Menagerie #5 - Evolution Craft Brewing Company

Bmoyer0301

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance:

Tonight I will be breaking out my Dogfish Head snifter which should hold most of this twenty two ounce bottle in one gentle pour. Upon pulling off the cap I was really surprised to hear a very loud and boisterous hiss coming out. I noticed the label mentions that this was re-fermented in the bottle and I must say they did a nice job of achieving this aspect. On the pour I went straight on and slow watching the evil black looking sauce just flop right out of the bottle and coat my snifter with such ease. There was just a tiny reminiscent of bubbles while I was pouring but near the end a beautiful head formed and left with me a one finger thick coca colored head that looked like froth on a great cup of coffee. When I hold my glass up to the light there is absolutely no chance of light passing through and I do not see any form of yeast chunks or trub floating around which is a good sign. I gave my over-sized snifter a generous swirl and noticed this baby just paints my glass with a nice amount legs and the lacing creeps down slowly.

Smell:

Even through this is barrel aged the most prominent aroma I am pulling out is rich deep chocolate and vanilla undertones. Very sweet and dessert like aromas are surly the front and center here with some faint bourbon lucking around which is very welcoming. Preferably I like the bourbon to be a little more noticeable but this is still a great beer so far and it won't take away from its construction. In the finish some burnt roasty flavors and maybe some form of earthy hops pushing through. Not a drop of heat alcohol to mention of.

Taste:

Simply divine! Very slick and smooth on the mouthfeel with big burst of vanilla up front. Complimented by subtle oaky notes chocolate, and espresso this really makes for a great sipping beer for the evening. Bourbon is present but not overwhelming, more so just a compliment to all of the complex flavors rather than being the only thing noticeable. Shockingly I do not notice any heat alcohol at all which is pretty surprising for being nearly 11%. In the finish just a touch of roasted or smoky BBQ is poking through but thing astringent or off putting. This is great now and I imagine that with a year or so with some age the flavors will mesh much better and even become more drinkable.

Drinkability:

Overall this was a nice representation of the style and very easy to drink. Again I say that I like my barrel aged beers a little bit more boozy but that is my preference. I am going to say that this is a huge step in the right direction for Evolution especially since they are so young. I would love to see these guys make the base imperial stout into a regular rotating beer because that in my opinion is what really makes this beer so good, the barrel just compliments it. If you get a chance to try this one go for it because it is just so damn smooth. If any of you are in the Maryland area or plan on traveling to Ocean City for a beach trip search these guys out because Dogfish Head isn't the only great brewery in the area.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2011 19:03:29 | More by Bmoyer0301

Magery

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -12.2%

05-07-2013 19:41:36 | More by Magery

camillo13

Maryland

4/5  rDev -6.3%

02-25-2013 03:19:32 | More by camillo13

brees6221

Maryland

4.75/5  rDev +11.2%

02-22-2013 21:22:18 | More by brees6221

stakem

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to TheCPJ for sharing. Bomber into a snifter, the brew appears dark brown to black with a ring of brown clarity around the edge. A brown head rests atop and slowly fades leaving some spotty lacework on the glass.

The aroma contains plenty of sweet cocoa, vanilla and toasty coconut from the barrel aging. A hint of wood and roasty grain like coffee fills out the rest of the aromatics with a mild tingle of alcohol.

The flavor is bitter roasted grain with suggestions of coffee and herbal hops with a hint of earth. Dark fruity alcohol like raisin with a contrasting barrel sweetness like vanilla and caramel. Some coconut with a contrasting raw woody quality comes out across the back as it warms.

This is a medium bodied brew with a modest amount of carbonation. Pleasantly roasty and bitter with a solid barrel presence. These guys at Evolution really got a handle on things and work some magic with barrel aging. I need to get my hands on more of their stuff.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2012 16:33:10 | More by stakem

jaasen64

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

09-26-2012 12:12:40 | More by jaasen64

t0rin0

California

3.75/5  rDev -12.2%

09-26-2012 03:15:26 | More by t0rin0

BeerThursdays

Delaware

4.53/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Opened one of these the other night with a few friends. Beer was all black with a nice tan head. Smell was Coffee, molasses and vanilla. Taste has really improved over the last year. Alcohol has dropped off tremendously and the vanilla and chocolate flavors are very prominent. In the mouth, this is thick and smooth. Alcohol is only found in the finish. Mildly carbonated.

Overall, this beer has done great with a year on it. Barrel flavor has settled down a bit and is very drinkable. Can't image it will get much better at this point, so I think I'll start to revisit this one about once a month.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2012 01:44:32 | More by BeerThursdays

3Hops

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

07-08-2012 03:05:51 | More by 3Hops

Dope

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours black with a nice dense espresso colored head. Leaves moderate lacing behind as it slowly fades away.

S: Loaded with bourbon and dark fruits. Lots of fig, raisin, toffee, molasses and caramel. Quite oaky to boot. Don't get any roasted malt, smells more like a bourbon barrel BSDA than anything.

T: Bourbon is a little more subdued here but still quite strong. Big toffee and oak hit up front. Roasted malt kicks in with a really creamy, almost chalky char flavor. Bitter chocolate comes along into the finish. Lingering strong oakiness in the aftertaste with a bit of vanilla mixed in.

M: Thick, heavy, creamy and almost chalky at times.

