Peg's G.O.O.D. RareR D.O.S. - Peg's Cantina & Brewpub / Cycle Brewing

spdyfire83

Ireland

4.93/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

228th Review
Growler to CBC taster
Enjoyed on 11 May 2012

Thanks for this RareR tasty brew Johndoe8!

A: The abyss of black. Thin layer of soft mocha bubbles for a head. Thick motor oil consistency.

S: Smells of rum, sweet caramel, dark chocolate, and vanilla. Beautiful nose and quite inviting!

T: Complex and deep. Follows nose closely, but the rum is a bit more muted. Not too sweet - the vanilla balances the dark chocolate and caramel nicely. Notes of coconut and oak add to the enjoyable complexity of this beer and everything is intertwined to perfection.

M: Full bodied with gentle carbonation. Thick and coating, but very smooth.

O: Simply put...this beer is amazing! I'll leave it at that.

Serving type: growler

06-30-2012 09:34:03 | More by spdyfire83

DmanGTR

New York

4.98/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Review from notes.

Thanks to Aaron and co. for dragging me out of my study den and making me have an awesome time. You guys rock. This beer poured pitch black. It's a black hole. A deep abyss that sports a milk chocolate brown head that dares you to disturb it. So I did. And holy shit, this beer is SMOOTH. That's the first thing that came to my head. All the flavors are wonderfully melded together. Toffee, toasted marshmallows, caramel, figs/raisins, coffee, dark chocolate, it's all there. Follow that with a nice boozy rum presence and oak. This is where it's at guys. Big body, excellent carbonation. Word.

Serving type: on-tap

05-31-2012 16:37:06 | More by DmanGTR

Brabander

Netherlands

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

This must be the best beer i have ever had! I was at the CBC festival in Copenhagen where i met Johndoe8. He asked me to join him and some other BA's for a tasting in the evening. I could not make it that night. The next day we met again and then one of the best things happened! He had some of this beer left for me and poured in a small amount of this beer. The only thing i can say is that this is one HELL of a stout. I have tasted a lot in this style but this amazed me soooo much i can only give it the maximum. Soft, balanced, easy to drink...wow!

Serving type: growler

05-21-2012 20:21:40 | More by Brabander

KickInTheChalice

Illinois

4.68/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From notes. Poured from a 16 oz. growler into a snifter.

The pour is a molasses black with almost no head.

There is a boozines in the aroma. Rum, roasted malt, dark chocolate, molasses, coconut, and a bit of vanilla all come through in the nose.

The flavor is so incredibly smooth. It starts with a light sweetness, both from the rum and the roasted malt. Dark bitter chocolate, espresso and milk along with more rum. It is sweet, chocolately, smooth, and full of character, which only grows as the sip goes on. Toward the end of the sip, coconut, vanilla, and sweeter milk chocolate dominate more.

The carbonation is light in appearance, but there is a medium carbonation and nice smoothness when I drink it. There is full body and a smoothness that just blows me away.

This was pretty incredible. A slight knock in the appearance and a light smell intensity were the only things that really brought it down.

Serving type: growler

05-16-2012 02:21:33 | More by KickInTheChalice

Fux

France

4.68/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Had a few sips of this at CBC shared by a very generous guy from California (JohnDoe8?). Thanks a lot!

A : Pitch black with almost no head

S: Rum, oak, vanilla. Very deep, very strong, amazing!

T: Rum, chocolate, molasses, caramel malts on the finish, sweet. Flavorful, complex, nice.

M: Sweet, a bit oily, smooth, very enjoyable.

O: A great great beer. Deep, strong, oaky, the perfect Imperial Stout! Had too few of this for my taste! Hopefully, on another lucky day... Thx again!

Serving type: growler

05-15-2012 23:42:01 | More by Fux

baggio

Sweden

4.48/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Generously shared by JohnDoe8 in Copenhagen, thanks alot!

A: Pitch black with a brown/beige head and some small lacing.

S: Caramel, Rum, Chocolate, Vanilla and molasses. Smells truly wonderful!

T: Coffee, Chocolate, Vanilla, Rum, Roasted bread and Butterscotch.

M: Supersmooth and perfectly balanced with just enough carbonation. Dangerously drinkable.

