Hunahpu's Imperial Stout - Cigar City Brewing

GregSVT

Texas

4.13/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

750ml capped bottle into a snifter - 2010 Vintage

A: Pours pitch black straight out of the bottle like motor oil...very thick looking. The head is one of the darkest I've seen on a beer and it fades to a ring leaving small bits of lacing.

S: The nose is full of big aromas including dark chocolate, roasted coffee beans, peppers, fudge, and dark fruits. The peppers are actually more pronounced than I expected.

T: The taste is a big hit of roasted/burnt malts, coffee, and dark chocolate at first and as it progesses I can pick up the chilli peppers and a vanilla flavor on the finish. It's mainly all roast but the other flavors balance that out during the finish. It starts kind of bitter but ends sweet.

M: The beer is thick and creamy...definitely full bodied. Carbonation is actually nice for such a big beer.

O: This is one of those over the top beers that tastes good but is a bit much for one sitting. I like it but I don't think I'll search this one out again.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2011 05:08:03 | More by GregSVT

phichifiji00

California

4.13/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2010 bottle, poured into tulip glass.

Appearance: Pours black, with two fingers of thick brown head that slowly fades. No lacing.

Smell: very chocolaty, cinnamon, vanilla, peppers, graham crackers, somewhat sweet.

Taste: Cinnamon, peppers, cocoa, vanilla, oak. A sweet/chocolaty start, cinnamon/vanilla middle. Fades to peppers and oak.

Mouthfeel: Full bodied, moderate carbonation. Smooth. Somewhat astringent as it warms.

Overall: A very complex beer. Probably the best chilli beer I've had to date. The cocoa, vanilla and cinnamon play well with the heat of the peppers and the stout base keeps everything in balance. Very drinkable. I'm looking forward to cracking my 2011 bottle shortly.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2011 17:52:10 | More by phichifiji00

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

largadeer

California

4.08/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Mini-growler shared by nickd717 at a recent Cigar City tasting. Thanks for sharing this rarity, Nick.

The pour was black, tar-like and completely opaque, topped by a head that was a shade or two lighter than black. The color made me dread that this was going to be another burnt, acrid Cigar City imperial stout.

The aroma alleviated my fears somewhat as a huge bouquet of chocolate and cinnamon wafted up from the glass. Hot pepper and alcohol stung my nostrils, while vanilla brought a balancing sweetness. Beneath it all was the signature of Cigar City - burnt things, tar pit and fresh asphalt.

The taste, sweet and chocolatey up-front, spicy both from cinnamon and hot peppers - truly like drinking a blend of stout and xocolatl. Despite the almost excessive use of adjuncts, the base beer shines through with its heavily roasted, nearly burnt malt character. Sweetness from the chocolate and vanilla balance the bitterness with surprising finesse, never quite becoming cloying despite its richness. The finish reveals flavors of French roast coffee and burnt toast, and just when you think it's done the heat from the peppers coat the palate, leading into an aftertaste of cinnamon and chiles.

Well, they finally did it. That's right; Cigar City made a good beer. I know, I'm surprised too. This is good stuff, I might even track down a bottle when they come out next year.

Edit: Had this from a bottle, not as good, though still solid.

Serving type: growler

11-30-2009 22:31:53 | More by largadeer

beerpirates

Belgium

4.08/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Vintage 2010
Poured from a 750ml bottle into my lost abbey stemware glass.

A - This pours out about as thick and black as I've ever seen. A thick 2 plus finger dark mocha head forms and slowly settles into a
layer of mocha foam and lots of lacing.

S - This smells interesting, a subtle smokiness, cocoa, vanilla, roasted malts, and spicy chiles. Smells of a stout.

T - Taste is similar to the nose. Starts with a bit a sweet chocolaty goodness, into a bitter roasted malt/coffee backed by some vanilla and cinnamon notes, and finishes with a touch of spicy chiles.

M - This feels medium bodied but really creamy and smooth, slightly hot from the chiles. Carbonation is perfect which compliments the beer nicely.

D - A sipper for sure. This is a heavy stout with many different layers.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2011 19:38:29 | More by beerpirates

rachelerin

South Carolina

4.08/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to the guys for bringing us beer!

It poured out get black with lots of tan foam and lacing. Very thick

The smell had hints of chocolate, cinnamon, and vanilla, but it was overwhelmed by chili peppers.

