Serpent's Stout - The Lost Abbey

MaxSpang

Ohio

3.7/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a snifter. Bottled 12-29-11, enjoyed on May 5, 2012.

APPEARANCE

First off, the cork in this bottle did not want to come out. After several minutes of fiddling with it, it finally opened and revealed a viscus black stout. Absolutely no light comes through this bad boy. The head was about a finger and mocha-latte colored. The lacing was very apparent event before I took my first sip. This beer looks like a sinful delight.

SMELL

Lots of coffee, roasted malt, and chocolate in this one. It has a burnt grain smell which is very nice. There is the slightest amount of raisins in the nose, but it's hidden underneath the "dark" aromas that come out. There's almost no alcohol to speak of on the nose. This is what an imperial stout should smell like.

TASTE

Lots and lots of bitter roasted malts come out, bringing coffee and chocolate. This is a roast bomb, it tastes like dark - almost burnt - grains. It's a really fantastic flavor, but it's a wee bit over the top. There is a nice sweetness that follows the roast flavor, which helps to balance the beer somewhat. There is a slight raisin flavor that is common in high-ABV beers like this, and the chocolate flavors almost give it a dessert-like quality. Alcohol is present, but very well hidden. I would honestly guess this beer to be closer to 8% than 11%. This is a really tasty stout, albeit it is a little harsh on the roast.

MOUTHFEEL

For some reason, I expected this beer to be thinner. This is a medium-high bodied beer that demands to be sipped rather than chugged. The carbonation is medium, which works in this beer. I think without the slight "fizz", this beer would feel way too thick. The beer coats your mouth as you drink and leaves a long lasting flavor well after the swallow.

OVERALL

I'm really happy with this beer. This beer could probably benefit from a year or two of age, but it's pretty good fresh. The only thing that keeps this beer from being mind-blowing is the harsh burnt flavor. Don't get me wrong, that flavor belongs in a good stout but this beer has a bit too much of it for my tastes. I think some age would smooth it out and leave you with a masterpiece of a beer. It may be a sin, but if this beer is what the serpent used to tempt Eve then who would blame her for indulging?

Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2012 02:32:57 | More by MaxSpang

B33R501

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Real good beer 8oz draft $4 at the Grey Lodge Pub NE Philly been wanting to try this one.

Beautiful black, nice chocolate head. Aroma of milk chocolate leading to dark roasty malts, more chocolate, notes of dark fruits come along for the riide. Big blast of flavor, real tongue bruiser.

Similar, but better than Port's Old Viscosity. Would I get this again? Hell, if I had more time this Saturday morning, 2 or 3 more 1/2 pints would have been in order.

Recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

05-06-2012 01:59:17 | More by B33R501

jegross2

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Reviewing the Serpent's Stout from The Lost Abbey. This is part of the base beer used to blend and barrel aged the Deliverance Ale I reviewed earlier this year. Thank you David Forrest for hooking me up with this bottle!
Score: 91

No bottle date, but this was received from California in early January 2012. Served in a Surly Darkness snifter and enjoyed on 05/05/12.

Appearance: Jet black with a film of brown caramel highlight at the very top of the glass when held directly up to light. One-plus fingers of foamy mocha head at pour settles to a creamy ring around the glass and thin film atop the glass. Awesome lacing, amazing retention. This is an absolutely gorgeous-looking stout. 5/5

Smell: Fig, raisin, dark fruit, burnt brown sugar and roasted milk chocolate. Cocoa, faint coffee grounds, and a hint of vanilla bean. There are subtle notes of black cherry and the faintest hint of sweet soy. 4.5/5

Taste: A little alcohol warmth up front along with burnt brown sugar, burnt fig and used coffee ground. A lot of "burnt" roast. Cocoa and raw chocolate on the back of the tongue and on the midpalate. Milk chocolate and brown sugar in the finish. Good roasty chocolate and bitter coffee ground linger. Some fizzy black cherry comes out on the midpalate and in the finish as the beer warms and layers. There's a real nice bitter roast flavor medley here. 4/5

Mouthfeel: Medium-plus bodied, medium-plus carbonation. Too much carbonation for the style, to be frank. The mouthfeel is a little syrupy and sticky. Bitter finish with faint sweetness. 3.5/5

Overall: A really nice smelling/tasting beer marred by overcarbonation. Maybe this is a bottling issue, as Port Brewing/Lost Abbey is well known for their inability to get bottle carbonation right. I would absolutely love to try this one off tap/cask or even a nitro-tap.

