Black Xantus - Nectar Ales

ShadesOfGray

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22oz bottle into my Ommegang tall snifter glass. Pours a pretty dark brown, almost black...yet filling the glass pitch black with just a tinge of red coming through on the edges. Provides a very small, very late forming dark tan head with little retention, dissipating to a layer of cream. Leaves a surprisingly decent layer of lacing.

Aroma is mild, but good. Sweet chocolates, toasted malts and roasted coffee beans. Not much booze is present in the nose, which is strange for 11% ABV. Very faint hops come through.

Flavor is very good. Not incredible, but a very good drinker! Chocolates and sugars come through immediately, but quickly make way to a slightly bitter chocolate, hops, and coffee bitterness. Very creamy finish, and not that boozy! Pretty good RIS. Carbonation is low, mouthfeel is medium body. Heat from the booze is very faint.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2010 21:38:46 | More by ShadesOfGray

acc88

Illinois

4/5  rDev -3.6%

05-20-2013 05:25:38 | More by acc88

Immortale25

Florida

4.35/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Served in a pint glass at Tryst in Delray Beach, FL.

A- Pours a 99% opaque black color with a 1/4 inch tan head that retains a bit before becoming a thin ring around the edge of the glass and a sheer patch of surface foam. Slippery, non-resilient lacing leaves clots behind on the glass.

S- Roasted malt with notes of dark chocolate, brown sugar and vanilla.

T- A bit on the sweeter side with plenty of dark chocolate plus some black licorice and a hint of smoke. Also some vanilla and caramel and a semi-bitter aftertaste. Very smooth as the alcohol flavor is quite subdued.

M- Somewhat creamy and not as viscous as expected. Medium-low carbonation and a mildly robust body.

O- Glad to finally try this and on-tap no less. Quite complex and easy to drink. Definitely the best thing I've had from Nectar Ales so far.

Serving type: on-tap

05-19-2013 20:26:56 | More by Immortale25

Ilovebeer1549

California

3.25/5  rDev -21.7%

05-18-2013 04:27:34 | More by Ilovebeer1549

aslamm75

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

05-17-2013 22:11:25 | More by aslamm75

HopsMatt

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

05-17-2013 01:07:05 | More by HopsMatt

MaseFace

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

05-17-2013 01:06:13 | More by MaseFace

deltatauhobbit

Maine

4.1/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Ahh, the infamous Black Xantus.

Pours a dark brown, almost black, color with a thinnish light brown head, fades quickly and leaves no lacing on the glass.

Smell has a subtle aroma of coffee, likely has diminished over time, roasted malt, light dark fruit notes.

Taste does not burn as badly as the jokes used to talk about although there is some heat to it, strong roasted malt backbone with a decent coffee presence, subtle dark fruit such as raisins, barrel-aging is very subtle with little wood character present, nice chewiness to it and a creamy body, carbonation is soft yet active.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 18:51:58 | More by deltatauhobbit

cyrushire

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

05-14-2013 04:26:02 | More by cyrushire

mahak213

New York

4.26/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Appearance- Black, but with a touch of light coming in around the edges. Not much head as expected, which dissipated into lots of big bubbles around the edges of the glass

Smell- Coffee and chocolate, vanilla from the barrel as well as a touch of a sweet, roasted coconut. No alcohol at all on the nose

Taste- Big milk chocolate which fades into roasty coffee. Coffee isn't too present, but it's there. Really nice barrel character though with sweet vanilla, coconut, and a touch of booziness finishing things off.

Mouthfeel- Medium body with mild carbonation. Could be a bit fuller, but the carbonation is spot on for me. Finishes sticky, sweet, and coating

Overall- I think I enjoy KBS a bit more than this as far as BA coffee stouts go, but this has a much nicer barrel character. Either way, you can't go wrong, this is good stuff!

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 23:06:29 | More by mahak213

strongaf

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

05-11-2013 07:31:42 | More by strongaf

Dannynoonan123

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -3.6%

05-09-2013 01:00:19 | More by Dannynoonan123

leftoverburrito

Oregon

2.25/5  rDev -45.8%

05-08-2013 03:11:22 | More by leftoverburrito

ElGallo

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

05-06-2013 00:27:45 | More by ElGallo

EyePeeAyBryan

Arizona

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

05-01-2013 04:24:06 | More by EyePeeAyBryan

LSx

California

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

04-25-2013 04:29:08 | More by LSx

mcintire78

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +20.5%

04-23-2013 01:17:46 | More by mcintire78

UNCCTDawg

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

04-22-2013 23:11:14 | More by UNCCTDawg

drgonzo2k2

California

4.75/5  rDev +14.5%

04-18-2013 01:53:45 | More by drgonzo2k2

JasonFromLA

California

5/5  rDev +20.5%

04-16-2013 01:50:52 | More by JasonFromLA

browniewithnuts

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +14.5%

04-16-2013 00:28:47 | More by browniewithnuts

TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

5/5  rDev +20.5%

04-09-2013 22:32:59 | More by TheBeerAlmanac

PicoPapa

Connecticut

4.23/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

22oz bottle. Pours a pitch black color with a 1/4 inch of medium brown head. Some lacing. Aroma is booze with some dark chocolate and roasted malts, but the booze dominates. Not picking up on too much else to be honest. The taste is boozey but with some sweetness. Dark chocolate and earth. Just like the nose, the bourbon is the main focus of the taste. Hints of black coffee and vanilla. Hot at the finish. Heavy, velvety mouth feel. This is a very booze forward beer but it drinks fairly well considering. Overall, this is damn good and I'd like to try one with some age on it. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 02:50:31 | More by PicoPapa

jhillwastaken

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%

04-04-2013 08:00:11 | More by jhillwastaken

schillman

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%

04-01-2013 19:44:05 | More by schillman