La Muerta - Freetail Brewing Company

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very smooth drinker. Average mouthfeel but dangerous drinker. Great flavours cover the booziness. Brown coloured body with a creamy foam. Complex, with smoke the pleasant hook in the smell and in the taste, leaving a velvet chocolate finish. Great beer in a great style, this one is a meal in itself.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2011 02:59:40 | More by northyorksammy

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.1/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

dark as night, thick and inky black with a nice two finger head of cocoa brown on top that really capped it off just about perfectly. Dripping tan lace down the sides it really just looked the part quite nicely i have to admit.

Aroma is of deep roasted malts, lots of cocoa, a touch of a light peat, or smoked flavor and a really well balanced and nicely put together coffee bitterness. This carried over well into the flavor which was rich, creamy and smooth with hints of light chocolate that welcomed the palate first and were soon followed by a nice blend of coffee, roasted malts, light hop notes that dried the palate out quite nicely and a rich, even, semi dry and sweet finish.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2011 01:45:06 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

4.08/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: An extremely dark brown (probably black) pour with a finger's worth of tan head.

S: There is quite a high level of smokiness to the nose which goes along nicely with the roasted malt, coffee, and mild chocolate aromas.

T: As if the nose wasn't smokey enough, that particular character gets a bit more intense on the palate. The roasted malt works very well with the smoke, and a bit of chocolate to sweeten the beer up a tad.

M: A full body with some low to medium carbonation.

D: I'm not always the biggest fan of these smokey beers, but this one was quite nice and had more going for it than just the smoke.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2010 19:41:48 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle courtesy of Huhzubendah. Served in an Allagash tulip. Ouch.

Pairs near black with a good lit mocha head. Light collar. The nose carries a heavy amount of chili and some roast. Light chocolate. Nothing too in depth in the flavor or aroma. Lots of chili. Probably too heavy. Medium body and a roasty finish. Boom.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2011 00:12:45 | More by Thorpe429

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

4.25/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a dark brown, near black body with a tiny, tan head that bubbles out nearly instantaneously.

Smell: Dark, roasted malts imparting fragrant notes of roasted coffee beans, black licorice, chocolate, molasses, and even some soot.

Taste: Lip-smacking combination of bittersweet chocolate, dark caramel, and ooey-gooey molasses. Pinch of chimney ash. There's a strong roastiness to be had, but also plenty of sugar. Earthy bitterness. Minor dark fruit hints here and there. Touch of alcohol heat welcomes in the sweet, roast finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-full body. Medium carbonation. Appropriately smooth mouthfeel.

Drinkability: A full on good, enjoyable Imperial Stout to honor Día de los Muertos or any other various holiday, such as Columbus Day or Cupcake Day (August 18th).

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2009 19:26:10 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Been in the cellar for several years - perhaps an '08 or '09

Appearance: Pours a charcoal color with chocolate highlights; very little head and no lacing action

Smell: Fudge and smoke, but not particularly vivid

Taste: Fudge, with a growing smoked meat character that builds into the middle and lingers, after the swallow, along with the chocolate elements; gets somewhat fruity in the finish, as well

Mouthfeel: Medium body with low carbonation

Overall: Perhaps I sat on this one too long, but I notice that others have not cared for the way the smoke presents itself in this beer

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 00:39:24 | More by brentk56

UCLABrewN84

California

4.4/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to MrVonzipper for sharing this one at his tasting!

Pours an opaque black with a dark khaki head that settles to an oily film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form on the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark malt, smoked malt, cocoa, coffee bean, and slight alcohol. Taste is of dark roasted malt, smoked malt, cocoa powder, and some slight coffee bean flavors. There is a nice roasty bitterness on the palate after each sip. This beer has a good carbonation level with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good stout with nice smoke and cocoa aromas and flavors.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2012 22:26:23 | More by UCLABrewN84

TMoney2591

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served in a tulip glass.

Thanks to both wagenvolks and twiggamortis420 for the hookups!

I feel this works as the digestif following a nice plate of tacos. It pours a straight onyx topped by a half-finger of sandy khaki foam. The nose comprises roasted malts, dark chocolate, light coffee, and molasses. The taste brings in more of the same, along with a hint of hickory-smoked ham. The body is a hefty-leaning medium, with a very light moderate carbonation and a smooth feel. Overall, a very nice stout, one I'm glad to be able to try (and share) more of in the coming months. Good times.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 03:17:21 | More by TMoney2591

drabmuh

Maryland

4.08/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks Huhzubendah for hooking me up with this want of mine. Served in a Stone IRS snifter.

Beer is black with a nice tan head that recedes immediately to this wispy constellation of small bubbles on the surface of the beer that fails to rally to make a decent lacing, strained under low carbonation.