One of the very best stouts i've yet to try. So perfectly balanced. I need more of this...

Serving type: growler

05-13-2012 14:50:04 | More by baggio

MasterSki

Illinois

4.7/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Steve for sharing. 16oz growler #25. Served in a Närke snifter.

A - A thin mocha foam settles to a thin ring and a few wisps, leaving behind tiny specks of lace. Black body, and an oily glass-coating brown film that lingers upon consumption.

S - Massive notes of butterscotch, coconut, dark chocolate, molasses, brownies, and the lightest touch of rum. Surprisingly little oak here - guessing the rum barrel was re-used a few times before ending up in Doug's hands. In any case, even with the understated barrel and spirit presence this is still quite excellent, as the base stout is formidable in its own right. Minimal alcohol presence.

T - As with Rare D.O.S. the taste is a revelation, with waves of molten milk and dark chocolates, vanilla, coconut, caramel, molasses, and a kiss of rum and oak. Super rich and smooth, with flavors that linger nearly indefinitely. Again, virtually no alcohol to be found. Probably a 4.75 in comparison to Rare D.O.S., but stellar in its own right.

M - Smooth, molten chocolate texture, medium-full body, lower carbonation, and perhaps a touch of alcohol warmth on the back of the throat. Lightly dry barrel presence in the finish.

D - Excellent stuff. Doesn't quite hit the highs of Rare D.O.S., but it's pretty close. Greatly looking forward to trying this again in the near future.

Serving type: growler

05-08-2012 12:51:51 | More by MasterSki

seeswo

Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Cam rules! Enjoyed side-by-side with Rare DOS.

Pours a very dark brownish color with a cocoa head. A bit oily as it swirls the glass. The nose is really good on this beer - sweetness blends nicely with the slight spiciness and the flavors of the barrel. The taste is heavenly, rivaling the very best BA imperial stouts I have ever had. The up front sweetness, the booziness in the middle and the tannic finish of rare DOS have all be knocked back into balance and then elevated by the flavors of the rum. The beer is sweet, but not overly so, flavorful, yet smooth. This beer was clearly made for rum barrels. The mouthfeel is solid with appropriate carbonation. Overall, this beer is just fantastic and worth every effort to acquire. Many hyped beers don't live up to expectations - this one exceeded mine.

Serving type: growler

04-10-2012 19:15:43 | More by seeswo

Urbancaver

Ohio

4.63/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a Dark reddish brown. Much like rare dos but oilier and thicker. Smells sweet and candied like rare dos but with just a hint of rum peaking through. The aroma is down right phenomenal. Tastes sweet and malty. Chocolate, hnt of roast, and then rum... Some spice and booziness as well as lots of oak from the barrel. A bit flatter than rare dos but overall great mouthfeel. To me this is a superior beer to rare dos and definitely worth trying if you are lucky enough to stop at pegswhenit is available

Serving type: growler

04-06-2012 20:28:08 | More by Urbancaver

siege06nd

Virginia

4.98/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Well this was quite the surprise, Rhettroactive, thanks so much for the insane generosity of opening this bottle with us.

Reviewed from notes.

A: Pours an inky black that fades to a gentle ruby on the very edges of the glass. Touches of deep burgundy shimmer out in the light. Half finger of light tan head that rapidly settles down to a thin sheen. Minimal lacing.

S: Goodness gracious. Possibly the best stout I have ever had the pleasure of dipping my nose into. The only other thing I can even think of that comes close is GI Rare. So many things going on here...chocolate, molasses, vanilla, oak, raisin, plum, and even some melon. Hints of tobacco emerge from the background as it warms. Rich, decadent, and absolutely delightful. Unbelievable.

T: Chocolate, coconut, dark fruit, leather. Really impressive coconut on this...it's quite assertive, but doesn't overwhelm. Pretty good amount of vanilla as well. What's most surprising is how refined the barrel (and rum) character is on this. The wood is not very apparent on this, only serving to augment rather than overwhelm. And the rum takes on almost a bourbon like quality, only imparting some delicate, light fruitiness instead of the gross, Malibu, pina colada quality I have found in lesser rum barrel aged stouts. This is amazing.