Recommendation: Seek a bottle out. Definitely worth giving a whirl, and not overly expensive.

Pairings: Steak.

Cost: $11.99 for a 750 ml bottle.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2012 20:20:04 | More by jegross2

Hellabeerguzzler

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours black with a dark brown chocolaty head that, unbelievably, retains superbly with some lacing, but more caramel glass-coating type and not so much bubbly lacey surf but it's there enough to show you this brew has some balls.

The smell is caramel, soot, some faint hints of chocolate, coffee, and (digging deep) some dark fruits.

The taste is excellent if you don't mind the burnt coffee sooty taste (which personally, I enjoy), but past that, the alcohol is most superbly hidden, as I was sober when I started this review. Additionally the creaminess, chewability, and excellent mouthfeel... especially for those looking for some carbonation reminiscent of their past life when they actually drank beer that had bubbles.

Overall, I can't wait to drink this again. In fact, I'm getting some more as soon as I feel safe enough to walk to the passenger seat.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2012 20:08:05 | More by Hellabeerguzzler

williamjbauer

West Virginia

4.23/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottled served in conical pint glass on 4/30/12

A - Obsidian 2ith no light penetrating with 2 finger light brown with great retention with good lacing.

S - Strong alcohol at first with sweet caramel and molasses notes.

T - Very strong alcohol followed with great caramel and molasses and then some dark chocolate with a slightly bitter and a fiery smokey bitter scotch like finish.

M - Full body and moderate carbonation with a chewy finish.

O - Really enjoyed this one with my dad, but wish the EtOH was a little more subtle at its 11%, but really nice smokey finish.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2012 20:59:16 | More by williamjbauer

blackcompg

Illinois

4.55/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed in a snifter at Firkin in Libertyville with friends...

Appearance - poured a deep oily black with a dark thick brown head that retained a cap throughout with wonderful lacing.

Smell - dark rich fruits, dark chocolate, rich roast coffee, molasses, black cherries and lite soy.

Taste - like the nose, rich roast and liquid smoke, dark fruits and black cherries, burnt toffee and a touch of vanilla, slightly salted soy, wonderful complexity and balance. The 11% abv is not present in the mouth, but is warming throughout the session.

Mouthfeel - nearly heavy and mouthcoating, silky and smooth, low carb provides a smooth foaming that accentuates some of the roastiness and adds a slight tartness to the dark fruits, finishes just slightly dry while remaining creamy.

Overall - What a gorgeous and wonderful feeling sipper! This really opens up as it warms, and is absolutely delicious. A wonderful imperial stout that must be tried and experienced.

Serving type: on-tap

04-28-2012 15:31:12 | More by blackcompg

raynmoon

California

4.7/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This has to be the best looking beer I've ever seen. It's so dark and the bottle conditioning creates such a beautiful dark head that lingers the entire time.

It also smells and tastes wonderful. Very dark and smooth. You get a lot of dark roasted malts that take on a very chocolatey character. Very little alcohol detected.

I enjoyed this more than the hop bite in Old Rasputin. Much recommended. I'm so glad I have another bottle in the refrigerator.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2012 04:43:21 | More by raynmoon

SawDog505

New Hampshire

4.53/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a 20 oz Duvel tulip, bottle dated 12/29/11. Pours a slick black, no light penetration, with a massive 4 inch mocha head that leaves plenty of lacing, and slowly settles into a solid film of foam. Smell is big expresso, some molasses, smoke, fig, leather,and tobacco. Taste is huge roested expresso, with everything from the nose, but with tiny supporting roles. Body is medium large, plenty of life, a touch dry like you would expect, and amazingly drinkable for its large ABV. This beer first caught my attention at EBF, when it was my favorite beer of the day. Excellent Stout!

