Hunahpu's Imperial Stout - Cigar City Brewing

jimmy82063

Connecticut

4.59/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Finally am having this fresh and I am certainly in for a treat. The por is a jet black with no head and no lacing. The smell belies cocoa, vanilla & coffee this is one of the best smetting beers I have had. Yeah I know kind of weird. Taste, is there a lot going on here! Vanilla, coffee, chocolate, cinnamon but the kicker is the nice spiciness of the ancho chiles everything melds so well. To try this at the day of release would be a treat. Well done!

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 23:46:49 | More by jimmy82063

ffOpusx

California

4.74/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Pours pitch black

Smells amazing big chocolate & Coffee notes, with some vanilla

Tastes even better, like melted chocolate bar, big chocolate and espresso notes,
Little vanilla, and cinnamon, light pepper under tone

This is the best non barrel aged beers i've ever had!

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 17:10:07 | More by ffOpusx

Biggesthouse

Florida

4.79/5  rDev +5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Picked up a few bombers at Hunahpus Day! Filled myself with Hunahpu on draft at the event, it was absolutely delicious! Huge fan of CCB and their stouts; Marshall Zhukov's, Cafe Con Leche and Moat Water! I actually prefer it from the bottle, just opened the second one. The flavours are even more delightful from the bottle!

A: Midnight black, never changed motor oil, Pepsi
S: Fairly alchish, chillies, chocolate, berries, cinnamon
T: Slightly spicy, hints of multiple peppers, dark chocolate, cinnamon

It's so good I can no longer focus on this review.
Drink it if yah got it!

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 02:36:23 | More by Biggesthouse

SaisonRichBiere

Michigan

4.74/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Poured from a bottle. 2010 vintage. Big thanks to alefish for hooking this up!

Appearance- The Darth Vader of stouts. The blackest of the black with a dark dense head that slowly dissipates. Liquid is muddy rather than shiny. Leggy enough that it leaves no lacing at all. It all gets dragged back into the tar...Very commanding presence once decanted.

Smell- Strong dark chocolate, dense, earthy cinnamon notes, dried dark fruits, and smoky pepper. The nose suits this one well.

Taste- Salty caramel followed by cinnamony chicory coffee. Big creamy chocolate notes followed by a big, blunt, pure dark chocolate hit. Bitters out a bit before finishing smooth and chocolatey. Peppercorn zest and espresso take turns hanging out on the tongue in the aftertaste. Not boozy at all for an imperial, there's just way too much else going on here that masks it. Very complex, unique, and distinct. One of the best.

Mouthfeel- Smooth, dense and creamy start to finish. Like a milkshake that melted a bit at room temperature. Par for the course considering the style.

Overall- I've waited a while to get one of these, and I am extremely fortunate to have gotten one with some age on it. Very happy with it. I love the style, and this is by far one of the best. I have another cellaring, and look forward to another in the future. A must have for all beer enthusiasts.

Cheers

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 02:03:43 | More by SaisonRichBiere

Uncleserg

California

4.64/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Hand bottle via neighbor who hooked it up literally at 10:30pm PST Thx Art S.

Pours pitch black and pretty viscous with a creamy tan head that has some large bubbles.

Amazing aroma - chocolate, spices, roast, smoke, and mild chili peppers burnt sugars.

Flavor is incredible and moves through several phases as it warms up. Starts with semi-sweet chocolate then roast and coffee, followed by some smoke, vanilla, then chili peppers, cinnamon, wood and bitter cocoa and hops on the finish. The complexity is pretty cerebral.

Medium full on the palate with a bitter cocoa chalkiness. Bitterness really sticks with you, and I feel like it's more from the cocoa than the hops.

Drinkability is semi-smooth at chilled level once it warms up its chalky , but I think this works very well as a sipper. Smell is amazing intense chilly mild vanilla. AMAZING BEER glad to try twice in one week.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 06:51:29 | More by Uncleserg

HopHeadCnK

Virginia

4.64/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

The head sneaks up on you. Dark tan head on a midnight black pour into a tulip glass, increasing as you pour. Extremely complex nose, different notes every time you smell, chocolate, cinnamon, vanilla. Almost medicinal on the nose.