The taste started out with some faint bitter chocolate, but smoothed out as the beer warmed. The cinnamon and vanilla were very present, but the overwhelming flavor was pepper. It wasn't very spicy, but did have a lot of the flavor characteristics of a hot chili pepper. It was well balanced and very enjoyable.

The carbonation was very heavy- I think too heavy for what I wanted, and it took a lot of swirling to get it to calm down. It is a little lighter bodied than I had hoped for the flavors, but very good nonetheless.

It was excellent for an imperial stout, but after what my neighbor said he had to give to get it, I don't think I will be pursuing this to have again.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2012 12:59:40 | More by rachelerin

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.05/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Many thanks to the ever generous Dyan for the opportunity to try this tonight.

The beer pours an impressive looking, motor oil black color with pretty good head retetion, but with considerable sticky lacing all around. The head on this beer is a very rich, cocoa/coffee color that dies down fairly quickly. The nose on this beer is huge and impressive, with consdirable coffee, cherry, dark chocolate and a hint of licorise. On the palate, the coffee and dark chocolate really dominate this beer, and push aside pretty much everything else. While the mouthfeel is impressive, this beer is very monolithic, with the flavor profile completely dominated by the chocolate and coffee flavors. There is a hint of leather in the finish, which helps to counter the sweetness in this beer, but the sweetness, noticeable alcohol and slight licorise really detract from this beer's drinkability .

This is clearly a fine beer, but it just struck me as a bit disjointed and just too one dimensionable. The beer has a hugely impressive mouthfeel, with a mouthfilling, pillowy, very soft and long drawn out finish. Still, one glass was all I could do, and I can't imagine drinking an entire bottle of this at a sitting. Nevertheless, this is still a very fine, well crafted beer from Cigar City.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2010 01:52:43 | More by johnmichaelsen

Spica66

Indiana

4.05/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Got this in trade from FutureCowboy. Thanks, Timmons!

2010 bottle shared with gwuilliums as our first beer of 2011.

A: Black, slightly viscous pour. Good head formation and decent retention. Good legs and decent lacing as well.

S: Very dark and roasty smells. Some slight sourness like I have experienced with many RIS.

T: Very dark roast coffee with some chili pepper notes.

M: Very smooth and round. The alcohol is nearly completely hidden.

D: Easy to drink and enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2011 20:11:40 | More by Spica66

Lunch

Maryland

4.05/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Brought a 2010 bottle of this to a tasting a little while back. Received from a generous trader. Served in a Cigar City snifter as it would be crazy to drink this out of any other vessel.

Pours as dark as any bowel movement after a heavy day of drinking Pepto-Bismol, but with a lot better head retention. Cigar City has a way of crafter thick stouts that look great.

Smell is of chocolate and perhaps the faintest hint of vanilla, but the chili peppers are dominating and really detracting from the aroma. Taste is similar but slightly better. The peppers are not to my liking, but to each their own. Mouthfeel is thick with smooth and creamy carbonation.

This is a nice beer, but I'd take Marshal Zhukov over this any day, but I am glad that I got the chance to try it.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2011 19:18:04 | More by Lunch

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Capone's...
Appears a pitch black with a small tan he'd that quickly fades out into a mild cap. Scattered bits of lacing are left around the glass.
Smell is of molasses, herbal tea, chalk, black grapes, spicy balck and dried red pepper.
Taste is of the aromas with vanilla yogurt, cinnamon, pasilla peppers, and red grapes.
Mouthfeel is full bodied, spiced, a bit of chile heat lingering with cinnamon and cumin. A bit of abv noticed in this.

Serving type: on-tap

06-09-2010 02:00:46 | More by weeare138

radioscooter

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This one has some hype to live up to.

Pours dead black with the most amazing cocoa head ever.

Smell is a bit off-putting. Nothing inviting here, bitter, dark hops and/or cacao.

Taste is COMPLEX. Getting cacao beans, and a healthy cinnamon burn which is amazing. Coffee roast coming through as well. Not getting a ton of vanilla. Did I mention Cinnamon and chile burn?

Wow, this is a wonderful taste. I love cinnamon and chocolate combined and this is the best of all worlds - Cinnamon, chocolate and BEER! But it works. This reminds me of the descriptions of ancient Aztec hot chocolate drinks back when the cacao bean wasn't the invention of Milton Hershey.

