Black Metal Imperial Stout - Jester King Craft Brewery

LadyOfMuchBeer

Texas

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

Pint at Jester King brewery in Austin. From tap to pint glass. Very fresh.

1"+ head, strong retention. Very dark, just clear enough to get a pinch of light through when held up.

Smells of heavy malts, chocolate, spice, and wood.

Tastes of bittersweet chocolate, malty, spice...smooth deep flavors, very drinkable! Alcohol is present but not overwhelming.

Overall....Very drinkable indeed, I want another pint!!

Serving type: on-tap

09-25-2011 14:55:12 | More by LadyOfMuchBeer

DoktorZee

Alberta (Canada)

4.47/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap in Austin. Fresh!!!

A - deep black, solid with a little tan head at the edges. Just a hint of lacing.

S - big smoke and chocolate profile

T - slight initial bitterness melting into a big chocolate, coffee and smoke profile with a foundation of licorice. Really big and powerful.

M - medium bodied with mild background carbonation. Absolutely coats the mouth and sticks! Moderate alcohol warming, but not boozy!

D - too big to be more than a sipper.

Remarkably big and beefy beer. A must try for imperial stout fans.

Serving type: on-tap

09-18-2011 18:06:29 | More by DoktorZee

shoky01

Texas

4.2/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

At the brewery on tap in snifter. 10%

A: Black, dark as night. 1" Brown head light lacing. Good carbonation.

S: Spices and malts, chocolate. Not a strong smell.

T: Oh so good, tiny bitter of chocolate followed by malts spices and little burn of alcohol. Did I mention this is good?

MF: little fizzy from carbonation, slight sticky.

OA: Need more of this in my life, cold is good as is, as it warms to room temp it comes alive even more. Had it on tap at The Saucer and now at the brewery itself, life is good. Now need to open a bottle.

Serving type: on-tap

09-03-2011 20:53:30 | More by shoky01

beermaker1

Texas

4.45/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I had this in 5 oz tasters at The Major League Grill in Beaumont, Texas. Awesome. I could not believe I was getting it here. Thank you!

A- Pours beautiful thick dark black with mocha colored thick foamy head.

S - Dark, rich. Bitter chocolate, coffee, toffeee, not hoppy, black licorice.

T - Dark roast chocolatey coffe, light alcohol heat. Then melds into typical RIS tates, (CZAR).

M - Not as thick as it looks. Carbonation scrubs the tounge, Then the spicy hops hit you, then washes off silky sweet.

O - As I thought, worth the waite. I get one of these every time I go to this bar. I recommend trying this at least once. I love the artwork on the label. Collectable.

Serving type: on-tap

06-30-2011 08:04:49 | More by beermaker1

diamondc

Texas

4.43/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

$8 served in a Chimay chalice.

A: Dark, motor oil looking, though there is some mocha colored head wafting off to the sides.

S: Smokey, cocoa, chocolate, coffee, hot nuts. I didn't actually detect much hop action.

T: Almost matches the nose, but a very nice licorice/anise flavor takes the beer to another level. Hops are minimal here, a bit of a earthy, dirt-like bitterness to round things out.

M: The bold roasted malts completely mask the abv here. I wouldn't have guessed this was 10%, more like 7-8. Ample carbonation make this one easy to drink.

O: A great RIS, can't think of much faults. Too bad its listed as seasonal here.

Serving type: on-tap

05-12-2011 06:04:02 | More by diamondc

Beertracker

Oklahoma

4.18/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Jester King's Black Metal (Imperial Stout) pours up with a modest effervescence that creates a compact tannish brown head that dissipates slowly over the opaque garnet black body. The aroma is dominated by roasted barley, but has an underlying caramel sweetness supported by dark chocolate, mocha, and toasted bread with hints of burnt molasses, charred wood, cocao nibs and layered with fruitiness i.e cherry preserves, fig bar, sugared dates,etc... The alcohol is noticeable, but well integrated. As it warms in hand, there's a burnt match (sulfery) character that I find a bit distracting. The heavily roasted flavor starts off a bit rough, but is quickly shapened by the supporting caramel & chocolate that's nicely balanced by a constant bitterness that reigns in this brash, multi-layered Russian Imperial Stout. This one is stealthy warming with good complexity and an excellent drinkability for such a young imperial stout. This upstart brewery may sound like joksters, but this is one serious beer. Get your metal on!

