Hunahpu's Imperial Stout - Cigar City Brewing

Googs

New York

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

On tap at Barcade in NYC. Very excited to finally have this acclaimed brew from one of my favorite breweries. Thanks CCB for getting it up to us and we're dying for more of your insane genius!

A: Thick, jet black body with a generous espresso head that dissipates somewhat quickly. Lacing on this beer is nuts and really sticks to the glass.

S: Robust dark, roasted cocoa. Woah. Some vanilla, chillies and cinnamon in the background.

T: Heavy roasted and dark malts. Then those cacao nibs become very apparent with the bittersweet chocolate taste, followed by sweet vanilla, and ending with a little hint of cinnamon and chillies. I'm getting some alcohol heat, but really not that much at all for the 11% ABV.

M: A medium body with not much carbonation. Thick and syrupy but not overwhelmingly so. Almost deadly smooth. Lingering flavors on the palate are the semi-sweet chocolate and a bit of a burn from the chillies. Nice as fuck.

O: What an amazing and complex stout from CCB. From the hyped up and highly regarded Imperial stouts that I have tried so far(CBS, KBS etc.) this is the winner for me. Not overwhelmingly sweet, rich or crazy. The flavors work so well together in this one. I had to have two. Hunahpu is one of my favorite of this style, I'd go out of your way to get a pour or a bottle or two of this. Looking forward to one day trying the barrel aged versions

Serving type: on-tap

09-15-2012 02:23:23 | More by Googs

brystmar

New York

4.33/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Barcade Brooklyn! One of my all-time favs :D

Black, syrupy pour. Tons of lace, great retention. Spicy aroma isn't as strong as I'd like; peppers come through with chocolate but not much more.

Huge surge of chocolate up front followed by the signature vanilla chile finish. Booze warms my throat as I swallow, brings more heat as it warms up. Massive body, as usual. Reinforces my belief that Huna is the best yearly RIS made in America.

Serving type: on-tap

09-13-2012 20:53:07 | More by brystmar

4thelvofbeer

Virginia

4.93/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This could be one of the best beers I have had the pleasure of drinking. Really nice, really deep, really, really good. Thanks to Donn for picking this up for our outstanding tasting. There is some much depth and flavor in this beer, it is a great example of my favorite style of beer. The chiles, the cinnamon, the tastes and flavored are great. Pours a beautiful black with a nice brown dark head....overall..pure awesome!

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2012 00:20:37 | More by 4thelvofbeer

tarheels86

California

3.63/5  rDev -20.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

750mL 2010 ed courtesy of Travlr. Pours ink well black with a head so dark brown it looks Martian red. Jesus. Very nice lace. Aroma is grapes, smoked meats, barbecue ribs, bacon. Interesting mix. Taste is fresh grapes, raisins and moves to a chalky, powdery finish. I think the base beer here, Zhukov, is one of my least favorite Imperial stouts. The Hunahpu treatment is a shoe in for an amazing beer, but the base beer is just so bad that you can’t hide from it. Maybe do the Hunahpu treatment to the 110K. 4/12/2010 8/5/7/3/14=3.7

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2012 19:04:13 | More by tarheels86

reto21

South Carolina

4.53/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

notes from a 2011 vintage

A - Pours jet black with a nice one finger tall tan head leaving small, thin trails of lace down parts of the glass. cigar city makes perfect looking stouts in my opinion.

S - Smells of chocolate, chill spice, dark roasted malt, coffee grounds and a tiny bit of vanilla.

T - Starts off with a ton of dark roast quickly giving way to a mix of dulled chocolaty sweetness, day old coffee grounds, light chili spice. A touch of booze comes in at the finish, combining with some of the dark roast to linger on the pallet for some time.

M - This is definitely a big beer. It has lost some of its trademark spice over the years in the bottle but it still has a nice thick body and bold flavors with a good amount of carbonation.

O - This one was definitely showing its age. I will never turn down a glass of this beer. It is truly one of the best stouts out there.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2012 13:29:45 | More by reto21

daryk77

District of Columbia

2.5/5  rDev -45.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2

2012 vintage, thanks to macrosmatic for the bottle.

A: very dark, coffee colored head that dissappears quickly.

S: dark and bitter, little boozy with a meaty bite.

T: burnt chocolate malt, sharp and harsh. Not getting any vanilla here. Can pick up a tiny bit of cinnamon and bitter chocolate, not much pepper either. Pretty strong on soy sauce flavor here.