Taste is extremely complex, sweet up front with toasted malt and heat on the finish. Soooo easy drinking for 11%, this beer could be dangerous.

The question is, good enough to be worth the round trip plane tickets to get me down to the release and back...ABSOLUTELY! Cheers

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 00:26:26 | More by HopHeadCnK

yamar68

Minnesota

4.61/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

HUGE thanks to LiquidDegenerate for this long-time want. 2013 vintage split with mnphish. From notes:

As dark as they come... an incredibly stubborn finger of creamy khaki awesomeness forms drapes and drapes of oily lace. Honestly, this is an absolutely perfect looking beer.

Like sticking my nose into a tub of cinnamon ice cream. Homeboy Evan says it "smells like a Cinnabon factory." I don't disagree. Milk chocolate, very faint chile contribution, a mellow suggestion of coffee on the tail end of things. Very dynamic... I'm glad I chose to drink this fresh.

Wow. Like nothing else I can think of... cinnamon and spice, vanilla bean, bitter coffee/chocolate, dry chile aspect... every ingredient plays a roll in a delicious way. Entirely unique. I wish there was some more attainable substitute. Fuckin... yum.

Forever ISO.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 20:52:31 | More by yamar68

bryang002

Illinois

2.95/5  rDev -35.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Maybe I built this one up too much but I was greatly disappointed with 2013 Huna. The look and feel of this beer were amazing but for some reason all I could smell and taste was olives.

After a bit I finally got some vanilla undertones but this thing tasted like a olive bomb. No chocolate, no chilies, this thing was a mess.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 16:07:49 | More by bryang002

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

2.76/5  rDev -39.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2

I've had this on a couple occasions now. I was entirely underwhelmed by it the first time, so I had to give it a second try in order to understand why this beer is praised so much. And I still don't get it. This just simply is not a good beer.

The look is good enough: dark brown-black with a wispy tan head that dissipated almost completely. Aroma was pretty basic for a stout, dark malts, some roast, with distant spice notes. For all that's put into this beer, the flavor profile is extremely weak. Dark roasty malts typical of a basic stout, some sugary sweetness with a hint of cinnamon, cocoa powder, anise, pickles, something vegetal that could possibly be construed as hot pepper, but no real burn or nice peppery taste going on. The mouthfeel is on the thin side, which seems to be what makes this beer suffer the most; body is medium, very light for a stout, much less an imperial stout, and the alcohol warmth, while present, isn't too intense.

Of all the over-hyped uber-beers, this one probably impressed me the least, and to think that there is an entire day devoted to this beer, kind of baffles me.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 21:46:45 | More by Rifugium

mnphish

Minnesota

4.84/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

750 ml bottle thanks to yamar68 for sharing this elusive gem with me! Mr. Hunahpu pours an extremely dark black with a one finger khaki head that lasts for ages, and is one for the ages. The nose brings me massive joy, I feel like a phish kid listening to Harry Hood for this first time. Glorious aromas: Huge dark chocolate, vanilla bean, roasted malts, and some spice from the chili's. There is a strong scent a cinnamon as well. The taste is extremely unique for a stout, it's very impressive and still not was I was expecting after reading so many reviews. Flavors of extremely dark chocolate take over my palate, along with notes of vanilla, spicy cinnamon, and bitter caramelized coffee. Hunahpu's is extremely flavorful and complex but not as full bodied as I was expecting. It's more of a smooth bodied and drinkable stout. The nose is the best part and the taste follows in superb fashion. The spice sets this beer apart from other stouts. It definitely lives up to the hype!

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 20:35:58 | More by mnphish

MasterCraft

Massachusetts

4.21/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

2012 vintage served side by side with 2013.