CHEERS! Beertracker

Serving type: on-tap

04-12-2011 14:26:23 | More by Beertracker

glazeman

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at the ginger man in Austin. Served in a pint glass...

A: dark, dark brown with barely any light brown head that quickly faded, leaving a small crown.

S: Lots of roasted malts on the nose, as well as some chocolate. This is not a very pungent beer though.

T: The taste of this beer was way more toward a porter or imperial stout as it was very roasty and slightly hoppy. I would not say it was nearly malty/sweet enough for an RIS. There was a little coffee and tobacco, but no caramel or dark fruits.

M: Appropriate for the style. Not much carbonation, medium-body, and good aftertaste.

O: Not my favorite of the style, but not a bad offering either. I won't be trading for any, or bring bottles home, but would recommend giving it a try if you're in Texas.

Serving type: on-tap

04-03-2011 18:54:06 | More by glazeman

thatlongname

Texas

4.15/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Super dark almost black color. Little to no head. Te name seems to fit.

Smell: Dark chocolate malts, roasted malts, roasted coffee beans. A few dark fruit smells.

Taste: Delicious beer that doesnt hide its ABVs. They're very much a part of the taste. Malts are the most obvious flavors along with the coffee. There are also sme aftertastes of fruity esters and biscuits.

Mouthfeel: Thick. Real thick.

Overall: A good beer overall. Quite delicious. It would make a damn good dessert beer.

Serving type: on-tap

04-03-2011 16:11:06 | More by thatlongname

BeardedBoffin

Minnesota

4.38/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The glass tumbler exposed a black liquid, an elixir, capped with a mocha-tinged head which set the ambiance. The aroma was rich with chocolate, hints of cappuccino and an underlying component of bitterness. The flavor is smokey roasted malt complemented by the by the chocolate tones. Depth through the center. As the beer warms, some fruity boozy fruit emerges. A touch of bitterness in the finish and the palate is is left with a powdery dryness. A nice cap to the night.

Serving type: on-tap

03-27-2011 00:54:08 | More by BeardedBoffin

Redrover

Illinois

4/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this one at the Ginger Man during my latest jaunt to Austin. Served in a standard pint, the beer is jet black with a smallish tan head.

It has an inviting nose of charred malts, brown sugar and coffee.

The taste mirrors the nose. Charred/blackened malts, dark fruit, coffee, a mish mash of molasses and dark brown sugar. The alchol is well hidden.

The mouth is soft with low carbonation.

Maybe a bit too aggressive to session, but it is a great end of the evening beer.

Serving type: on-tap

03-24-2011 18:32:09 | More by Redrover

rcfunk

Texas

3.1/5  rDev -25.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

After all the buzz around this new brewery, I approach their beers with cautious enthusiasm. I tried Black Metal on draft at The HighBall two nights ago.

I was pretty underwhelmed by this offering. It had a distinctly stoutish aroma with notes of black malt and alcohol.

Despite the 10.40% ABV, the taste of alcohol was undetectable. I first attributed this to a chalky taste of what first thought would could be excessive use of black malt. I have been assured that black malt makes up 4% of the mash so this is clearly not the case. I now guess there may have been an abundance of yeast in the sample I tasted. Perhaps it was getting toward the bottom of the barrel so to speak.

Personally, I would like to taste a little more booze heat in this style of beer.

I dunno, it was pretty good, I guess. I may give it another shot sometime.

Serving type: on-tap

02-28-2011 22:34:20 | More by rcfunk

joshuacavett

Texas

4.85/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Holy cow was this beer amazing. Had it on draft at Major League Grill in Beaumont, TX. Wasn't expecting them to have it, and I even got to try Commercial Suicide from Jester King on draft as well. This beer was dark, very dark and maybe it was because I knew the name, but I can totally see why they called it Black Metal Stout. Tons of oak and hints of wine. Could tell it had some wild yeast in it and this beer was incredible. In the top 5 RIS I have had in my beer loving tenure.

Serving type: on-tap

02-10-2011 23:36:41 | More by joshuacavett

MattMcGinnis

Texas

4.45/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I drank this on-tap at The Draught House Pub in Austin. Damn good beer.

Look: Black espresso with a rich brown crema head that subsides quickly. Black Metal is as opaque as its name.

Smell: A coffee shop a few hours after roasting. Warm coffee beans, chocolate and toasted malt.

Taste: Breakfast or desert? Lush, creamy dark chocolate with French roast coffee spiked with tingly bubbles, finishing in a long oak and coffee bean finish.