O: Very bourbon heavy RIS for sure. Super oaky; a bit detracting. Otherwise a pretty well balanced and complex barrel aged RIS. Think with some age on it the oak might fade a bit and it could be really good. Has potential for sure.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2012 03:19:09 | More by Dope

DoubleSimcoe

New York

4.75/5  rDev +11.2%

05-03-2012 04:46:37 | More by DoubleSimcoe

cfh64

Texas

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

04-02-2012 16:34:33 | More by cfh64

Immortale25

Florida

4.43/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Green Flash cask-style glass. No freshness date but I've been holding onto this bottle for almost a year, so I'm sure it was bottled in 2011.

A- Pours an absolutely opaque motor oil black with a 1/4 inch dark tan head that doesn't retain much before becoming a thin ring around the edge of the glass and a small amount of light surface foam. Average lacing.

S- Deeply roasted coffee and chocolate that's semi-sweet and also has a hint of black licorice.

T- Firm, burnt malt taste. Incredibly easy to drink for 10.5% ABV. The chocolate comes through more dark in the flavor and not as sweet. The black licorice also surfaces adding a sort of spice note to the flavor profile. Roasted coffee aftertaste. Some hops clamor their way to the point of detection but this is, decidedly, a malt bomb.

M- Has a thick chewy mass to it that's also a bit creamy. Medium-low carbonation is spot-on for the style.

O- Exactly the way I prefer an RIS. Maybe could've used a tad more aging to make it peak, but I'm glad I opened it when I did.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2012 00:52:05 | More by Immortale25

BMart

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

01-24-2012 04:59:07 | More by BMart

MalReever

Delaware

5/5  rDev +17.1%

01-23-2012 12:40:38 | More by MalReever

whartontallboy

New York

4/5  rDev -6.3%

01-15-2012 03:11:18 | More by whartontallboy

PittBeerGirl

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

01-08-2012 18:24:09 | More by PittBeerGirl

Tenchi221

California

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

12-25-2011 00:21:33 | More by Tenchi221

Jules11788

California

4.22/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a pitch black color that lets no light through; very small head, very light lacing

S: Sweet bourbon, dark chocolate woodiness, light notes of roasted coffee

T: Roasted malts, sweet bourbon-soaked wood, and dark chocolate. This stuff tasted like one of those chocolate truffles filled with bourbon liqueur, it was so delicious. I would love to enjoy a bottle of this with ice cream or cookies

M: Thick and smooth, lightly carbonated, just the slightest bite of booze at the end

O: This was a deliciously chocolaty beer that reminded me so much of those fancy liqueur-filled chocolates. If you enjoy a good Imperial Stout you will like this a lot.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2011 21:31:41 | More by Jules11788

johnhenryconway

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

11-19-2011 05:01:02 | More by johnhenryconway

klipper

Michigan

4/5  rDev -6.3%

11-18-2011 00:07:53 | More by klipper

MasterSki

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Bob (klipper) for sharing this one. It's been on my wants for a while now. Served in an Alvinne taster glass while waiting for FFF to open.

A - A thin mocha foam settles to a partial ring of bubbles, leaving behind a few stray spots of lace. Pitch black body.

S - Lots of oak present here - I'm guessing this was in barrels for quite some time. Lots of vanilla, roasted malts, anise, dark fruits, and surprisingly little overt bourbon flavor. Alcohol is relatively well-hidden too.

T - The taste is also very vanilla-forward, with light dry oak, dark chocolate, and black licorice flavors. Again, the bourbon contribution is quite restrained, with more barrel influence than anything. Alcohol is present, but not excessive - I guessed 10-11% without looking at the bottle.

M - Smooth, chewy, medium body, with a sticky finish, and mild warming alcohol on the throat. Surprisingly low amount of tannins for something so oaky. Carbonation level is moderate-to-low.

D - It's a nice barrel-aged Imperial Stout, but there's not a lot to distinguish it from the umpteen other beers in this style. I enjoyed drinking it and I would certainly have it again if offered, but at the same time I wouldn't actively seek it out again. Certainly a very good effort from a new brewery. Was kind of surprised to see it only spent 5 months in barrels.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2011 18:28:15 | More by MasterSki

monitorpop

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

11-14-2011 18:11:35 | More by monitorpop

billab914

Virginia

3.9/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes. 22oz bottle shared at a recent tasting. It poured pitch black in color with a thin, fizzy, tan head to it. it had some nice retention to it though as I drank it.

The aroma shows a modest bourbon and oak profile to it. I get some nice roasty, dark chocolate flavors mixing with a little vanilla. Pretty decent aroma overall, but not something that really stood out to me for the style.

The taste shows more of the barrel characteristics. I get toasty coconut, woody oak and a little boozy bourbon. I get more of the roasty, dark chocolate, slightly burnt and bitter flavors of the base beer coming out in the finish. It's a nice balancing of the barrel and base beer characteristics.

The mouthfeel is heavy with carbonation being moderate for the style. Overall it was a pretty solid barrel aged beer. It was very flavorful and balanced the beer flavors and the barrel flavors pretty nicely.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2011 16:28:19 | More by billab914

russwbeck

Virginia

3.95/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Enjoyed at a recent Northern Virginia tasting.

Black pour with a brown head. Smoky deep smell with a ton of chocolate and caramel malts. The bourbon really shines through. A ton if oak and chocolate. Tasty and boozy, but not balanced all that well and a bit hot. Heavy and creamy body. A lot of alcohol on the finish. I wish it was a bit more balanced.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2011 17:02:19 | More by russwbeck