M: Perfect. Low carbonation, full bodied, spectacular complexity and shows you a new flavor every sip. Nice coating mouthfeel, thick and delicious.

O: I have many more stouts to go before I can declare this the best ever, but I can't recall having had something more delicious than this, except possibly GI Rare. An outstanding experience top to finish. Cannot thank you enough, Rhett, for this ridiculous treat.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2012 15:23:16 | More by siege06nd

xpimptastikx

Texas

4.65/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Growler #11 split two ways.
Deep dark brown with ruby highlights around the edge, thin milk chocolate head. Smells of molasses, burnt brown sugar, chocolate, spiced dark rum, and wood. Taste is more of the same, not as sweet as a most whiskey barrel aged beers. It has a little more spice lent from the rum barrel and a nice fudgy chocolate taste. Mouthfeel is chewy, with light carbonation and an excellent finish. This was a great beer, and I really wish more people would age their beers in rum barrels! I can't wait for the chance to try Rare DOS as well.

Serving type: growler

03-26-2012 20:33:09 | More by xpimptastikx

billab914

Virginia

4.98/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Huge thanks to Rhettroactive for surprising us with this gem this evening. Bottle #21 poured from a 16oz swingtop into my Devil's Backbone tulip. It poured thick and black with a thin tan head clinging to edges of glass. Very dark and inviting.

The aroma has a very rich chocolate and toasted coconut flavor to it. Its a little like a dark chocolate and coconut brownie. A little boozy rum is there, bit it integrates very well. Very rich and sweet, a little desert like but really awesome aroma overall.

The taste shows a lot of toasted coconut and dark bittersweet chocolate. A little more of the rum is there but again really integrates and compliments well. Caramelized brown sugar and vanilla come out in the finish. I got a little more dark fruits as it warmed. So smooth and rich.

Mouthfeel thick and creamy with low carbonation. The slickness really is awesome and very fitting.

Overall it was a really fantastic beer. It was so smooth and rich. I loved the toasted coconut and vanilla flavors. Wow, this was an amazing beer. The rum barrel gave it some fantastic qualities that really sets it apart from the standard Bourbon barrel beers of the style. The barrel aging was perfectly done as well, so well integrated and complimenting. This really wasn't even on my radar because I've never really had any rum barrel beers that have impressed me, but this one completely blew me away tonight. This is definitely worthy of mention among the elite few top of the style for me.

Serving type: growler

03-26-2012 15:52:09 | More by billab914

Rhettroactive

Virginia

4.98/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

From 16oz swingtop growler to Portsmouth glass on 3/24/12
*From notes

-- An epic thanks to SturgisPodmore for trading me this gem of a beer --

Growler # 21 of 25

A: Tarpit blackish-brown. Pouring it straight down the center of the glass yields a thin .25 finger head. It fades quickly, leaving a layer of creamy streaks across the top of the beer. A thin off-white collar remains. And I should note that this sucker just coats the glass as I swirl it ever so slightly.

S: Spectacular doesn't begin to describe it. A masterful balance of alcohol esters, spirit notes and sweet liquid brownie batter smother my nostrils. The coconut and hints of vanilla bean are outstanding.

T: Unimaginably delicious. I don't care how rare it is - I promise that even if this was a year-round shelf offering, it would be just about the tastiest God damn beer I've ever consumed. So incredibly decadent and rich. The concentration here is simply out of bounds, as it reminds me of some of the best California cult cabs. Like Screaming Eagle is to wine, this is to beer.

The fore is melted dark chocolate, it just oozes all over my palate. The mid showcases red fruit - plums, ripe cherries and a touch of late harvest dark berries. The rum and spirit profile hits on the back, but it comes across more like a bourbon barrel, as it's overflowing with toasted vanilla bean and fresh coconut skin. There's also a deep through line of cane sugar, which rides from beginning to end, and it sticks to my lips and tongue as I soak it all in. The finish....oh, the finish. It lingers inside my mouth for ages - I can literally taste it for over ten minutes without a return trip to my glass. Wihtout question, this stands as one of the finest things I've ever had the pleasure imbibing.

M: Like the finest linens covering the finest bed in the finest Rain Man suite in Las Vegas. This is dense and massively creamy, yet it's apporachable and extraordinarily easy to put back. Smooth, luscious and elegant beyond compare.