M: thick and rich, decent carbonation comes through.

O: not what I expected at all. Very little of the extra ingredients are shining through. Really a lot of soy sauce happening with a bitter chocolate fInish. This is odd because I have had Zhukov several times and that beer does not have these same base characteristics. Would love to get more vanilla to balance out these harsh flavors. This was a miss for me, would not buy again even if it was an off the shelf beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2012 02:35:13 | More by daryk77

jeonseh

Indiana

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

Bottle poured into a CBS snifter

A - Dark chocolate with a reddish brown one finger head that settled down to just foam. Medium body and leaves a thick syrupy coating on the glassy as the beer swirls

S - Vanilla and dark, roasted slight bitter chocolate are the main scents in the nose. You definitely pick up the chillies and cinnamon in the back of the nose. They are not overpowering and add another layer of complexity.

T - Dark chocolate and roasted espresso with a hint of vanilla sweetness is the main profile. The finish is a slight alcoholic with warmth, a slight bit of heat from the peppers and slightly bitter dark chocolate. The dark chocolate and pepper heat are what linger on in the finish. Everything in this one is well-balanced, play off of each other and adds a nice level of complexity

MF - Medium body with light carbonation. A bit syrupy and feels nice and smooth. The finish has a slight astringency and a slight burn from the peppers. Very nice.

O - A really impressive and complex stout. It does well to meld all of its different flavors together to create a unique flavor profile that combine vanilla, dark chocolate and peppers. This is a stout that comes out great from the brewery and doesn't require any additional time to settle down. Definitely see why this is a top beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2012 02:11:38 | More by jeonseh

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

4.53/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2011 Vintage. Huge thanks to hoppypocket for this one. Poured in to Bruery tulip.

A - Poured ink black; one of the darkest pours I've seen. Half a finger of medium to dark brown head formed and receded to a thin layer.

S - A big hit of semi-sweet chocolate up front followed by roast, chili peppers, a touch of sweet vanilla and a hint of cinnamon.

T - Big sweet chocolate flavour up front along with the chillies, which provide great flavour without a big spiciness. The roast enters in the middle with a touch of sweet vanilla. Cinnamon doesn't show up until the aftertaste, and adds another layer to the complexity of this beer. The flavours are very well integrated.

M - Medium body, creamy. Light carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2012 15:33:10 | More by TheSevenDuffs

ThePorterSorter

New York

4.38/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thick, tarry black with no head and a rich oily residue that laces down the inside of the glass. The nose presents a heavy woodiness with a slight spiciness. The taste is thick and intense with a combined effort from the vanilla, wood, and chilies working together to make this beer something truly exceptional and worth drinking. The thick, sweet, roasty, full bodied beer feels like silk leaving a slightly spicy finish for my palate to wonder... WTF just happened?...it's almost like drinking a liquid campfire, minus the smokiness. Completely worth the hype and worth the money.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 00:06:37 | More by ThePorterSorter

bamadog

Kentucky

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

My buddy Jeff brought this one back for me while on a trip to Tampa -- needless to say, it's been pretty tough sitting on this for the 2 and 1/2 years that I did. I shall not wait any longer. Review is from notes taken on 8/1/2012 and poured from the bottle (2010 vintage) into a snifter.

Appearance: Impressive to say the least -- comes out with a sharp *glug* and it's thick, like motor oil thick; starts with a scant 1/4 finger head that is that is a deep, dark, lush brown with some ruby hints to it; head fades to a wisp -- looks like oil sitting in a puddle; body is of course, entirely opaque; bit of an oily residue clings to the sides of the glass. This is pretty much exactly what I like to see come out of a bottle with a label that claims "Imperial Stout." Wow.

Smell: Pretty impressive as well -- big, robust and powerful, just rolls out of the glass; plenty of syrupy sweet and bittersweet chocolate/cocoa; lots of roast and earthy espresso-like aspects; perhaps some vanilla; dark cherries, but not tart ones, the especially sweet ones. I can't wait to get this into my mouth.

Taste: Jesus, this beer just keeps getting better and better. Really, just like the nose, big, robust and powerful; lots and lots of chocolate right up front, and it's more of the bittersweet/baker's chocolate; plenty of earthy and roast malt to it that brings a nice bittering balance about it; and I feel that there's definitely some smokiness hanging out in here too that comes across a bit spicy, those chiles are coming through.