This beer makes its point with the aroma, smokier than most imperial stouts out there, still sweet with a strong malt backbone.

Beer is medium in body, smokey but not dry which saves this beer for me. The smoke on the palate is ever present but still subtle some how. Easy drinking nice finish. I'd have more of this.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2011 03:09:42 | More by drabmuh

Mora2000

Texas

4/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sampled on tap at the Freetail-Real Ale barrel-aged festival in San Antonio.

The beer pours a black color with a tan head. The aroma is heavy on the smoke with some roasted malt mixed in. The flavor is heavy smoke, chocolate and roasted malt. Thick mouthfeel and low carbonation.

Very good, but I think the smoke overpowered any of the more subtle flavors that may have been in the beer. Still, glad I got to try this one.

Serving type: on-tap

07-20-2010 00:27:46 | More by Mora2000

MasterSki

Illinois

4.22/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Eric for sharing this one on New Beer New Year's Day. Served in a Sinha tulip glass. Guessing this is the '08, but am unsure as the label lacked any info being the beer and brewery names (not even a Surgeon General's warning!).

A - A finger of dark tan/almost mocha foam that dissipates quickly to a ring and some light haze. No lace. Black, with the tiniest hint of brown at the bottom of the glass.

S - Smoked malt, hickory, roasted malts, almost meaty, a touch of salt/soy, and aged dark fruits. This really reminds me of a few Baltic Porters I've had (Surly Smoke & East End Smokestack come to mind). The booze is quite well-hidden, and the beer IS evocative of Texas.

T - The taste is quite similar, with well-hidden alcohol and a good amount of smokiness, however the dark fruit sweetness is more pronounced and there's also a touch of milky cocoa. As the brew warms the smoke character actually mellows out a bit, which was a little surprising. I like the taste a little more than the smell - probably more of a 4.25, but I'll be generous.

M - Carbonation is a little zestier than I like. Body is more on the medium side, although it's sufficiently viscous for a 10.2% brew. Nice dry finish that complements the roastiness.

D - My 5oz or so were quite delicious and I gladly would have had some more if there weren't so many people sharing. However, as with all things smoked, the flavor becomes a touch fatiguing.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2010 04:29:45 | More by MasterSki

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.53/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Poured a nice black color with good carbonation leaving a nice tan head and some light lacing

S: Big smoke with some cocoa, roasted malt and a light booze sting

T: Immediate smokiness with blend of smoked meat, liquid smoke, light campfire and charred wood all rolled up into one. Cocoa, roasted malt and a light coffee note.

M: Big body, loads of taste but to smokey for me.

O: While it is a decent to good Imperial Stout the smokines and booze mix does not sit well with me

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2012 02:00:22 | More by barleywinefiend

mdfb79

New York

3.78/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From 06/09/12 notes. Big thanks to Huhzubendah for trading a bottle of this to me. Shared with friends side by side with the BA version. 2011 vintage.

a - Pours a dark brown, almost black color, with one inch of dark tan head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of smoke, peat, roasted malts, chocolate, vanilla, light dark fruits. Pretty nice; the smoke is there but not overbearing.

t - Tastes of smoke, vanilla, roasted malts, peat, dark fruits, toasted malts, chocolate. Much more smoke and vanilla than the nose, but too much smoke for me.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation. Smooth body but a sipper for sure.

o - Overall a pretty good smoked stout. I liked the nose, though thought the smoke dominated the taste a bit. If you like smoked beers worth checking out, though I preferred the BA version a bit.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2012 19:43:39 | More by mdfb79

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Thanks to ApostleBrewing for another interesting one from Freetail.

Pours a darker creamy 1/2 finger head that fades at med pace little lacing, pitch black beer, no light coming through.

Nose starts with roast, roasted malt, roasted coffee beans, a bit of dark chocolate and cocoa, hint of char and bitter dark malt, a light smoked malt with hint of smoked cheese like and light oats I think. Just a touch of earthy hops.

Taste brings creamy dark malts, light caramel, a bit of powdered cocoa, hint vanilla even, some creamy milk chocolate as well. Light roast in the background, just a bit of fresh roasted coffee beans. The dark malts bring a hint of bitter char but not acrid. Melting choc really comes through the more it goes and warms. Slight chewy malt center with hint if oats, and faint hint of smoked malt again. Light earthy bitter hops in there somewhere, as well as a bit of warning booze. Finish is long creamy chocolate, hint if coffee, more bitter roast and earthy malts, fairly dry but slightly sticky mouth coating.

Mouth is fuller bodied, rich and a bit creamy, nice carb, just a bit of warning booze.

