Hunahpu's Imperial Stout - Cigar City Brewing

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

4.75/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | 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

pepsican

Iowa

3.8/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

Black black black. Super dark brown head. Up front aroma of vanilla, toffee, chocolate, and caramel. Flavor is more vanilla, chocolate, coffee, cinnamon, citrus, and some roasted oats. Big sweet finish, good carbonation. Wish this one had the chili presence I’ve read about, probably my fault for sitting on it for so long.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 20:26:55 | More by pepsican

ZombiesAteMyDog

Indiana

4.43/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

-2012 vintage-

A - oily black in color with a warm, cocoa-colored head and lacing.

S - Dark chocolate upfront followed by rich, roasted malt. I also get a bit of chili pepper and cinnamon in the end. As it warms it starts to sweeten with vanilla and some coffee bean/molasses.

T - There's a nice smoky heat in the finish, but it does not resemble chipotle peppers...
overall, it's smooth and velvety, especially for the complexity and high abv. As it warms, there is a nice ebb and flow between the flavors of chili, cocoa, and cinnamon. This beer really starts to shine is it warms. It takes on qualities of mole and espresso.

M - It's oily and a bit thinner in mouthfeel then I expected. It's still chewy, which is nice, but it's not as viscus as I would have expected.

O - I had very high expectations for this beer. I probably built it up too much, but it's a damn nice stout with a flavor profile which I wish was more prevalent in the craft beer world. I loved "cocoa mole", so I was hoping this would knock my socks off... It did for the most part. It's a shame it's so hard to get a bottle or two. I would like to try it fresh now that I've had it with the better part of a year on it.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 22:24:57 | More by ZombiesAteMyDog

bigfnjoe

Pennsylvania

4.58/5  rDev +0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle into a Duvel tulip. Batch one. Here we go, kids...

A- pours jet black with a three finger dark, dark brown head that quickly fades. My god, if the head stuck around for more than a few seconds, it would be the most beautiful beer I've ever seen in my life.

S- chocolate, vanilla, a little bit of heat...not bad, though the aromas are a little muted after nearly three years

T- the vanilla and cacao is still there, and creates a hell of a luscious, sweet, well-balanced beer with absolutely no heat. Dear lord. And actually, I'm getting some heat in the finish. Awesome

M- you can cut this one with a knife, but it better be pretty damn sharp. Motor oil!

O- this one is worth the hype. It aged fine, though I think fresh it could be amazing

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 01:14:49 | More by bigfnjoe

Rinkor16

California

4.73/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Opened on 12/28/12. Tasted alongside CBS, BCBCS and Black Tuesday.

A: Jet black with a little head that stuck around.

S: The smell is overwhelmed with chocolate and roasted malt.

T: CHOCOLATE. Smooth roasted malt, dark chocolate and vanilla. It is extraordinary how prominent the chocolate is in this beer. I have literally never had a stout that had so much chocolate going on. Out of a tasting of 4 American Imperial Stouts.... This was by far my favorite.

M: Right amount of carbonation, smooth and creamy.

O: Compared to BCBCS and CBS, I think this beer should be rated even higher. The amount of chocolate in this beer is astounding.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 05:58:01 | More by Rinkor16

Thehuntmaster

South Africa

4.85/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle 11,5% Abv.
Served lightly chilled in an over sized wine glass.
2011 Vintage

December 21st 2012 - according to the Mayan prophecies, the end of the world is roughly 15 minutes away. I guess this would be the appropriate time to crack open a beer named in honour of the Mayan hero who defeated the lords of the underworld and ascended to become the sun.

Appearance: Hunahpu pours as dark as any black hole that is potentially about to devour our planet - not even the dying rays of the sun can yield any light along the edges of the glass. A rough pour yields a massive chocolate mousse coloured head that lasts really well for the Abv. and leaves a few small patches of lace as it recedes. A swirl coats the glass in a sticky brown residue, that fades into heavy alcohol legs.

Smell: Ah man, this smells divine! I am not sure I could ask much more from what is potentially my last ever beer! The Peruvian cocoa nibs take center stage, with intoxicating aromas of dark chocolate, cocoa, dark chocolate mousse and cocoa dusted dark chocolate truffles dominating the first few sniffs. As the beer begins to open up, the vanilla beans combine with the cocoa to yield a sweeter milk chocolate aroma, alongside notes from the base beer, including roasted malt, dark roast coffee beans, molasses, dark caramel and some dark fruits. As the beer warms further traces of the chilis become apparent.