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2012 02:06:42 | More by SawDog505

kojevergas

California

4.3/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

1 pint 9.4 fl oz brown glass with hood and wire cap over a cork served into a Guinness goblet in me gaff in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are extremely high; I've had this before on tap and it was lovely. Acquired at Wades Wines in Westlake Village, California a couple months ago. Cost was $11.99 plus tax.

Served refrigerator cold and allowed to warm over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as (in spite of the brewery) I don't anticipate any carbonation issues.

A: Pours a one finger head of incredible beautiful rich tan colour, heavy mocha cream, damned impressive thickness, and obscenely good retention. Colour is a solid black with a fair amount of rising bubbles. No yeast particles are visible, but it's nontransparent and opaque. It's a beautiful beer. I can't wait to drink it.

Sm: Extravagant coffee, vanilla bean, hints of rich chocolate, exquisite roast, milk, cream, and traces of nuts. Coffee is dominant. Incredibly subtle. A mild strength aroma. Very inviting. I can't wait to taste it. The aroma makes a big promise I'm not sure the taste can fulfill.

T: Cream on the open. Exquisite coffee over a subtle yet full roasted barley foundation. Some chocolate. Heavy rolling cream. Some vanilla. Dark malts. Hints of subtle caramelization. Hints of yeast right on the finish and into the aftertaste a biteen. No alcohol comes through in the flavour, though you feel it in your stomach. The roast and coffee are dominant and fantastic. Fully layered. Great body. Complex yet subtle. A refined flavour profile that fulfills the promise of the aroma.

Mf: Creamy, smooth, and wet, with some subtle underlying dryness from the roasted barley. Perfect thickness and carbonation. Complements the flavour profile extremely well.

Dr: Extremely drinkable for the style and high ABV. It borders on dangerous. It's almost a sipper merely because you feel the alcohol when it reaches the stomach, generating a warm sensation. Would make a great winter beer (this doesn't seem lost on Lost Abbey). It's well worth its price. Definitely do what you can to get your paws on this gem. I'd love to have this again. A remarkable special brew in a highly oversaturated style. I'd definitely recommend this to friends.

An excellent candidate for aging. One of the finest I've come across, actually. I'd like to try this with 2 or 3 years on it.

Would pair well with weaker flavoured chocolate, prunes, and raisins. Tiny twist pretzels would be ideal methinks.

Drank real well out of me Guinness goblet. Narrow-mouthed goblets and snifters are likely ideal for this beer.

Low A

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2012 05:30:05 | More by kojevergas

jvillefan

California

4.65/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Beautiful. A very dark dark brown with a light chocolate one finger head that hangs around for a while.

S: Malt. That is about it and it is subtly muted.

T: Amazing. There is a deep malt character in the forefront of the beer. Due to the high alcohol in combination with the malt there is a nice bourbony flavor. The finish is very hoppy but is nowhere near excessive.

M: Excellent retention and if fill the mouth really well. The carbonation is a little low but that is to be expected from an 11% beer.

O: Try it if you are able to. This is one of my favorite stouts.

Serving type: growler

04-12-2012 01:06:24 | More by jvillefan

beerthulhu

New Jersey

4.28/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: A viscose crude oil pour slurps from the bottle with a deathly black tone. A dark mocha head is a finger high, fairly thick and frumpy with a fair rate of retention. The head falls with a very good amount of lace coverage sticking well to the glass walls.

S: Roasted dark chocolate flavor is rich and mingles with a burnt bitterness of roasted barley. Tons of liquefied dark fruit and dark cocoa. Burnt sweetness of marshmellow, toasted cinnamon sticks with a dash of creamer laced espresso. Softly charred woodiness rounds things out. Again as with the nose the alcohol is well concealed. Things finish with a dark roasted chocolate fade.