Not much else to say. Not going to be a favorite if you don't like new things. :) I love this - though I can't see drinking it all night.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2011 03:35:32 | More by radioscooter

DaftCaskBC

British Columbia (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2011 vintage generously shared by Rutager.

A: 1/8" brown head over black liquid.

S: Spicy with scents of chilis and cinnamon along with chocolate and toasted malt.

T: Chilis and cinnamon up front with toasted malt, roasted barley and some chocolate in the finish.

M: Medium to thick viscosity with a low level of carbonation.

O: Kind of disappointing, the chilis were distracting and overpowered almost everything else.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2012 16:10:25 | More by DaftCaskBC

jbone78

Florida

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

Poured Black like the stallion of midnight and stuff. I noticed a light tan fizz on top that disappeared fast, like Grease Lightning. Smelled different not like the uncle you rarely see, but more like a Mexican pinata before it is filled, not really but it sounds fun. I guess the smells are from the chiles? The taste is blended nicely with hints of nutmeg or cinnamon, chocolate (unsweet), the blend of chiles and finishes quite dry.

-Bye

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2010 22:42:31 | More by jbone78

zoolzoo

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

Big thanks to gford217

A: Pours "pitch black like an oil slick blah blah". Actually Hunahpu scores high marks in appearance because of its massive milk chocolate colored head. I cant chalk it up to my Duvel tulip because Ive been seeing plenty of impys pour into this glass with no head lately. This black liquid actually appears to be staining my glass brown as I swish it around.

S: Chocolate, coffee, some spice. Is that heat from the chili peppers or sharpness from booze? Hunahpu smells pretty good, but not terribly complex.

T: Opens with sweetness/dark fruit bordering on cloying, which mellows to reveal chocolate, vanilla, and a bitterness akin to fresh roasted coffee beans.

Theres definitely spice on the back end but I wish it developed just a little bit more. I found some cinnamon toward the end of the palate, but then again I was looking for it. The chili's become most apparent during Hunahpu's aftertaste, when you notice a bit of heat left to mingle on the palate. Overall the flavors are just huge, palatable, and pretty complex. High marks for taste, but I was hoping for a bit more defining character and less subtleness in regards to the spice.

M: Thoroughly thick and coating.... might stain your teeth. Low carb.

D: Another huge stout suitable for a 6-8oz serving in my opinion. Drinkability suffers due to sweetness, ABV, and general palate assault. For what it is, a great beer that I am glad to have tried.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2010 16:22:54 | More by zoolzoo

thequeen711

Pennsylvania

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

This Imperial Stout has a vanilla nose, hints of cocoa. Pour is chocolate black, taste is sweet vanilla, cocoa, malty, nice medium-heavy mouthfeel. I don't detect much of the cinammon, or spicy peppers, until an aftertaste of slight peppers. A worthy Imperial Stout, I would probably have another offering!

Serving type: on-tap

06-11-2010 15:48:04 | More by thequeen711

chicagobeerriot

Illinois

4/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours pitch black with a strikingly dark, lush head that, for the style at least, hangs around for a long time. Can't really ask for more in this department.

A few whiffs gives you a complex blend of cherries, peanut butter, salted carmel and vanilla bean. Just a bit of alcohol in the background. Overall, a very nice mix.

Mouthfeel is very full, approaching the syrupy quality of some vintages of Dark Lord. Not necessarily a turn-off for me, but you are forewarned: this is a tremendously thick beer.

The beer starts with a sugar rush that is as strong as any beer I've tried, but just when I'm worried that this will be a one-note diabetes inducing mess, the complexity promised by the nose develops... Earthy vanilla bean gives way to tobacco and leather flavors. The finish is where this beer shines: the earthy flavors build into a pleasant coffee char and a bit of chilli spice makes an appearance that strengthens with repeated sips. In a sea of impys, this beer has its own unique flavor signature that is well worth a try. Although I haven't tried the barrel aged version, I wonder if the process risks overshadowing some of the subtleties of the finish.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2010 01:12:54 | More by chicagobeerriot