Taste: Well, if the world does end in 5 minutes and 28 seconds time, I will die happy - this is absolutely delicious! The flavour has more in common with the base beer than the nose, but the cocoa, vanilla and chilis are all well noted. Flavour notes include: Masses of roasted malt, almost as much dark chocolate, some char, cocoa, dark roast coffee beans, light vanilla, some sweeter milk chocolate, sweet dark caramel, molasses, a little liquorice, some deep dark fruit characters (burned raisins, dark cherries and stewed plums), dark treacle, an earthy note and a light chili flavour. The finish is quite bitter and displays a distinct chili heat that tingles the back of your throat and increases in intensity as the beer warms.

Mouthfeel: Sadly Hunahpu is a little over carbonated for my tastes, at a medium (or just over) level and not quite as smooth as I would like. The body on the other hand is superb - full, thick and chewy.

Overall: It would seem as though I finished my review just in time - 20 seconds left. . . . . 5 , 4 , 3 , 2 , 1 . . . . . . God damn it - nothing happened! Ah well, I guess I will just have to settle with enjoying the rest of this world class imperial stout.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 09:47:33 | More by Thehuntmaster

solo103

Florida

5/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Thanks to my buddy robin for this one!!!! Poured in a goose island tulip.

Appearance - poured motor oil black and thick as a milkcomplement each otherth a deep robust chocolate mocha head.

Smell- right of the bat I get mexican chocolate ( bitter sweet dark chocolate with notes of spicy chillies) followed by a subdued sweetness. The aroma of this beer is fantastic and complex.

Taste- wow! Strong presence of roasted malt and bitter chocolate. The spice from the chillies is mild and not over powering they complement each other nicely. Finishes slightly dry.

Mouthfeel - Thick slick and chewy!!

Overall- phenomenal stout!!! Must try for stout lovers. Once agian cigar city has brewed one of the best imperial stouts made!!!

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 23:14:29 | More by solo103

smokeypeat

Maryland

4.9/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This thing pours 2am black into the glass with a nice thick "glug, glug". Nice sticky lacing from the head. Good legs on the glass. Definitely one of the best looking imperial stouts out there.

Smell on this is great. Nice dark roast, hints of the vanilla and cinnamon present. Morning blend coffee.

Taste is off the charts for me. Perfect blend of traditional RIS flavors (coffee, bakers chocolate), with great add-ons. The vanilla is a nice sweet note, with the cinnamon present but not overpowering. I really love how the chiles come in on the back end and create this pleasant warming note throughout. Probably the most balanced use of chiles in beer that I've come across.

Mouthfeel is perfect for a big beer like this. Smooth, creamy, goes down easy without being cloying.

After having this a third time on Thanksgiving night I can say this has become my favorite beers in the "one day a year" special release category. I think I'm going to have to make the effort to get down there next year for release day.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 15:34:52 | More by smokeypeat

mltobin

Connecticut

4.48/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Shared a bottle of this with a couple of friends.
Appearance is a deep black with a small head. It has a nose with vanilla, oak, dark chocolate, nuts and some bourbon. The taste is biscuits, coffee, more vanilla, faint chili peppers and more oakiness. Mouthfeel is medium, a very smooth, clean finish. Just leaves you with some boozy aftertaste. This is by all means a fantastic imperial stout, wish it was easier to get in NY-CT.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 02:32:47 | More by mltobin

Samichlaus82

4/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a pitch black color with a really dark brown head. The aroma is of vanilla, fudge, chocolate, cocoa, gingerbread, coffee, roasted malt, dark fruits, molasses and lots of nice deserty aromas. Flavors is as amazing as the aroma, it really reminds me of gingerbread, with honey and ginger and cinnamon spice notes, vanilla, dark and sweet chocolate notes, cocoa, coffee, vanilla, fudge, dark fruits and molasses, with a hint of the chili that evolves the more you sip in it. The body is full with a nice sticky and creamy mouth feel.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2012 09:58:50 | More by Samichlaus82