M: Thick and creamy mouthful, milky dark chocolate that was bitter-sweet with a good level of carbonation.

O: Thick and rich dark roasted treat that is bitterly sweet with an well concealed alcohol detection that will no doubt sneak up and bite you later like a hidden serpent.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2012 22:03:27 | More by beerthulhu

cindyjeffsmith

Georgia

4.4/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: gorgeous ebony, nearly opaque. Messy mocha head and lacing.
Smell: rich bittersweet chocolate. Complex and mellow.
Taste: more of the same. Rich and smooth. Delish.
Mouthfeel: a minor gripe but a bit thin.
Overall: a wonderful imply stout, complex, rich, quite drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2012 00:34:55 | More by cindyjeffsmith

Fux

France

4.23/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Dark opaque in color. Thin off-white head with quite a low retention. Leaves some cocoa-like lacings.

S: Smell is espresso, roasted malts. Quite intense. Also undertone notes of chocolate. Some herbal, earthy finish.

T: Lots of dark malt characters, coffee, chocolate, roastiness. Dark fruits. Some earthy bitterness, grassy hops character. Bitter aftertaste.

M: Oily, sticky, a bit too much perhaps. Also warming.

O: A true coffee stout. Strong and intense.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2012 22:20:42 | More by Fux

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

4.23/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours dark brown with some tan/cream streaks. A nice cocoa colored head that leaves some slight lace.

Nice dark-roasted malt and coffee notes. An herbal and acidic note a well. There's something hoppy here.

Expresso, some acid, some herbal hops, which definitely provide more than just bitterness. There is some real depth here. Nice acidic fruit note. Some malt sweetness that is well balanced with the charred notes and hops. Finishes bitter and with mouth-coating complexity.

Thick and sticky, lovely body.

Overall, wonderful balance. A bit hoppy, but it works -- very close to being overdone in that department -- pulled back at the last second. Alcohol is present, and moderately well hidden. WOrth a try for sure.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 04:49:08 | More by OtherShoe2

Souleman

California

4.63/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Just about as good as it gets. I can't remember a stout that tasted better. Just the right amount of malty goodness with a touch of bitterness to round it off.

A- dark dark brown liquid with a lighter, frothy head that comes to life when poured or swirled. A really good looking beer, and brought me back to memories of my first stout, and then topped it.

S- probably the weakest point of this beer, just because there isn't much smell. Really not supposed to blow up on the nose anyway, but not getting any of the cocoa or malty sniff out of the glass.

T- Amazing, rich flavor that is packed in from front to back. Well balanced, with some coffee/cocoa, with a touch of bitterness that hits the tail end of the taste.

M- thick, almost syrup level viscosity that coated my entire mouth. What I expect from a stout or porter, and it came through as a full beer that didn't disappoint.

Overall, I think it is a really solid beer. I have been lucky enough to get some rare, big beers lately, and this one is pretty close to the best I have had in the category.
Definitely grab it while still on the shelves.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 00:35:17 | More by Souleman

WankelEngine

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a caged and corked 750ml bottle into a snifter

A: Pours dark as the night. Pure oily darkness. There is a foamy mahogany head of maybe two fingers which fades fairly quickly to a cap and ring of foam.

S: Smells mostly of dark, bitter chocolate. There is a little bit of acridness in the nose. There are also notes of dark fruit and roasted malts.

T: A fairly dry tasting beer. It opens with the same chocolate profile from the nose. There is also a smoky character to the flavor that I did not pick up from the aroma. Some dark fruit like figs comes through, but they are mild. A fairly bitter beer, but balanced by large doses of warm alcohol and sweet malty goodness. The aftertaste is long and lingers of bitter hops.

M: Very thick and full. Enjoyable to sip on. Mild-moderate alcohol heat is pleasant.