My full review is here: http://whatareyoudrinking.net/2011/01/from-mistress-to-wife-jester-king-brewery/

Serving type: on-tap

01-31-2011 18:13:34 | More by MattMcGinnis

Mora2000

Texas

3.93/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

On tap - well actually out of a pitcher - at the brewery's grand opening celebration.

The beer pours a black color with a dark brown head. This is a great looking beer.

The aroma is heavy on the roasted malt with some chocolate mxied in. Not too complex, but everything mixes well together.

The flavor is more of the same. The chocolate really stands out and the roasted malt compliments it very well. A nice, chocolate-forward imperial stout. The alcohol is well hidden and the beer is very - dangerously - easy to drink.

The mouthfeel is on the thinnish side of medium and is really my only complaint. I wish it was thicker and more viscous. Medium carbonation.

A very nice imperial stout.

Serving type: on-tap

01-30-2011 23:57:34 | More by Mora2000

UTCengOwl

Texas

4.35/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had this many times. Recently, I had a 5 oz sampler at the Black Star Co-Op last night and a full pint at the grand opening today. It's nice to see a unique RIS come in to Texas.

Today I saw the recipe for the beer on the conical fermenter and it gave an estimated SRM - 77. Yep, that's metal dark. In practice, this beer is not the eater of souls that Ten FIDY is, but it remains imposing. When you can see through it, the beer gives clear red notes and shows good clarity.

The nose is big and roasty. Some chocolate. A hint of booze. Nicely stouty.. and it will be a great base for a barrel aged beer someday...

The taste is much more nutty than any RIS I've had other than Sam Smith. In contrast to Sam Smith, this maintains the thick, motor oil consistency that I want out of a RIS. This is an earthy stout with clean notes of chocolate, roast, nuts and chalky dryness. It's complex, unique and inviting.

This beer is far too drinkable for being 10+%. I will definitely not ming having another in the near future. Good work Jester King!

Serving type: on-tap

01-30-2011 01:58:39 | More by UTCengOwl

Fenris244

Texas

4.35/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this at the jester king grand opening

Color was great, black with a cool orangish brown head that dropped to a sticky ring around the snifter.

Coffee, chocolate, caramel, and roasty aromas abound a little hint of vanilla as well as some licorice notes

The taste is wonderful, bitter coffee flavors up front with the roasted malts in there as well, the sweetness becomes more pronounced after a litte while and the chocolate and licorice flavors come through

Mouth feel isnt heavy but not watery either, it's a full bodied beer but not overbearing on the palate.

Very drinkable, when this comes out in bottles I'll be buying it by the case, the alcohol is nicel hidden by the flavors in the beer and it's not heavy enough to stop with just one bottle. It's every thing I want in a stout

I can't wait to age one!

Serving type: on-tap

01-30-2011 01:04:34 | More by Fenris244

htomsirveaux

Texas

4.05/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Tried on tap at Jester King grand opening, 29 Jan 2011. Served in the Jester King pint glass.

Small brown head. Lightly carbonated. Clear very dark brown in color. Aromas of alcohol, light molasses, dark fruits. Dark dried fruits, some astringency. Chocolate, light coffee. Somewhat drying finish. Medium body. Very easy to drink.

Alcohol is well hidden.

Serving type: on-tap

01-30-2011 00:43:03 | More by htomsirveaux

EgadBananas

Louisiana

4.03/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured at the Grand Opening!

Dank black evil. Mocha finger and a half of head.

Rum, bourbon, vanilla , oak, chocolate, sweetness

Ditto to a T on the taste with the aroma!

Vicious, thick, creamy.

Tasty, but this is a sipper in the end. Sweet sipper though!

Serving type: on-tap

01-29-2011 21:02:19 | More by EgadBananas

NefariousR

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had on-tap at Valhalla.

A - Very dark black and viscous wit a moderately thin tan head. No light coming through this baby.
S - Sweetness with a hint of roasted coffee and a lot of dark chocolate. Very nice.
T - Lots and lots of cocoa flavors. Rich and deep, but not overbearing. A hint of dark fruit, licorice, and roasted coffee rounds out the flavor.
M - Full-bodied, thick, and syrupy. Bordering on chewy.
D - This is quite the brew, not for the faint of heart. Die-hard stout fans will love it, to be sure.