Jwale73

Rhode Island

4/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Huge thanks to Thirstybird for breaking this one out for our tasting. I've been wanting to try this beer for some time. This is by far, the best looking big stout I've ever seen. Pours an inky black with a dense, dark mocha-colored head tinged with a reddish-brown hue. Cap is so thick and dense that it is only pierced by tiny pinpricks. Thick sheets of lacing slide down the walls of the glass following each tilt. Nose reveals chocolate, spice and booze - it's all a bit much in my opinion and any subtlety is lost here. Taste is rich and chocolatey on a bold malty backbone. Spicy and sweet intermingles nicely, but gets to be a bit cloying after continued consumption. Finish is slightly burnt and bitter, which helps to cut the sweetness, but only marginally. Mouthfeel is exceptional - medium/heavy in consistency with a light carbonation and a pleasant creamy texture. I'm never quite sure of what to expect from a "spiced" stout; however, Hunahpu's makes it work. This is perhaps the biggest Stout I've had to date in terms of body, feel and complexity. That being said, a little goes a long way. It's extremely rich and the complex flavors get to be a little tough to handle over time. Personally, I think this beer would be better served in a 12oz. bottle rather than a 750ml.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2011 17:46:49 | More by Jwale73

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

Shumista

Ohio

3.98/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Shared a 750 ml bottle 3 ways as a night cap to a evening of pretty moderate drinking.

Viscous, pitch black, dark brown head. Smells pretty standard stouty (roasty, coffee-y, chocolatey etc) with a little bit of smoked chiles. The core of the taste is also pretty standard big stout flavors more coffee, chocolate, roastiness, brown sugar, a little bit of dark fruit. What sets this one apart though is the subtle underlying flavors. First, the peppers are a really unique addition. My buddies said they tasted a lot of chiles but I only got them very subtly with just a tiny bit of heat that slowly builds with each sip to the point of being noticeable. Vanilla is there for a subtle smoothness, and there is a bit of spiciness (cinnamon) that you have to go searching for. Maybe I only went looking for these subtleties because they were promised on the label and would have missed them otherwise, but this wasn't a blind tasting so everything (including the label) is part of the drinking experience. Mouthfeel is creamy, and thick with a comforting warmth. With everything going on here a small 8-10 oz pour was plenty, I took my time with it and was not particularly sad to see the bottom of the glass feeling like I had thoroughly experienced the beer. Unfortunately while I can't put my finger on why while it was an interesting, unique beer it just didn't blow me away like I had hoped it would.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2010 19:04:07 | More by Shumista

nkersten

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a thick black with reddish brown head. Smell of chocolate malts, some alcohol. Sweet malty chocolate flavor up front with a strong chile taste following. Not spicy, not too smokey, the anchos are front and center for this one. Finish has a slight bitterness that doesnt quite balance out the sweet/smokey flavors... somehow this beer still works. Mouthfeel is syrupy and coating, for me it is spot on for an imperial stout. Although I think this is a great twist on the imperial stout, by the end of my glass I was done with the chile flavors. I would be happy to drink this one again but there is no way I could do more then 8oz. That being said, I definitley recommend trying this.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2010 03:19:31 | More by nkersten

yeahnatenelson

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

FRE$H 2011 Batch

Appearance -- Pours like motor oil, jet black with faint ruby about the edges and a slim dark chocolate-hued head. It's hard to knock this view. Wish the head had more staying power, but still quite photogenic.

Smell -- Aside from the semisweet roast malt aromas, chile and cocoa are most apparent, with spicy chile heat being most dominant. Vanilla, and finally cinnamon, make themselves known after multiple whiffs. The chile heat nearly singes the hair on your nose - very sharp. Certainly interesting, but not the inviting aroma I was hoping for.

Taste -- Charred malt, molasses sweetness, smoked chiles in chocolate, and in the distance, vanilla and cinnamon. The chili is well-done, lending some rich smokey flavor mid-palate and a nice spicy finish. Lasting flavors of cocoa, red pepper flake, and roast malt that mimics coffee.

Mouthfeel -- Full-bodied and viscous with mild/moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel flirts with under-carbonation, but is still successful.

Overall -- This was a very nice treat. I appreciate the cocoa and chile additions, but The whole time I drank this I couldn't help but wish that the mouthfeel of the Zhukov's I had recently was this good. Some of the additions, like vanilla and cinnamon, seem to cover up some of the malt complexity of Zhukov's.