O: I appreciate the smoky and bitterness to this stout. Most stouts I've had recently have leaned towards the sweeter/maltier side so this is a nice change of pace. Finally a stout that is both full-bodied but dry.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2012 03:04:17 | More by WankelEngine

Darkmagus82

Montana

4.33/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served in a 10 oz chalice glass

Appearance – Served a deep dark black color with a small brown head. The head doesn’t last long, but fades away to give some nice lacing. As the glass is swirled you can see the thickness of the brew. It clings to the glass with each swirl; as though it has thick sticky fingers that cling to the side of the glass.

Smell – The smell is robust of roasted coffee and chocolate aromas. There is a very light sweet vanilla and dark fruit aroma that are mixed in, balancing out some of the more roasted flavors quite nicely.

Taste – A heavy coffee and chocolate flavor meets the tongue. The taste is a little more on the bitter side at first, but sweetens as the taste proceeds. It has a nice transition as the light vanilla and dark fruit that was detected in the aroma works its way into the taste. The transition is very smooth and the taste is very balanced. Even at 11%, the alcohol flavor is extremely light. This is one nice robust and easy to drink brew.

Mouthfeel - A nice creamy body with a slightly below average carbonation level. The smoothness of the mouth is quite exceptional and gives a wonderful feel on the tongue.

Overall- This is a fantastic imperial stout. It has a wonderfully balanced flavor along with a very nice aroma and mouthfeel. Good stuff!!

Serving type: on-tap

03-28-2012 00:01:15 | More by Darkmagus82

hopfacebrew

Colorado

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

Perfect way to end the day. Poured from bottle to Duvel tulip the beer arrives a deep rich black color with dark brown edges and a nice 2 finger red brown head. Excellent retention and some lacing. A huge bouquet of vanilla, bourbon, roast, dark fruit, earthy hops, chocolate on the nose. Very inviting aroma. The flavor follows suit with a rich and full bodied flavor: Roast upfront with hints of molasses and oak, after wards the vanilla, bourbon, dark fruit and malty sweetness are present to provide a well balanced beer. Mildly bitter. Finishes rich with a linger roast and light bourbon vanilla on the tongue. Very good. Full bodied and well carbonated. Creamy and smooth. Overall, this is a treat. Very good Imperial Stout. I would highly recommend, another hit from The Lost Abbey.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2012 12:53:01 | More by hopfacebrew

Naugros

New Jersey

4.28/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I sit and watch the little bubbles rise up the side of glass and join their brethren in support of the mocha head which, at inception, soars to 2", but deflates to a thin coating, penetrated by the additional insertion of more liquid. And then I put the thesaurus away. Hey! Describing imperial stout after imperial stout gets pretty friggin' redundant, don't ya think?

The first whiff let's you know this is a BIG one. Boozy coffee comes to mind...Irish coffee. Whiskey, dark roast Columbian and just enough cream to change the color one shade lighter. A little vanilla amongst the sweetness and a shot of chocolate. Pretty nice.

The first sip enforces the sense of booze, but in flavor only. And it no longer seems like whiskey, but more like bourbon (which I KNOW is a type of whiskey). The hops show up early and bring some pine. I didn't catch them in the smell and the flavor is so strong that it's really hard to catch any smell now. No alcohol burn from it at all, and the wash consists of deeply roasted coffee (that carries a lot of bitterness), vanilla and cream. Once this beer hits room temp you'll get the chocolate back and in the form of dark chocolate. Dark fruits also linger. So yummy.

The aromas and flavors are really nice, but the true star of this beer is the mouthfeel. Luscious, velvety, viscous, rich, tongue-coating, full-bodied, okay, okay, I'll put the thesaurus down again. There's a touch of ashiness at the end, but not enough to get to "gritty".

This beer satisfies on many levels and must be handled with respect, not just for the ABV, but for the artistry that created it.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 01:32:54 | More by Naugros

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

4.03/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from tap into tulip at Papago Scottsdale, AZ.
Looks fantastic. Thick brown head, oily chocolatey look. Smell is of roasted coffee and chocolate malts, slight hop and booze aroma.
Taste is very similar. More hops than I would have imagined but very very good. Nice boozey chocolatey flavor well balanced with the roasted malts.
Smooth as can be. Alcohol is hidden very well.
Overall, a great well balanced and tastey brew.