Overall quite a nice beer, nice malt profile with good roast and coffee, nice bitterness with roast and hops although a bit more hops would have been nicer, and a bit more coffee too. The light smoke is a nice addition, and acrid niceness kept in check well. Also nice balance and booze levels, a nice tasty beer that I'm glad I didn't age.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 03:08:21 | More by jlindros

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle, big thanks to my boy GregMcQ for sending this treat my way. Awesome label as there is nothing but the beer name and brewery name on it.

Pours a dark dark brown, almost black, very thick brown head forms, settles down to a medium ring and thin layer, tons of lace sticks to the glass, looks pretty good.

Smell is neat, quite sweet, brown sugar and a bit of soy sauce, malty, nutty, toffee, roast, vanilla, like chocolate and toast, a bit of butter, alcohol, woody, nice stuff.

Taste is great, very smokey, lots of chocolate, caramel, nutes, heavy roast, brown sugar, hickory sticks, a bit of soy sauce and tobacco, sweet and rich in the finish, night dark fruit, pretty intense with the smoke.

Mouthfeel is medium to full bodied, a little oily, medium carbonation, but goes down pretty smooth for the weight. This is a great stout, the smoke character in the flavour is just right, although the nose is a little funny. Thanks Greg!

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2010 17:25:50 | More by Viggo

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Huge thanks to Dajtai007 for sending this beer my way. Red wax, 2009(?) vintage

Pours pitch black and completely opaque with a half finger mocha colored head that quickly settles into a thin ring. Spotty lacing left behind.

Slightly smokey, roasted aroma with dark and sweet malt notes, dark fruit and alcohol. Some charred wood along with dark chocolate, coffee bean, oatmeal, toffee and caramel. Some fudge/chocolate cake sweetness underneath, balancing out the smoked meat/burnt malts.

Slightly viscous medium body with a nice balance of smokey, roasted malt, dark chocolate and sweet booze. Dry and toasty with lots of dark chocolate, coffee bean and oatmeal flavor but it never becomes acrid or overly burnt tasting. There is some chocolate cake, toffee and caramel sweetness balancing things out along with some strong booze in the finish. Plenty of alcohol flavor but never hot or harsh. Not overly complex but has a nice balance of roast, sweetness and alcohol. Tasty but definitely a sipper.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 07:44:13 | More by corby112

glid02

Georgia

4.38/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle shared by Grant - much obliged! Bottle 103 of 406 (unsure of that last number).

Pours black with a half-finger light brown head. The head recedes into a wispy layer on top leaving light lacing and decent legs.

Smells of sweet molasses, roasted malts, and smooth dark chocolate, in that order. Also present are very slight amounts of char.

Tastes similar to how it smells, but less restrained. Large roasted malt and dark molasses flavors kick things off and are joined quickly by moderate amounts of dark chocolate. Midway through the sip hints of syrupy dark fruit flavors make a brief appearance before fading into a mildly bitter ending.

Mouthfeel is very good. It's got a heavy thickness with smooth carbonation.

Drinkability is also very good. I finished my glass quickly and could easily have a few more.

Overall I've been wanting to try this beer for a good while now and it didn't disappoint. Certainly on the more decadent and sweeter side of RIS's and one of the better ones I've had that didn't involve a barrel. Well worth a shot if you can track one down.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2011 00:22:25 | More by glid02

stakem

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to SamuelJackson45 for sharing this brew on 1/22/11.

Bottle #144/450 poured into a snifter. This brew appears black in color with a thin ring of dark brown around the edges when held to the light. A spotty amount of lengthy patchy lace clings to the glass. The cap fades fast but a light swirl revives it back to a finger's strength.

The aroma is dark and fruity with a roasted quality that edges on smelling lightly smokey and somewhat nutty. Sweet smelling overall with a grainy scent coupled with a bit of alcohol burn to the back of the nose.

The taste includes a light smoked quality from the roast of the malt. A prick of alcohol hits the tongue and opens up a lightly fruity indication somewhat similar to raisin/plum. Nutty in the aftertaste with increasing amounts of alcohol character as the brew warms.

Medium in the feel with a light yet prickly level of carbonation. Decent drinkability and well balanced. This was a nice take on the style and a little off the normal beaten path for an imperial stout. Worth giving a try.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2011 19:15:43 | More by stakem

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.38/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

2009 vintage

Pours no head. Color is black.

Aroma: Peat and smoke. A lot like surly smoke in that sense. Very malty. Bacon and chocolate. Not very stout like.

Taste: Very similar to the nose. Smoke, less peat, bacon, chocolate, malty, and creamy. Odd.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and creamy. Medium bodied with a lower amount of carbonation. Ends with more roast and smoke.