Mouthfeel: Pretty much like a milkshake. The only beer I've seen that may rival this one in terms of viscosity is the '08 Dark Lord, and I don't know if anything will ever touch that beast. It's thick and heavy, creamy, smooth - it accomplishes all of this without being flat at all; a thick, sticky coating is left all over the palate and the teeth are left feeling gritty.

Overall: Part of me did not want to like this beer as much as I do, as I've only recently given my first perfect score for a beer, but this one has certainly earned it. Move over all challengers, this beer has everything. Impressive pour that makes you stare at it; amazing nose and an even more amazing set of flavors and a mouthfeel that just makes you want to get a spoon and scoop it out. F'ing fantastic.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2012 00:48:16 | More by bamadog

dbossman

Nebraska

4.5/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Dark black with a thin but decent head; beautiful and intricate lacing, which is impressive for a stout this big

S: Roasted malts and boozy; some coffee, chocolate, subtle vanilla and peppers, dark fruits; but man those boozy, semi-sweet roasted malts are prevalent; let's do this!

T: Similar to the aromas: big roasted malts up front, along with a hefty amount of booziness but it begins to balance out mid-way through the beer; then you get subtle peppers and vanilla and plenty of roasted chocolate and coffee and dark fruits; it finishes quite balanced for a beer this big

F: Pretty thick obviously, but not as thick and viscous as some beers that are this big, instead it's just sticky and creamy and really well done

O: I am so glad I finally got my hands on a bottle of this (and not just a tasting-sized glass at a festival); big and boozy but not overwhelming

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2012 01:48:53 | More by dbossman

sukwonee

Washington

4.73/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A: Thick motor oil, black body with quarter finger mocha head. Scary looking!

S: (very strong) Chocolate up front, peppers, coffee, some vanilla, coffee. Amazing. Sweetness. No booziness in the smell.

T: Holy shit. Nothing like I have ever tasted. Thick dark chocolate and bitter coffee & hops, hint of vanilla and then pepper and cinnamon (I am guessing that's what I am tasting from reading the label) kicking in at the end. It's quite spicy too. Spicy-ness and hoppy bitterness linger in your tongue. I love how each of the flavors come out in the order listed above. Very unique and tasty. Sweetness is countered by the spice.

M: Mouthfeel wise... it really reminds of Ten Fidy, but even smoother, thicker, and syrupier. This is perhaps the thickest beer I have ever tasted. Huge+ in my books.

O: Ok, so I am not a huge pepper/spicy person in general but in this beer, it really really works. Although not my favorite stout of all time, I can appreciate how well it's been put together. Very complex and yet balanced. Bold and yet meticulous. I love it. It gets a 5 from me.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2012 01:54:48 | More by sukwonee

TotallyHosed

Illinois

4.53/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Heatwave33 for the 2012 vintage bottle.

This is the most attractive appearance that I've seen in a stout. What makes it so is the head. I can best describe the color of the head as burnt sienna - a reddish light brown. Immediately after pouring, the head is only half a finger which reduces to a thin film with bubbly halo. The brew is completely dark.

The nose has dark chocolate, black licorice, hints of cinnamon, leather and alcohol. All of the smells meld nicely and are not too strong.

The taste is immediately rich dark chocolate. The dark chocolate flavor is on par with an artisanal bar of 60% cocoa chocolate. The rich aspect must come from the vanilla. There are some roasted malts and hints of lightly roasted coffee. At the end there is a combination of lingering heat from the chiles and cinnamon, as well as dark chocolate. The heat from the chiles and cinnamon are very subtle on my palate.

The feel is thick, rich and heavy. This is what I expect and have no critique.

Overall, this is one of the best stouts that feature cacao nibs and chiles. The base beer is big enough to mingle with the cacao and chiles. The alcohol is well hidden. All of the flavors play nicely without overpowering each other. This is an excellent brew from one of my favorite breweries in the nation.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2012 00:53:53 | More by TotallyHosed

tobelerone

New Jersey

4.55/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This beer was everything I’d hoped for and more, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Thick and viscous, sludgy black pour with a rocky tanned head that has excellent retention, good lacing on the glass. Aroma is roasty and sweet, with lots of chocolate and coffee, plus a subtler hit of earthy, spicy chilies and faint cinnamon.

