Barrel-Aged Sodom
Revolution Brewing

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From:
Revolution Brewing
 
Illinois, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
ABV:
13%
Score:
96
Avg:
4.54 | pDev: 8.59%
Reviews:
14
Ratings:
23
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Oct 24, 2012
Added:
Apr 29, 2011
Wants:
  9
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 5 by AleApostle from Illinois

Oct 24, 2012
 
Rated: 5 by zachary80 from Indiana

Sep 05, 2012
 
Rated: 4.25 by JonathanSuarez from Illinois

Aug 30, 2012
 
Rated: 5 by chgobear from Illinois

Jul 06, 2012
Photo of jegross2
Reviewed by jegross2 from Illinois

4.05/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Reviewing the Barrel-Aged Sodom from Revolution Brewing Company.
Score: 90

6 oz tap pour served in a plastic cup (the top cup) at the grand opening of Revolution's new brewing/canning facility and enjoyed on 05/25/12. Review is from iPhone notes.

Appearance: Jet black. Served with a thin layer of creamy milk chocolate/brown-colored head that settles to a ring around the glass. Good lacing and retention. 4/5

Smell: Milk chocolate, figs, and fudged-dipped cherries. Toffee, sweet bourbon, and molasses. A little oaky vanilla and caramel malt to boot. 4/5

Taste: Dark chocolate covered cherries, caramel and fig. More sweet molasses flavor on the tongue than in the nose. Gets "syrupier" in flavor and mouthfeel as it warms. 4/5

Mouthfeel: Full bodied, minimal carbonation. Syrupy mouthfeel. Slightly sweet finish. 4.5/5

Overall: I am not exactly sure why I am tasting/smelling so much cherry flavor, as it does not seem as though any other prior reviewer detected the same. Who knows -- maybe I was served the wrong beer. Either way, I enjoyed this one -- though I felt it was quite a bit over-hyped.

Recommendation: Worth seeking out to be sure, but this is not one of Revolution's best barrel-aged beers. I chose a shot at this over Gravedigger Billy after waiting in line for half an hour (since I had had the Gravedigger Billy several times before), but I would probably not do that again.

Pairings: Steak.

Cost: $4 for a 6 oz pour at the Revolution grand opening party.
May 26, 2012
 
Rated: 5 by ChicagoPeacemaker from Illinois

Apr 29, 2012
 
Rated: 4.5 by bishocr from Illinois

Feb 21, 2012
 
Rated: 5 by Mark000 from Michigan

Dec 11, 2011
 
Rated: 5 by beersis81 from Illinois

Nov 27, 2011
 
Rated: 5 by cadaugherty from Illinois

Nov 15, 2011
Photo of ktrillionaire
Reviewed by ktrillionaire from Florida

4.47/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
On-tap at Revolution prior to DLD. The brew pours an obsidian hue with very little froth but a menacing oily sheen. It shows legs on the glass' wall. The aroma announces Bourbon before I can even lift the glass off of the table, and the taste backs it up with a wallop of Whiskey. The beer is really tasting quite similar to 2010 BCS. There is also big milk chocolate, buttery oak, vanilla, sweet and roasted maltiness, and a generally nice balance between decadence and reasonability in terms of the favor profile. Quite impressed with this one.
Jun 08, 2011
Photo of jrallen34
Reviewed by jrallen34 from Illinois

4.35/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Super dark black body with only a light tan head ring forming, no lace or retention... the aroma is super sweet, tons of bourbon, sweet chocolate, smells like bcs, good... the taste is really rounded and smooth bourbon but also very complex, lot of creamy chocolate with a distinct bitter coffee finish, taste is really rich, almost decadent but I don’t detect much alcohol at all... This is a really good barrel aged stout
May 30, 2011
Photo of GoldenVIKE
Reviewed by GoldenVIKE from Illinois

4.19/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Served on tap at the Beer Fistival '11.