Overall, this tasted more like a smoke beer than anything. Somewhat drinkable, but far from what the style should be.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2011 00:09:29 | More by mothman

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4.08/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

The beer is dark brown with an oily beige head. The aroma brings a lot of smoke with additional notes of vanilla. Really interesting aroma. Unique for the style. Sweet, with a lot of vanilla flavor. Chocolate, roast. Medium to full bodied. An enjoyable beer. Would definitely have again.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2011 03:06:46 | More by Huhzubendah

twiggamortis420

Texas

4.05/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle #136/450 of the 2010 vintage. Thanks to wolffman17 for this beauty. Pours very black with a light brown head. Retention just ok and only a few spots of lace.

Nose is dusty cocoa, dark chocolate and ripe dark fruitiness. Almost like bruised raspberries. Light smokiness comes out as it warms.

Taste mirrors the smell nicely with a catchy hop bite on the finish. Cocoa is heavy and gives the mouthfeel a viscous kick. Sweetness is right at about medium. I am not a huge fan of the heavy fruit influence, but I can see where that gets some others going. Quite complex array of flavors here. Still though, this is a high quality stout that is among the best Texas has to offer.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2011 23:28:38 | More by twiggamortis420

AgentZero

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Thanks to brew3crew for sharing this one.

A - Black beer with a fairly minimal head that left pretty much nothing on the sides of the glass.

S - It's got a lot of smoke in there, some earth notes, little bit of grease, caramel, and some chocolate. I actually kind of dig the smoke.

T - Taste just didn't really do it for me. It's kind of a chocolately, bacony, smokey brew, all things I like, but this combination wasn't quite right on. It wasn't bad by any means, but just not great.

M - Smooth, lower carbonation, fairly full bodied.

O - Wouldn't mind trying the barrel-aged version of this, as bourbon on the bacony smoke could be interesting. A little different, but this one wasn't quite my thing.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2011 16:53:48 | More by AgentZero

champ103

Texas

4.65/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

A huge thanks to pwsoldier for the trade.

A: Pours pretty much opaque black. A two finger tan head gently rises and sticks around for a minute. The foam finally recedes and sticks around as a small cap. Light lace.
S: Roasted malt. Chocolate, dry wood, molasses, smoke. A huge aroma that is great.
T: Incredibly complex. Roasted malt, dark chocolate, espresso, dry wood, smoke. Slightly bitter in the finish. Some warming alcohol. Lots of great layers.
M/D: A huge full body. Low on the carbonation. Velvety smooth, decedent, and rich. The alcohol is noticeable, but it is a great beer to sip on.

One of the best Imperial Stouts I have tried. A great winter warmer or after dinner drink. I wish I had another bottle to cellar. Something I highly recommend.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2009 02:29:53 | More by champ103

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

4.47/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Getting into the Halloween spirit with this treat from BGThang. Hmmm, what mysterious secrets lie hidden within the confines of....La Muerta??? (cue spooky organ music...)

Appearance - dark, cola pour, setting up mostly opaque in the glass, maybe a hint of ruby on the edges. Some light lace on top of pale mocha doesn't last long and is quickly struggling to hold a thin collar. Any lacing has difficulty holding on as it tends to slide down the glass.

Aroma - deep grain roast, hints of espresso and bitter chocolate, and a mesquite type smokiness.

Taste - sweetened cocoa , notes of cola and smoky espresso. Very warming on the swallow. Lots of chocolate on the aftertaste, malt sweeetness and abv helping that along to make a very nice flavor. Finishes dry with shadows of cocoa and a lingering, ~~~haunting~~~ sweetness...

Mouthfeel - smooth with a good solid body, medium carbonation.

Drinkability - I imagine this would be a fine cellarable but I wasn't about to wait. Happy Halloween '09, thanks Ken!

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2009 19:34:43 | More by brewdlyhooked13

billab914

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Reviewed from notes, opened as part of a haul from a great group of Texas BA's. Poured from a 22oz bottle into a tasting glass. Pitch black in color with a thin tan head barely covering the top.

I'm getting a lot of smoke to it in the aroma, which I love. It's got some really good notes of dark chocolate and roasty coffee. I'm getting a a bit of a chili pepper like flavor out of it as well. I loved the smoky, roasted malt flavors in it.

The smoke and dark chocolate flavors continue into the taste and again are really good. I get a little more roasted malts and coffee in the finish. The smoke is definitely the highlight for me, but it's not overdone either.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied for the style and moderately slick and oily. Carbonation is on the lower side. Overall, I thought this was one of if not the best beer of the day. I really loved the smokiness in it. Everything really came together nicely in it. Great beer overall.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2012 14:34:47 | More by billab914