Flavor packs all of that; nicely rounded sweetness compliments the bitterness of the roast malt; there are prominent chocolate fudge and espresso notes, some dark fruit, and moderate chili heat that mainly emerges in the finish. Nothing too fiery or over the top but enough to let you know it’s there. Cinnamon is fairly subtle. A perfect blend of sweet and bitter. Booze is there but it’s not overly hot or in your face.

Big bodied, thick and chewy, just the way I like it. Medium low carbonation, creamy and sticky, perfect mouthfeel overall. Lingers after the swallow, sweet and somewhat hot and tingly from the chilis. Exceptional. I was reminded both of Marshall Zhukov’s, the base beer, and of Alesmith’s Speedway Stout with chipotle and morita peppers. So glad I got to try this one finally!

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2012 16:54:32 | More by tobelerone

Schmaltzy

California

4.15/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2012 bottle poured into surly darkness glass.
Pours a thick dark dark brown like good black licorice with a half finger tan/mocha head that left slight soapy lacing and the beer itself coated the glass with a light brown coating.
The smell is great. The best smelling non barrel aged stout, more complex. You get nice loads of chocolate, slight vanilla, nilla wafers, graham crackers, earthy hops, cinnamon toast crunch and some chilies.
Taste is interesting nice bitter coffee, roasted malt, dark chocolate, slight graham cracker and loads of chilies and earthy hops on the finish. Wish the taste was as amazing as the smell.
The mouthfeel was lighter than I had hoped but that might have been the chilies that changed my palate. Slightly too much heat on the finish for me but it did make it easier to drink the bottle all by myself, it would have been tough if it was sweet and cloying.
Overall q good beer that has the most complex smell and a different taste from other stouts. Don't think I need to actively seek out though, I've had it twice now and would like to try a barrel aged treatment to compare.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2012 17:06:13 | More by Schmaltzy

nataku00

California

4.28/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A 2011 bottle poured into a snifter at a tasting. Beer pours pitch black, with a half a finger of chocolate brown head. Light lacing and plenty of alcohol legs as you swirl the beer.

Nose is very rich in dark chocolate, fruity medium roasted coffee, and cinnamon. Sweeter milk chocolate and vanilla as the beer reaches room temperature. A light citrus hop note and roasted astringency as well.

The taste leads with rich dark chocolate, with all the good dark fruit and berry notes I enjoy, a bit of coffee and malt roastiness. As the beers warms on the tongue, cinnamon spice and light vanilla comes through with sweeter chocolate. There is a lingering dark chocolate and dark roasted malt on the tongue, as well as an odd vegetal note that I'm guess is what remains of the chile flavor.

Full body with moderate carbonation, enough for a very creamy mouth feel. Unfortunately, the chile flavor has faded quite a bit after a year, but an amazing imperial stout still remains. Drink this beer fresh to get the full experience.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2012 17:14:11 | More by nataku00

DangerDawg

Ohio

4.78/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Possibly the most complex beer I've ever had.

Pours out black as oil with a super dark head, similar to the Marshall Zuchov's or DORIS the Destroyer.

Smells like greatness! Chocolate, coffee, vanilla, in that order. A bit boozey too, but that may be enhanced by the chili heat.

Taste is the same as the smell. Chocolate is predominant, vanilla is strong than coffee in the taste, and as I drink it I can feel my mouth starting to warm/burn a little from the chilis.

Mouthfeel is silky and smooth. Just like Zuchov's.

This beer is great! I'm glad I've got to have it again, and can't wait till the next time.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 00:52:24 | More by DangerDawg

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

4.85/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Heatwave33 is a god in my book. Thanks man!

This thing poured thicker than motor oil. Thickest beer ive ever seen. Half inch head that looks like malted milk.

The smell is just wow. simply wow. Loads and Loads of chocolate. Sweet base beer underneath, and a hint of those peppers.

Powdery chocolate upfront, dry oaky notes, bit of cinnamon, and those peppers again. They all come, and in that order. Chocolate feels powdered, but only bittersweet. The spices kind of come in to accent the super sweet chocolate and base beer. Theres a slight hint of heat from the peppers way late on the backend. I like it, it just adds another layer of complexity. As it warms, the cinnamon comes out to play.

This beer drinks as thick as it looks, but not because of the base beer. Its so rich, deep, and complex that you cant drink too much too fast. Itd be like overload.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2012 20:21:12 | More by VncentLIFE

SkiBum22

New York

4.88/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A - Pours black with a finger of dark tan head that fades into a thin ring with no lacing.