2012:

Smells of dark, fudgy chocolate, cherries, plumbs, vanilla

Tastes like fudge, baker's chocolate, alcohol soaked cherries, prunes, tobacco, leather

2013

Smells of sweet pie cherries, chocolate, faint spice and vanilla

Taste is much like the smell. More delicate and layered than the 2012 bottle. Slight burn from the pepper evident, but if I were given these beers blind, I'm not sure I'd pick out cinnamon or ancho. Delicious stout nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2013 01:45:25 | More by MasterCraft

Chazari99

Massachusetts

4.4/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Very enjoyable stout. Not as bitter as I expect from a highly-rated stout. Can taste the Vanilla prominently and its not as "dessert-like" as others have suggested. In my opinion, this is a distant second to Perennial Abraxas and even Speedway Stout. However, it is still delicious.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 21:54:29 | More by Chazari99

cjgator3

Florida

4.49/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle

A- Poured into a Cigar City tulip glass. This is one thick beer as it is poured into the glass. It is pitch black with a tan colored head with good retention and lacing.

S- The aroma is fantastic and becomes more and more complex as the beer warms in the glass. The first two things that come to mind in the aroma are chocolate and cinnamon with dark roasted malts, smoke and a faint presence from the chilis.

T- Wow! The taste is insane! Dark roasted malts up front with bittersweet chocolate and fresh strong espresso lingering into the finish. There is a lot of lingering bitterness as well from the hops. Finally, this beer has quite a bit of warmth in the finish from the alcohol. This beer seems like it is going to age wonderfully and should get better and better with age.

M- The mouthfeel is unlike any other beer I have had. It is a full, thick, smooth and very moderately carbonated beer.

O- Overall, Hunahpus lives up to it's mythical, legendary hype. Great job Cigar City!

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 02:36:55 | More by cjgator3

Powderhornphil

Minnesota

4.86/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

2013 Vintage

Pours from the bottle like motor oil. Deep chocolate, incredibly dense head. The beer looks very rich, with a nice oily, slickness to the appearance. Pitch black except at the very edges where a reddish brown ring is visible. Very nice looking.

Smells of cocoa, roast, sweetness. Smells good but the aroma is probably the most subdued aspect of this amazing beer.

The taste comes in waves of flavors, dark chocolate, sweet vanilla, coffee roast, some heat from the chiles and warming cinnimon finish it off. Absolutely astounding how good this is. The flavors are perfectly blended, with nothing overpowering. It's a very cohesive flavor profile.

Full mouthfeel, bit seems a little lighter that its base Marshall Zhukov.

Absolutely worth the hype. One of the best I have had.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 03:08:24 | More by Powderhornphil

superdedooperboy

Georgia

4.59/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

750-ml brown glass bottle poured into a snifter glass. 2013 batch, released 09 March 2013. Served at approximately 45 degrees F.

Pours as black as 15,000-mile motor oil and nearly as thick, with a heavy viscosity evidenced by the legs created when swirled in the glass. A pathetic attempt at a head arises only after a bit of vigorous pouring and shows itself a deep mocha brown, quickly dying away nearly as soon as it takes form.

The nose is layered with goodness. Chocolate runs throughout in its many forms: dark chocolate, fudge, chocolate cake, cocoa powder -- you name it, you'll find it here. Intermingling with the chocolate notes are notes of dark cherries, a whiff of anise, a touch of chile, and a slight bit of sourness. Overall the combination is exceedingly enticing.

Rich and full-bodied, though a very low carbonation feel makes it feel somewhat lighter than it is, which normally is contrary but the lack of carbonation in this beer for some reason lends itself differently.

On the palate, a lavish melange of flavors take hold. Dark chocolate, rich with cacao, shows itself toward the front of the palate, with a bit of rich chocolate fudge following shortly thereafter. Espresso weaves itself into a rounded hit of ancho chiles around the edges, providing a pleasant yet subdued smoky-spiciness. Toward the back, that spice edges its way into a tinge of acidic sourness that quickly dies back down into a chocolaty spiciness in the long, mostly dry finish.