Serving type: on-tap

03-08-2012 00:13:29 | More by DrinkSlurm

AgentMunky

California

4.28/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 750mL bottle into a brandy snifter. Bottled 6 January 2012.

A: Pours well, pitch-black, with a heavy mocha head and fantastic lacing.

S: Sticky-sweet coffee, black licorice, whiffs of alcohol, and the trace of something metallic.

T/M: Served only lightly chilled, to good effect. Complex and boozy. Thick and smooth, creamy with a touch milk chocolate. Some fruit, espresso, charred wood (oak barrels?). Even a hint of bourbon, though apparently none was used in the making of Serpent's Stout. Maybe it's just the raw alcohol and sweet grain. The aftertaste is lingeringly bitter, full of hops and coffee. On the subject of hops, they are subtly present throughout the beer. Very well-balanced and well-crafted.

O: An excellent beer, and a very good imperial stout. Not as stellar as I expected, but darn tasty nonetheless. Recommended wholeheartedly, though for the price I would think twice about buying again.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 06:37:22 | More by AgentMunky

Vonerichs

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Black in color with an aggressive espresso colored head that's about 1". Great retention.

The smell is chocolate and light roasted coffee. There's some earthy notes to it as well.

The taste is sweet fudge brownies and lightly roasted malts. There's a dirty, earthy flavor to it in the middle. The aftertaste has some off flavors that tasted like burnt plastic, but it's a brief appearance and doesn't linger long.

The mouthfeel is phenomenal in this. It's soooo smooth and the carbonation is soft. It's a solid stout, but this is the focal point for sure.

This is a great stout and one of the better offerings from Lost Abbey.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2012 04:42:14 | More by Vonerichs

afrokaze

California

4.18/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Another one I'd been meaning to try for some time, LA beers tend to be a gamble. On tap at Wine Affairs.

Pours black as my soul with a finger of deep tan head and leaves gorgeous lacing for the entire hour I drank it.

Smell is heavy on baker's chocolate, deep roasted espresso, toffee and spicy hops.

Decadent is the word that comes to mind. Lots of dark chocolate and coffee dominate, but then some of the spicy/earthy hops and a bit of dark fruit come into play. The sweetness is great up front, then gives way to a long bitter roasty finish that is semi-dry.

Mouthfeel is my favorite part of the beer; velvety smooth, almost a bit like a nitro tap. Carbonation is perfectly in check, slightly thick but not heavy or cloying. Finishes long and a bit sticky but not overpowering, it just stays around for minutes and begs for the next sip. ABV is perfectly in balance and warms you up just a bit.

Wow, this one threw me for a bit of a loop. I'm usually a bit iffy on LA beers but this one really suited the moment on a cold night after I found out I'm losing my job. Cheered me up like a slice of devil's food cake.

Serving type: on-tap

02-28-2012 23:50:38 | More by afrokaze

SHODriver

California

4.15/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours black with a small tan head that is slow to recede. Looks like a stout should
S: Smells of chocolate, coffee, roast malt and alcohol
T: Lots of chocolate on the flavor up fromt that gives way to a solid toasty middle and some sweet coffee flavor toward the end. Aftertaste is more dark malt flavor and burnt sugar that lingers for some time
M: Full bodied, but not overly viscous and soft carbonation that is apparent but not overbearing
O: A very well done stout. I have one more so it will be interesting to see how this beer changes over time

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2012 03:44:36 | More by SHODriver

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at TJ's, Paoli, PA

Nothing surprising here... Poured a dark brown-black with a small, tan head; moderate lacing and retention. Aroma of coffee and cocoa, light sensation of dark fruits. Taste was roasty up front, flavors of dark chocolate and some coffee roastiness, dark fruit juices, and some warmth from the alcohol. Body was about medium; I feel this beer might be better if allowed to sit/age for a bit. Still pretty good overall.

Serving type: on-tap

02-28-2012 01:00:07 | More by Rifugium