O: The whole room went silent as we took our notes, imbibing what ultimately is the best beer I have ever quaffed. I genuinely assumed that there was no possible way that RareR DOS would live up to the mammoth hype that it or Rare DOS have received. Yet to be blunt: it did....and then some.

Up-Up-Down-Down-Left-Right-Left-Right-B-A-B-A-Start

I'm praying that maybe the old Konami code might just get me 100 more of these, as even then, it wouldn't be enough.

Unquestionably the crowning achievement of the American Craft Brewing movement.

Serving type: growler

03-25-2012 18:16:20 | More by Rhettroactive

IrishColonial

Virginia

4.9/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

The rarest beer I will probably ever have. Thanks so much Rhett for your generosity!

A: Dark chocolate brown with minimal head. Swirls of light cream on top.

S: Smells delicious. Waves of vanilla and wood at the forefront. Subsides a bit into some dark fruits, plum, prune, raisin. Hints of blackstrap molasses throughout but not dominant. The booze melds well but smells more like bourbon than rum although some of the good sipping rum I've had from Central America smells similar. I smelled it at least 20 times before a taste but smelled more coconut and chocolate at the end. Unrivaled balance.

T: The rum comes out a better on the taste. Rich chocolate, vanilla, brown sugar. Like a rich dessert, melted brownie with a rum glaze. A bit of lactic acidity and tastes of wood provide an interesting counterpoint that is a bit different from everything else, providing almost a dry finish. Delicious.

M: This beer is the epitome of creamy. Melts in your mouth. A little sticky and dry on the finish but this is nitpicking.

O: This is one of the best beers I have ever had. Off the top of my head, GI Rare would give this a good cage match. This is a delicious treat that I enjoyed to every sip. I hope to be able to try the Rare DOS someday but if it is anything close to this, it will be an accomplishment.

Serving type: growler

03-25-2012 00:34:25 | More by IrishColonial

kif

Illinois

4.78/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A- Black with a very small tan head. Growler is 13 days old, so not sure if there would have been a more noticeable head earlier.

S- Molasses, vanilla, caramel.

T- Sweet at first, definite brown sugar/molasses flavor. The rum comes in later on. Very complex, great flavor

M- Very smooth. Medium to full body.

O - I have not tried the normal rare dos, but this was a pretty perfect beer to me. Reminded me of some of the BCBS variants I recently had at Stout Fest. I am really happy I was able to trade for a growler of this.

Serving type: growler

03-23-2012 01:34:34 | More by kif

drabmuh

Maryland

4.65/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Picked up the bottle / growler at Peg's at the release. Served in a Peg's snifter just because I'm greatest there ever was.

Beer is black with a thin tan head of small bubbles, low carbonation, no lacing, some legs on the glass and it is coated with the thickness of the beer in the swirl.

Aroma is perfect, cannot improve anymore, I saved the last bit in my glass just so I can carry it around the rest of the night smelling it. Strong liquor character but I don't smell much rum, smells more like whiskey to me, someone suggested that it does smell like dark rum, perhaps. Still smells amazing. Illogical, woody, sweet, vanilla, tannin, oak, booze....yum.

Beer is medium to big in body, smooth on the palate, sweet up front, nice liquor flavors in the middle, as good as Rare was I think, great mouthfeel, mild bitterness from grain at the end. A very good beer. I'd definitely have this again.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2012 15:59:59 | More by drabmuh

yourefragile

District of Columbia

4.73/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

500 mL growler. Number 13 of 25. Served in a Peg's snifter. Poured by a Cicerone Certified Beer Server.

Pours a viscous dark brown with clear ruby tinges in the edges with a fleeting khaki head and a few wisps of lace. Aroma is perfect, or so says the last 15 minutes I've spent smelling this beer without tasting it. Incredibly balanced and rich nose of vanilla, molasses, rum, bourbon, candi sugar, light oak and angel's tears. Flavor is not quite as transcendental as Rare was, but this is still exceptional. As it warms the rum becomes more dominant, with raisin, plum, caramel and light oak supporting a strong vanilla and molasses barrel presence. Syrupy, thick viscous body with very low carbonation. Aroma and flavor lingers forever after the glass is finished. The flavor didn't match the aroma and all around this experience didn't match Rare, but that said, I still enjoyed this infinitely more than recently sampled Dark Lord and Hunhapu variants.