S - Incredibly complex, there is a ton of chocolate, caramel, chili peppers, cinnamon, molasses and brown sugar. A lot of coffee in here as well. Smells massively sweet and rich.

T - Complex taste, lots of chocolate all over this one and the slight burn from the chili is somewhat rather satisfying was very surprised. Taste is great.

M - Nice smooth creamy thick feel with low carbonation. Sticky sweet coating on the tongue. Outstanding

O - The best non-barrel aged stout in the world. I could drink this all day. What a genius move to use chili peppers in a chocolaty rich stout. Wish I had another bottle.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2012 18:10:01 | More by SkiBum22

rodkin

Missouri

4.63/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Huge thanks to Alefish for setting me up.

This has got to be the darkest stout I have ever seen. Absolutely pitch black. Even the head is darker than I've ever seen before. Really, really, dark. Motor oil thick.

Vanilla and chocolate sweetness, with a tiny bit of heat from the chili and cinnamon. Maybe a hint of coffee bitterness? There's a lot going on, but it's fantastically balanced.

Vanilla and chocolate upfront, followed by some smokiness and a little bit of kick from the cinnamon and chili. Everything moves along really naturally, with the flavors being quite distinct in terms of when they hit the palate. Well balanced, really complex. Alcohol is completely hidden by the great flavors.

Mouthfeel is about what you hope for from a stout. Really thick, low carbonation. It coats your mouth.

This a great stout, unique and flavorful. If you can get a bottle, do yourself a favor and get it.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2012 03:58:12 | More by rodkin

jethrodium

California

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

750 ml bottle courtesy of RaffyS. Thanks. 2012 Vintage. Pours a pitch black with dark tan chocolate head that has good retention and leaves some light lacing on the glass. The aroma is rich decadent chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon, light coffee, and a bit of chilies. Quite nice. The taste is sweet chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon, cocoa, a bit of coffee, and some smoked chilies. The finish has a light bitterness and leaves a little bit of lingering heat from the peppers and a bit of roastiness. Full, creamy body with low carbonation. Great beer. It's definitely on the sweet side, which I usually don't enjoy, but it works here. All the flavors come together quite nicely. It also might have one of the best mouthfeels out of any beer.
5/4.5/4.5/5/4.5

750 ml bottle courtesy of J2Brew2. Thanks Joe. 2011 release. Pours a pitch black with a dark tan head. Possibly the darkest beer I've ever seen. Barely any light gets through even at the edges. Also the darkest head that I have seen. Good retention and lacing. Aroma is huge vanilla and dark chocolate as well as a little bit of cinnamon. Phenomenal. The initial taste is sweet with vanilla, dark chocolate, and some cinnamon. A light smokiness and a hint of the pepper comes through in the mid palate. The finish is very smooth with little trace of the alcohol coming through. A bit of pepper heat comes through after swallowing. Quite pleasant. A big, full bodied beer. Creamy mouthfeel. Not syrupy a bit. Medium-low carbonation Pretty much everything I could ask for in a beer. This is certainly one of the best beers that I have had.
5/5/5/5/4.5

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2012 21:01:50 | More by jethrodium

Mebuzzard

Colorado

3.1/5  rDev -32%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

This is an odd ball stout. It looks great. Dark and rich. Ruby tints

The first thing I got in the aroma was smoked green pepper, and it stayed. The thing with peppers is that they'll dominate taste and smell (at least the green ones and while cooking). No difference here. While cocoa, cinammon, and coffee exist, they are tainted.

taste is just a mess. The cedar, smoke, & peppers don't mesh well in this one. Cinammon adds something different other than musky stuff, but not enough save the tate. And the cocoa is muddle.

Not a good taste. Too bad

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2012 17:11:44 | More by Mebuzzard

jegross2

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Reviewing the infamous Hunahpu's Imperial Stout from Cigar City Brewing. Scott's eagle eye saw this beer was on tap within 10 minutes after arriving within the gates of Dark Lord Day gates. We threw down our Tocobaga Red and Blueberry Muffin Brown and dashed for the line just before everyone else did. It was totally worth it.
Score: 95

10 oz tap pour served in a plastic cup and enjoyed at Dark Lord Day (04/28/12) around 10:30 AM. Review is from iPhone notes.