A- motor oil black with a milk chocolate brown head that seemed inconsistent on tap. On one pour the chocolate-brown head took up 3/4 of the total pour and took several minutes to dissipate into a manageable 1-finger head. On another pour there was no head whatsoever and even when swirling the glass was difficult to generate any frothiness. The body was pitch black with no light getting through.

S- rich sweet and complex smells of chocolate, bourbon, coffee, vanilla, cream, and maybe some dark berrry.

T- nice dark chocolate and bourbon. a little bitter.

M- thick syrupie consistency, almost like you're drinking a mix of Nesquik Chocolate infused with bourbon. This is a true sipper that is dense, thick, and powerful--but you wouldn't want to drink too much of this. It's like liquid chocolate coffee cake. Or melted dark chocolate ice cream mixed with bourbon and dark coffee. Whatever it is, it rocks.

O- A very unique and powerful experience. I went back for several different rounds of this. The barrel-aged version is much more complex and enjoyable than regular Sodom, although I'd say that even the regular version is pretty rich and enjoyable.
May 28, 2011
Photo of stakem
Reviewed by stakem from Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Served in a 9oz snifter at the brewpub on eve of DLD '11 (standing room only.) This brew appears black in color with no light shining through it as I hold it up. A dense, dark brown head sits atop the brew and holds fairly well, a swirl revives the cap to a finger's strength.

Smells tangy with notes of bourbon accenting the alcohol aspect. Lots of sweet dark malt suggestions of cocoa powder, dark roasty grain, vanilla and toasted coconut. A light fruity alcohol note emerges across the back slightly fusel and tingles the nose as it warms.

This brew tastes of cocoa powder, semi sweet and lasting with an awesome bakers chocolate flavor moreso than the typical roasty bitter grains. A solid whiskey twang makes the alcohol flavor come forward but it is very enjoyable. It includes a slight herbal hop bitterness that keeps the sweetness in check and a high octane booze kick is perfectly integrated. The aftertaste is lightly wooded with more subtle barrel characteristics like coconut which is very enjoyable.

This is a deeply complex and super enjoyable offering. It is medium to full bodied with a smooth feel and modestly carbonated. It is an awesome example of the style. I would drink this all night if allowed. Great beer and perfect balance and barrel contribution. Screw DLD, I'd drive to Chicago again next year just for this!
May 13, 2011
Photo of ChugginOil
Reviewed by ChugginOil from Illinois

4.42/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Barrel Aged Sodom poured @ DLD 2011!

Pours oily black and has minimal tan head. Legs,all over.

The nose is strictly vanilla oak and booze, in the most articulated and artistic way possible.

Vanilla, oak, chocolate, all bourboned up and dominating. Some toffee and malt roast is also present. A bold sweetness is evident and a bit overpowering. The bourbon is leading the pack here.

The mouthfeel is thick, resinous, and oily, leaving bourbon blanket flavoring throughout.

Overall, if you like bourbon saturated big stouts, this is for you. Taking in all bourbon characteristics, bbl Sodom is a grand slam. A
May 10, 2011
Photo of Phelps
Reviewed by Phelps from Arizona

3.47/5  rDev -23.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Enjoyed as a guest tap at Dark Lord Day 2011

Still. Inky black, with no head, save a very thin ring. Thick maple legs as I swirl. 

Bourbony, one-dimensional nose. Vanilla extract, molasses, dark chocolate, and not much else.

Bourbony in flavor as well, though with less vanilla and more sweet molasses. Some dark chocolate and cocoa. Tastes like sweet morning pancakes.

Thick, viscous and buttery, with light, massaging carbonation. Lots o’ alcohol accosts my tongue and lingers long after the finish.

Too one-dimensional, with no complexity. If I wanted bourbon, I'd buy bourbon.
May 08, 2011
Photo of 71gto
Reviewed by 71gto from Illinois

4.83/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
This was my first time visiting Revolution, for this specific beer.

The look is extremely dark past due motor oil.

Smell was very much bourbon, somewhat similar to KBS in smell

Taste was absolutely amazing. This beer was everything I was hoping for and more. Well balanced and drinks well. The taste was lots of chocolate bitterness with some vanilla. A little bit of alcohol burn, but in a good way.