Serving type: growler

03-18-2012 22:09:52 | More by yourefragile

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.68/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Huge, huge thanks to drabmuh for this growler. Thanks to jcartamdg for giving me the chance to have this one again. Served in a Peg's snifter.

Pours black with a thick tan head and fairly nice retention. A thin collar as it goes down.

The nose carries a beautiful combination of dark fruits, molasses, rum, vanilla, chocolate, and sweet malt. Light coconut in the background. Absolutely gorgeous. Only rivaled by Rare D.O.S. the flavor continues on the same path and it does not disappoint. Just incredible integration between all the components. The barrel character is so smooth. Unreal.

Body is full and viscous, though not quite to the level of Rare D.O.S., which is pretty much my only complaint. So chewy and full. No alcohol at all. Simply an amazing beer.

Serving type: growler

03-18-2012 22:03:19 | More by Thorpe429

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4.95/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Growler shared by drabmuh. Hell yeah! Thanks Matt.

I don't have a Peg's glass like the other guys, but they let me have some anyhow.

The beer is dark brown with a small and fleeting beige head. The aroma brings a huge dose of bourbon, followed by some vanilla, oak, roast and chocolate. The flavor is simply fabulous. World class. Well balanced and just teeming with flavor. I am getting much more bourbon flavor than rum. Perhaps dark rum adds some molasses and dark fruit flavors. Complex, wonderful, sippable, chuggable. What can I say? A+

Serving type: growler

03-18-2012 21:51:20 | More by Huhzubendah

jrallen34

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

draft at Peg's... dark black body, a small brown head forms, a thing ring lingers a bit... the aroma is thick and sweet, heavily accented by rum, dark fruits, barrel, molasses... the taste is excellent and I prefer this to rare dos on tap, but not the rare dos previous batch, again lots of rum, barrel, a touch hot, a little more chocolate would go far... lucky to try and worth having again

Serving type: on-tap

03-18-2012 21:20:46 | More by jrallen34

AgentZero

Illinois

4.53/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Peg's. Drank side by side with Rare D.O.S.

A - Gorgeous black beer with a nice brown head. Had great retention. Some minor spots left on the sides.

S - Carmel, chocolate, just a touch of brown sugar and coconut. The rum barrel adds some really nice spice and sweetness characteristics without blowing the beer up. Have not gotten this from most rum barrel aged beers yet, as most of them have just been bad and/or infected.

T - Rum was a great addition to this. Nice rum, chocolate, brown sugar, and barrel. Not sure how stiff this is, but the beer is quite smooth and doesn't suffer from any heat. Great big stout flavors with a bit of a spicey twist to it.

M - Smooth, full, moderate carbonation.

O - Liked this better than the new batch of Rare D.O.S. Speaking of which, Rare D.O.S. one of the best beers I've ever drank, but in having it fresh I realized it's one that gets a lot better with age. This on the other hand, was good to go. Awesome taste, manages to be a nice big stout with a bit of unique character from the Rum barrel.

Serving type: on-tap

03-15-2012 19:53:27 | More by AgentZero

Sean9689

Illinois

4.6/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

*REVIEW #1000* On-tap at Peg's into snifter.

A - Pours black, mocha head, thin collar, spotty lace, wisps.

S - Smooth booze, chocolate (milk/dark/bakers), light caramel, excellent level of rum notes in there too. It's very easy to pick out the rum version versus the regular Rare DOS and it's cool to have them side-by-side.

T - Rum, chocolate, vanilla, burnt sugars, excellent barrel character. The booze is just oh-so-smooth and enjoyable and just to my liking. I think the rum adds something else to this beer instead of taking away from the base Rare DOS. Really just outstanding stuff.

M - Full, rich and smooth, nice subtle carbonation, creamy finish.

O - I have to say, this is slightly better then Rare DOS for me. The rum barrel really adds another layer to this beer, even though I didn't think it was possible. Not sure if I'll ever have it again, but hey, my fingers are crossed!

Serving type: on-tap

03-12-2012 17:11:33 | More by Sean9689