This is a rather decadent imperial stout that would probably fall into the realm of overly sweet and chocolaty if not for the splendid balance provided by the chiles. The blend of aging adjuncts makes for a wonderful departure from the imperial stout norm. Worthy of a massive release day? Well, I suppose rarity counts for something, and considering the release event is more like an overt beer festival than a mere showcasing of the brewery's wares, it certainly is a worthy centerpiece.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 02:38:42 | More by superdedooperboy

Beeranator

North Carolina

4.7/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Snifter Glass courtesy of CraftEyeDoc

A: Pours pitch black with a thick dark brown creamy head.

S: Chocolate, roasted malts.

T: Chocolate, Dark Chocolate, Smokey flavor, Vanilla. I don't get the chilies but there is some strong bitterness that mellows out with the vanilla after taste.

M: Thick, lightly carbonated.

O: Very good balanced stout with bitterness and sweetness, i loved the vanilla and cocoa flavors in this. Definitely would like to have this regularly.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 00:57:41 | More by Beeranator

WillCarrera

Illinois

4.74/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

On-tap at Hunahpu Day 2013.

A- Pours pitch black, is very thick looking, even in a crappy plastic cup it produces a really nice dark, creamy mocha head, which leaves some thick lacing.

S- Great aroma of rich dark chocolate, espresso, roasted grain, cocoa powder, with cinnamon and a subtle spiciness.

T- As in the aroma, there are layers and layers of dark chocolate, chocolate cake, and cocoa powder. Also a nice amount of espresso and roasted grain, with a dry roasty finish that leaves lingering flavors of chocolate. The cinnamon is more noticeable than the chilis, but both are relatively subtle and add a great complexity without overwhelming the beer. The flavors are highly complex, delicious and also well-balanced.

M- Full-bodied, super thick, creamy and rich, the booze provides a bit of warmth but is mostly invisible.

O- I'm so glad I have almost a case of this. It's a delicious, complex, thoroughly-enjoyable beer, this can easily hold its own with the best stouts around.

Serving type: on-tap

03-12-2013 23:34:22 | More by WillCarrera

augustg

Illinois

4.96/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

Just on my way back from the 2013 event and was lucky enough to have this on an unlimited tap. After having the 11 and 12 I knew this was one of my all time favorites. The 2013 did not disappoint. Pours a deep brown/black with a thick brown/red velvet head. Smells of vanilla, marshmallow, cinnamon, chili, chocolate and a little roast. Spices come through first on the taste then mellows into a nice caramel vanilla with a bit of burnt cacao. Fantastic overall and it seems to get better every year.

Thanks CCB for making great beer! See you in 2014.

Serving type: on-tap

03-11-2013 17:32:06 | More by augustg

kylehay2004

Florida

4.41/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: very dark brown single finger head on a jet black very oily body with excellent lacing.

S: not all that crazy about the aroma. Has more of a burnt rubber aroma to me than chili pepper with cinnoman, hints of cocoa, vanilla and oak and some roasted malts.

T: opens with chili peppers, dark chocolate and roasted malts moving to bitterness which is fairly severe and carries to the finish but brown sugar cocoa and vanilla come in late to balance the finish. The bitterness is a little tough to move past and get used to but it evens out eventually.

M: full thick body, oily coating the palate with light to moderate carbonation.

Overall: i opened this the day after the 2012 release. one of the more unique stouts I have had. A little tough to drink but improves as you go with the drinker able to appreciate the complexity further into enjoying it. I think it would be perfect if it had a little more sweetness to it. Otherwise I can't really complain or imagine it getting much better.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 23:58:03 | More by kylehay2004

BrbnBarlAgdBil

Florida

4.93/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

Just attended the festival this past weekend and it was worth the hype. I had the opportunity to try a 2011 at the event and most everyone I spoke with said that this years batch is just phenomenal. The beer is darker than anything I have ever had before and the subtle notes of chili are apparent along with the dark coffee taste. I am extremely thankful that I brought enough home with me to enjoy one every couple of months.