Overall this is one of my favorite beers, I just wish it was bottled so I could continue to enjoy it. It is everything a big stout should be and so much more.
May 04, 2011
Photo of jampics2
Reviewed by jampics2 from Ohio

4.42/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
On tap @ DLD 2011. Served in several small glasses then poured together to fill my snifter to the top with the goodness. I think these were $10 each, but at that point I really wasn't paying...attention, that is.

This beer is very dark, almost pitch-black but a touch of brown and red shine through around the edges. It has a small off-white head that quickly subsides but leaves good soapy lace, which is all you can expect from a BA beer this big!

The smell reminded me instantly of BCS. In fact, I was almost convinced this was really BCS until I tasted it. The nose has strong bourbon notes and a nice fudge base with some notes of vanilla, oak, dark fruit, a touch of caramel and milk chocolate. The nose is delicate but brash, just how I like my beers - the more I explore, the better the scents get.

The taste is also very, very good. It was here that this beer really got its personality across. This beer has great levels of chocolate flavor and vanilla from the barrels. The booze is never too strong, and there's a sweet caramel and chocolate base that never becomes cloying. The barrel has added depth and great balance for a 13% huge stout. This was a standout and, IMO, is better than BCS fresh. Revolution nailed the perfect timing for the -bal age for this one.

Unfortunately, I didn't love the mouthfeel. The carbonation was low, but there, however, the beer just didn't seem sturdy enough for the huge tastes. It was a touch thin. But, with all these qualities considered, I must say this was easily one of the top tier brews I had a DLD this year. Just a wonderful experience to sip on! I don't know if this will ever be bottled, but I'd happily trade for one if it is! A nice introduction to the Revolution!
May 03, 2011
Photo of MasterSki
Reviewed by MasterSki from Canada (ON)

4.45/5  rDev -2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
On-tap at Revolution. Served in a snifter.

A - Finger of mocha foam that settles to a thin cap and thicker collar, leaving behind spotty lace. Body is unsurprisingly black.

S - Smell reminds me a lot of BCS - not surprising considering this is also aged in Heaven Hill barrels. Marshmallow, roasted malts, earthy bourbon, light smoke, chocolate fudge.

T - A nice blend of sweet chocolate, roasted malts, vanilla, bourbon, and oak. Alcohol is well-hidden - seems less hot that BCS is out of the gate.

M - Medium bodied - a touch thin for the style. Sticky, viscous, chewy, with low carbonation. Some alcohol warmth, but not wholly inappropriate.

D - This is a really good beer. I enjoyed it more than Barrel-Aged Dark Lord. It's like a thinner, mellower BCS. I would have had a second snifter if I hadn't had to run. Hope Three Floyds and Revolution make a second batch of this stuff.
May 01, 2011
Photo of TurdFurgison
Reviewed by TurdFurgison from Ohio

4.42/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
On tap at the brewpub, DLD Eve 2011. This was served in smallish goblets, I'm guessing 8-10oz pours. It's dark, more black than brown, with a thin tan cap of finely celled foam.

Many at the table felt this smelled like BCS, and I guess it did a bit but to me it seemed my nose could choose between them. Nice bourbon character, also loads of maltiness, roasty and sweet, some chocolate, dark fruits, etc.

Very sweet initially, with bourbon flavors complimenting but never matching the sweetness. No burn at all, little evident alcohol in flavor (although definitely there, I felt it when I stood afterwards). Delicious, very drinkable, really nice barrel treatment.

Medium bodied, others characterized it as thin but it seemed OK to me, maybe similar to FiftyFifty Eclipse stouts in that attribute. On that note, this is less sweet than Eclipse so maybe this is a tad better in my book. I think it will be a hit, I enjoyed it a lot.
Apr 30, 2011
Barrel-Aged Sodom from Revolution Brewing
Beer rating: 96 out of 100 with 23 ratings