rDev +1.6%

11-24-2012 01:47:07 | More by mkeene78

DreamsOfMarshallWharf

Wyoming

5/5  rDev +12.9%

10-20-2012 01:23:25 | More by DreamsOfMarshallWharf

InebriatedJoker

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +1.6%

10-19-2012 23:41:07 | More by InebriatedJoker

ILiveOffHops

New Hampshire

5/5  rDev +12.9%

09-02-2012 14:42:29 | More by ILiveOffHops

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed on the outdoor eating area at Marshall Wharf.

A - Poured into a standard PINT glass a dark oily black hue with a nice mocha thin head. Good wisping.

S - Aromas of rich roast chocolate malts and light oak and vanilla. Really nice ans inviting.

T - okay...Yah. Taste is full of chocolate and vanilla....the oak comes out on the finish. Until then its just nice and chocolates and vanilla. Delicious.

M - Mouthfeel is a nice ans creamy feel, not boozy at all. Could be more silky.

O - Overall I really enjoyed this stout. The vanilla and oak come through quite nicely. Just really nice, dangerously drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

08-31-2012 22:40:19 | More by rudzud

jfmamj

New Hampshire

4.5/5  rDev +1.6%

07-10-2012 17:37:15 | More by jfmamj

Snellgg5

New Hampshire

5/5  rDev +12.9%

04-23-2012 00:23:36 | More by Snellgg5

mikeale

Maine

4.5/5  rDev +1.6%

04-11-2012 22:29:32 | More by mikeale

lordofthewiens

Maine

3.88/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at pigs fly. In a tulip the beer was black with a thin tan head.

Chocolate and roasted malt aroma. Nice enough.

Dark chocolate taste, espresso coffee. Much deeper taste than what the aroma hinted at.

Medium-bodied, very pleasant. While you can't taste the alcohol, you can certainly feel it.

Serving type: on-tap

04-07-2012 11:05:21 | More by lordofthewiens

rderedin

Maine

4.75/5  rDev +7.2%

04-01-2012 23:34:03 | More by rderedin

jjcote

New Hampshire

4.75/5  rDev +7.2%

03-31-2012 10:38:32 | More by jjcote

Bendurgin

Maine

4.03/5  rDev -9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a tulip at when pigs fly. Pours jet black with a nice mocha colored head.

The aroma has a nice mellow chocolate aroma with some nice roasted malts and some fruity character such as plumbs. Nice roasted malt flavors with some dark fruits with some milk chocolate flavor. Real enjoyable stuff.

The body is robust and silky with soft carbonation. Overall real good. Grab this one if you see it

Serving type: on-tap

03-30-2012 21:55:32 | More by Bendurgin

TMath524

New Hampshire

4.5/5  rDev +1.6%

03-27-2012 03:07:13 | More by TMath524

MaineMike

Maine

4/5  rDev -9.7%

03-24-2012 13:29:35 | More by MaineMike

ElGallo

New Hampshire

4.5/5  rDev +1.6%

03-23-2012 20:20:32 | More by ElGallo

JAHMUR

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -9.7%

12-23-2011 22:42:05 | More by JAHMUR

BeerWorld

New York

4.5/5  rDev +1.6%

12-23-2011 19:39:14 | More by BeerWorld

Bierman9

New Hampshire

4.35/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Having had some Chaos Chaos already, I had to have a 1/2-pint of this offering as well during my 10DEC11 visit with Alewife. This also cost $4.50 for the 8oz glass.

Also poured in a small flute, it was, like Chaos Chaos, dark and opaque, a crude oil brown. Atop the brew was a creamy, rich tan head, lasting well and leaving very nice lacework. Nose was roasty coffee with some bitter hopping as well. Add onto that some whiskey and oaky aromas. It had a medium to medium-plus body, almost being chewy. And it raised no ruckus at all on the tongue going down.

Had a lovely roasty flavor, with similar coffee and bitter choco characteristics. Figgish and raisiny, then throw in some light bourbon, toasty oak and vanilla flavors and this one really goes places! A lovely bier, indeed!!

Zum Wohl!!

4.35 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

1424

Serving type: on-tap

12-14-2011 16:41:35 | More by Bierman9

mixylplik3

Maine

4.5/5  rDev +1.6%

12-04-2011 22:58:16 | More by mixylplik3

joepais

Maine

5/5  rDev +12.9%

11-23-2011 02:03:00 | More by joepais