Catherine's Inspiration - Swamp Head Brewery & Tasting Room

DmanGTR

New York

3.58/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured a very dark brown, nearly black. No light comes through except in the very periphery of the glass. Rich chocolate (dark) and coffee comes through with notes of raisins, caramel, and toast. Flavor is pretty well balanced with the aforementioned characters, with just a hint of dark, ripe fruit in the finish. Finish is long, toasty, and an astringent bitterness too. A rich, full bodied beer that is carbonated to the point of velvet. Rather smooth and delicious. My only critique is that the aromas and flavors should be more pronounced, as they seem a touch washed away.

Serving type: on-tap

08-25-2011 05:06:09 | More by DmanGTR

babaracas

Florida

3.93/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Dark brown / black in the glass, thin ring of brown lace. Smell: a bit alcoholic, anise, a little molasses, vanilla, raisin-esque dark fruit. Taste: moderately roasty, pumpernickel-ish, dark chocolate, anise. Medium bodied with creamy feel, not as syrupy as many RIS. Nice, though alcohol, while not boozy for the style, is also not particularly disguised, and the body could be boosted a little.

Serving type: on-tap

05-14-2011 02:23:53 | More by babaracas

jrallen34

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Hunaphu.. This looks about as good as a dark black beer can look in a plastic cup. Deep black with a big tan head, retention and lace could be better... This is a sweeter ris, lots of dark fruits on the front with a chocolate finish. Its enticing but needs more balance, some roast or coffee would elevate this a lot... The taste again is pretty sweet, milk chocolate and more dark fruits throughout, too one noted. A slight bitter finish doesn't accomplish enough.

An average stout, wouldn't track this down again.

Serving type: on-tap

03-14-2011 00:37:35 | More by jrallen34

mullenite

Florida

4.38/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pitch black, thick and viscous pour from the tap with a tall dark tan/light brown head. Not very much lacing though this is something I've come to expect from bigger imperial stouts. Retention was good, not great, with the head falling some what quickly to about a quarter it's original size and then staying there for another minute or so.

Smell is strong on the dark chocolate but was not overly bitter dark chocolate. There is some very light dark fruit in the background as well as a very light touch of alcohol.

Taste was also strong in chocolate flavor without a lot of the typical dark chocolate bitterness. There is, again, a touch of dark fruit in the background that matches the flavor of the chocolate well.

Medium body, on the thicker side of medium, with lower carbonation than most.

Overall I would put this stout up there with the best of them. I tend to prefer my stouts a little dryer and roastier but if I'm going to have a sweeter one this is how I want it to taste. I can't wait for the coffee and chocolate infused version.

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3/13/11 Moved my review since no one would merge the two listings.

Serving type: on-tap

03-13-2011 16:03:39 | More by mullenite

SauceBoss

Florida

4/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

appearance: It was a super dark beer with an espresso colored foamy head.

smell: smell of heavy malt and coffee from beginning to end.

taste: Nice coffee flavor with hint of sweetness to it. While being 10% I did not feel it was overbearing.

mouthfeel: more of a medium-full bodied beer

drinkability: I had this for the first time yesterday at the Shipyard Emporium in Winter Park Florida and it was good. I wanted to try stuff that I couldnt readily get and It was a treat. While I am not big on Imperial Stouts, this one's flavor and mouth feel made it quite enjoyable. I would drink it again :)

Serving type: on-tap

Serving type: on-tap

01-31-2011 18:36:17 | More by SauceBoss

CampusCrew

Florida

4/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

appearance: pitch black with a solid head retention

smell: loads of coffee aromas

taste: a decent impy stout with heavy coffee flavor, chocolate and dark fruit flavor. lots of alcohol kick though

mouthfeel: medium bodied to full bodied

drinkability: I tried this at the kickbacks Swamphead dinner among many others. This brewery in new and going in the right direction. Solid beer from a solid brewery. I would love to have this again.

Serving type: on-tap

01-02-2011 23:14:38 | More by CampusCrew

brentk56

North Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Arrives looking great; with a midnight color and a tan head; sporadic lacing

Smell: Chocolate and dark fruit (prune) elements

Taste: Opens with the chocolate and dark fruit flavors and the big, sweet malt dominates through the finish, though there is some hop balance at the end which adds a nice counterpoint

Mouthfeel: Full bodied with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: A bit boozy but, otherwise, a first class effort

Serving type: on-tap

12-21-2010 02:42:12 | More by brentk56