Appearance: The beer is a very deep brown, almost black color. There's some dark chocolaty brown highlights atop the glass when held up to light. Given the "glassware" this beer is served it, it was hard to determine lacing or retention. Basically, the beer looked like motor oil. I plan to crack a bottle of this in the future and will have to revise the score if the appearance is anything more impressive when served in proper glassware out of a bottle and not at a festival. At Dark Lord Day, perhaps because of early morning stout fatigue, this just looked like a pretty good stout (as opposed to something visually impressive). 4/5

Smell: Chocolate and cocoa, cherry, cinnamon, chili peppers and coffee. A little vanilla bean and tobacco. Hint of dark fruit. Nice aromatic medley of spice here. 4.25/5

Taste: Less heat on the tongue than Mexican Cake, but there is still plenty of spice and flavor. Chilli pepper, milk chocolate and a little coffee. Only light heat prickle on the midpalate and back of tongue. Muted vanilla. Plenty of cinnamon throughout. Sweet fig upfront. Layering chilli heat prickliness on the palate. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel: Full bodied, low carbonation. Slightly sweet and creamy mouthfeel. 4.5/5

Overall: Absolutely outstanding imperial stout to have the pleasure to sip and enjoy in line for the Three Floyds' Brewpub. There is a real nice spice and chocolate flavor, and I can see why this beer is so sought after. Hunahpu is much better than Mexican Cake. We also got a glass of the Apple Brandy Zhukov right after the Hunahpu kicked, and that beer absolutely blows this one out of the water.

Recommendation: Seek this beer out unless you are chilli flavor averse. There is less heat than there was with Mexican Cake, but more flavor, synergy and balance.

Pairings: Gingerbread cookies

Cost: $25 for a 750 ml bottle or $10 for a 10 oz pour at Dark Lord Day.

Serving type: on-tap

05-05-2012 23:08:09 | More by jegross2

claaark13

Indiana

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

Mtunnell hooked me up big. 2012 bottle opened at 52 degrees. Poured into a HF tulip.

A - Pours black as can be with a slow rising tan head, which dissipates slowly into thin lacing. The legs on this are incredible.

S - Lots of cocoa, a little heat, the vanilla adds a little bit of smoothness, then the cinnamon adds a very light sensation to the nose. I can't tell if there is really any chili in the aroma or if it is dominated by the cinnamon.

T - The chilies are present in the in the background from start to finish. There is a slight heat the entire time, like biting into a fresh but lower-medium heat pepper. Cocoa really dominates while the heat isn't. The cinnamon is certainly evident towards the middle and then end of the flavor. It works well with the cocoa. I think the smoothing of the flavors and what keeps the heat in check is the vanilla. The vanilla itself doesn't seem dominating whatsoever. The chili didn't come out nearly as much when I had it on draft this past weekend at DLD'12. Some roast comes out in the finish with the chilies. After a few sips, the roast is more noticeable in the background and finish. As this happens, the chilies somewhat fade on the tongue and the cocoa becomes smoother.

M - Oil-like. Coats the palate. There are so many beers in the imperial stout category that would seem like water if consumed after this one. This still is able to feel silky.

O - I'm having a tough time thinking of a better non-BA stout. I love spicy food, but I don't really want it at all in my beer. For me, the flavor would be at a peak if the chilies were gone and the vanilla was a little more noticeable. Appearance and mouthfeel are perfect.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2012 01:07:16 | More by claaark13

macrosmatic

Florida

4.68/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Reviewed from notes. 2010 edition, poured from bomber into a snifter.

A: Pours black and opaque. Small, dark tan head. No visible carbonation.

S: Coffee, spicy aroma. Has overtones of soy sauce, although this fades as the beer warms and vanilla aroma begins to be present.

T: The complexity of this beer is amazing. Chocolate/cacao, coffee, soy sauce, molasses. More dried chili flavor than I remember on tap. Following the aroma, the soy sauce fades & vanilla comes through as the beer warms up some.

M: Smooth, thick mouthfeel, not much carbonation. Sweet finish/molasses flavor with chocolate aftertaste. Moderate alcohol presence.

O: I really like this beer and I think, love it or not, everyone owes it to themselves to try it. I've had it several times on tap (both the '11 & '12 version) but this is the first 2010 I've had, and the first bottle I've had. There was more chili flavor here than I recall from previous and the "soy sauce" aroma & flavor was new. Unfortunately, I don't have any way to know whether those were the production batch or the result of aging. Perhaps I'll open the '12 bottle in 2014 & compare.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2012 17:56:00 | More by macrosmatic