Serving type: on-tap

03-10-2013 20:05:40 | More by BrbnBarlAgdBil

Trilogy31

California

4.79/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Vintage 2011, opened today at about 50 degrees. Nice hiss of carbonation escapes as the crown is popped. Pours syrupy, motor oil thick out of the bottle with a half finger of densely packed mocha foam. The nose hits you with rich milky chocolate, carribean spice, a slight vegetal (green) chili nose as well, no vanilla of note but heady, complex stuff. The taste while not as complex as the nose brings really rich, chewy chocolate mousse brownie, whispers of roasted coffee and as it warms a pleasant spice of chili that plays beautifully with the heavy upfront dose of chocolate. Huge and chewy beer that just coats your mouthand all the way down. Alcohol is not noticeable though this is a definte sipping, after dinner beer that is best shared by friends. Highly impressive and worth the hype, scared to think how in your face this beast must be when its fresh.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 00:55:06 | More by Trilogy31

jgurley

Florida

4.74/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

I had this in the Cigar City Tasting Room. Great place, great experience, fine beer. Dark, solid black with extremely dark brown thin head. Sweet caramely smell. Full of different flavors with so much going on it's near indescribable. Bitter cocoa powder, thick dark chocolate, vanilla, some dark cherry and spicy notes with lots of booziness. Oily, thick mouthfeel and bitter but pleasant finish. This is an outstanding, albeit one and done type beer. I recommend the beer and HIGHLY recommend the Cigar City Tasting Room experience.

Serving type: on-tap

02-20-2013 01:57:32 | More by jgurley

pmarlowe

California

4.11/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2012 vintage. Tulip glass.

A: Pours a thick, viscous black with a cap of red-tinted dark brown which recedes quickly to a thin ring. No lacing.

S: Red chilis, cinnamon bark, decadent cocoa, cocoa powder, cherry. Like mexican hot chocolate.

T: Big dark, mouthcoating chocolate, cocoa powder, sweetish spicy red peppers which linger on the long finish, and some subtle vanilla and cinnamon. Slight off taste on the finish, like a coffee bitterness crossed with a spicy note.

M: Silky smooth. Full body, mouthcoating, and light but sharp carbonation. Alcohol is well hidden despite the 11% ABV.

O: Solid variation on an imperial stout, but nothing exceptional. The flavors don't quite come together as they could, and kicking up the vanilla--which is quite faint--would do well.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 07:12:06 | More by pmarlowe

popery

California

4.63/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From notes, 12/2/10. Thanks to cmillward. Bottle. Absolutely delicious stuff. One of the best stouts that I’ve tried so far. Beautifully dark and thick in the glass. Head was a shade of brown as dark as any I’ve seen. Mouthfeel was thick with mild carbonation. Aroma is rich with chocolate, mild roast, big vanilla and some interesting spice. Dark chocolate, cocoa, vanilla all come through big in the taste, as well. I’m not a big fan of chili in beer, but it’s very nice in this one, only hitting in the finish with a bit of spice. This sort of super rich chocolatey imperial stout is right up my alley for the style. Hops are present but more of a background player. Pretty sweet but it works well for the beer. Just a big, rich beer that drinks even bigger than 11% abv. Very impressive.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 23:57:12 | More by popery

BradTheHophead

4.95/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

This beer was worth waiting in line with 5000 other beer advocates for a few bottles of this Imperial Stout.

A. Dark body with a copper head.

S. There is plethora of smells from chocolate to malts.

T. Starts of with malt and hops and finishes with chocolate coffee taste.

M. Warm and almost overwhelming with all the taste. Surprisingly the 11% alcohol was not noticeable.

O. This is a great complex beer from a great brewery!

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 04:59:33 | More by BradTheHophead