Serving type: on-tap

01-22-2011 03:59:01 | More by NefariousR

wagenvolks

Texas

4.43/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at the Dig Pub in Cedar Park, TX.

Black Metal Imperial Stout...even from across the bar, my soul bares witness to the utter, bone-crushing darkness as the beer gets poured. The pithy brown foam cascades downward into the jet-black beer beneath, retaining well and leaving a few traces of lacing clung to the pint glass. The aroma is heavy on the dark chocolate and metal (get it...'heavy metal'?). Kidding aside, no metallic notes to be found, just chocolate malt, an earthy hop profile, and a slight tinge of dark fruit & booze.

The depth of the flavor profile of Black Metal rivals the upper-tier Imperial Stouts, with layers of rich dark chocolate, smoky charred maltiness, black cherry, and booze. The alcohol is well-hidden behind an leafy hop burst, and the finish lingers with mocha and toasted grains. Thick mouthfeel, ultra creamy and smooth with a perfect carbonation level. This beer is a sipper, but it goes down too easily all the same. Jester King should be proud of this release. Can't wait for the bottles to hit the store!

Serving type: on-tap

01-21-2011 23:54:19 | More by wagenvolks

Duttonic

Texas

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

From notes 01/11/11. On tap at the Dancing Bear in Waco, TX.

A- Motor oil black in color with one finger of deep, dark brown head. I couldn't see any bubbles because it was so dark, but I could see a few popping on the surface.

S- Metallic, cocoa, burnt malt, faint leather.

T/M- Extreme chocolate, alcohol, velvety and rich, viscous.

D- Excellent balance of flavor, carbonation, and alcohol. Bitter finish, similar to baker's chocolate or roasted coffee. I can't wait until they release some bottles of this beast of a brew.

Serving type: on-tap

01-20-2011 02:57:45 | More by Duttonic

randawakes

Alaska

3.98/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

A: dark brown-black with a mocha brown frothy head. Smelled of black cherry, oak, pine, green olive (glass?), dry. Tasted of rich vanilla cream with sugar, lots of sugar, caramel. Frothy mouthfeel. Spicy for an imperial porter. No warming detected at first, progresses to warming. A bit milky but dominated by froth, sugar, and that frickin green olive!

Serving type: on-tap

01-14-2011 21:31:25 | More by randawakes

Haputanlas

California

4.4/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Tasted this at the Draughthouse in Austin.

A - Fantastic. Black as night with a very dark brown head

S - Great nose on this. Very strong with dark malts, roast, and chocolate. I would have preferred a little stronger from the aroma with more chocolate.

T - Very roasty with a bit of coffee. Very small hints of chocolate.

M - Fairly viscous, but not too thick. I've definitely had larger, but very appropriate for an Imperial Stout

D - Great sipping beer. Loved spending my time getting to the bottom of the glass.

A very good beer sipping beer. As the temperature dropped, the flavors really had a chance to come out.

I would have liked a little bit more chocolate from this and less roast bitter. Either way, it was still fantastic! Highly recommended

Serving type: on-tap

01-06-2011 20:59:36 | More by Haputanlas

champ103

Texas

3.43/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On tap at the Flying Saucer in Houston. I have been looking forward to trying this.

A: Pours a pitch black color, basically opaque. A two finger tan head forms with good retention. Light sticky lace is left behind.
S: Subtle and soft in the nose. A soft aroma of roasted malt, coffee, and light chocolate.
T: There is a much bigger flavor. Big roasted malt and acrid coffee. Some bitter chocolate. A lingering oily hoppy bitterness as well.
M/D: A full body that is oily and sticky. Low on the carbonation. and creamy. A slow sipper. After a minute, the bitterness takes over and makes this hard for me to drink.

A nice imperial stout. The bitterness builds throughout and becomes to much for me to enjoy though. Worth a try, and I am glad Jester King has come out with this seasonal. Though I have had better versions.

Serving type: on-tap

12-28-2010 22:33:42 | More by champ103

mattisloco

Texas

4.88/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

On Tap @ Trinity Hall Dallas

A- As black as night with a very nice toasted head that remained thoughout the drink.

S- Chocolate, malt, sweet

T- Incredible everything the smell had plus some bitter/char

M- I would have liked a slight bit more carbination but I am a bit of a carb freak. A little thin for a stout to me.

D- I downed 2 and didn't feel it until midway through the second. A very very very delicious RIS, very proud this is from Texas!

Serving type: on-tap

12-25-2010 00:33:20 | More by mattisloco