Glad I finally got to try this one in its prime, but I'd take a properly carbonated Marshall Zhukov's all the same.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2011 03:07:54 | More by yeahnatenelson

BarrytheBear

Wisconsin

3.98/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22 oz bottle of the 2010 vintage shared with steepH20 while watching the Mavs smack down the Heat. Oh, sweet, sweet justice.

Evil black sludge with a rich cinnamon head that rises and fades likes the summer sun. A nice looking beer. A slick coating lays waste to the snifter sip after sip.

For a year old bottle, this shines brightly with the adjuncts on display: cinammon, chiles, and dark chocolate. Unlike any stout I've had.

Rich baker's chocolate and bitters segues into cinammon and spice from the chiles. Full, thick, and hot. Alcohol peppery heat from the chiles and high abv make for a big drinking stout. As individual flavors, this shows its uniqueness. As a some of its parts, it doesn't really shine in its cohesiveness.

Low carbonation and heavy, thick mouthfeel makes this a long, slow sipper.

I appreciate the uniqueness of this beer and am thankful for the opportunity. While a nice experience, I'm not sure that this should demand the pull this beer seems to require.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2011 03:28:14 | More by BarrytheBear

koopa

New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

750ml bottle received in a trade with a generous BA thanks!

Appearance: Pours dark as night with a 2 finger brown crown that displays good retention and lace.

Smell: Roast malt, loads of chocolate, smoked chilies, and vanilla.

Taste: Same as nose but with lots of chili presences and roast malt / espresso bitterness taking center stage.

Mouthfeel: Thick, syrupy at times, creamy at other times, with decent carbonation.

Drinkability: The thick mouthfeel, the high abv, and the bitterness from the roast malt hold this one back from scoring higher in the drinkability department.

Not sold on the hype just yet.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2010 20:09:44 | More by koopa

Phelps

Arizona

3.95/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Enjoyed during a tasting with tlay10 right after we tried Marshall Zhukov's, the base beer. If you didn't know, Hunahpu's is Zhukov's aged on Peruvian cocoa nibs, Ancho and Pasillo chiles, cinnamon and Madagascar vanilla beans. Poured from a bottle filled to the absolute brim into a snifter.

Above creamy, inky blackness, a creamy one-finger head, mahogany-colored and the texture of pancake batter, recedes very slowly but steadily, becoming a thin yet lingering ring and a spatter of film, leaving jagged streaks of lace.

More hoppiness in this nose than Zhukov. Along with cedar, the spicy peppers add an interesting vegetal character. Black molasses, light vanilla, oak and cinnamon, in that order.

All the stuff it's aged on adds a different aspect to the flavor: you get some vegetal notes and a tiny bit of heat from the peppers, sweetness from the vanilla and increased chocolate tang from the cocoa nibs. Dark chocolate flavors and a bit of espresso linger amidst the mildly bittersweet finish. Sweet vanilla emerges more as it warms. Wonderfully complex -- every time I sip, something new emerges. This last sip I got cinnamon, the time before it was vanilla. It reminds me almost of dulce le leche.

The mouthfeel is very similar to Zhukov's, though just a shade thinner. Medium, lightly fizzy carbonation in an incredibly creamy and smooth body, and again, absolutely no noticeable alcohol.

I like the complexity here. In small quantities, Hunahpu is great. Zhukov's is more drinkable, however.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2011 07:23:05 | More by Phelps

TheGordianKnot

Tennessee

3.95/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thank you GatorBeerNerd for the IP trade for this! Poured into chalice... 2011 vintage

A- Black as night- holy shit this is awesomely dark. Pours the darkest head I've ever seen too! But the head turns out to be tiny and dies instantly.

S- Very roasty, has a soy component that scares me though. Pepper is on the very finish, but it's scarce. Sweet, nutty, toffee also. Chocolate and vanilla play a nice role, but not getting much chile... Probably age

T/M- Absolutely the most dark chocolatey beer I've every had... Starts and finishes with intense chocolate a bold roasty stout to mingle with the chocolate. Vanilla peeks its head out just a bit and the chiles must be too shy to play today... Oh yeah, did I mention this was chocolatey as FUCK! Full, smooth, silky body. Not much carbonation and the finish isn't too heavy or lingering.

O- Great beer, but damn I need to try this fresh... I feel like the chiles and some of the other components that would make this beer do unique weren't fully there for me... I'll be tasting this again down the road thats for sure!

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2011 20:27:25 | More by TheGordianKnot