Black Metal Farmhouse Imperial Stout - Jester King Craft Brewery

ElCommodoro

Texas

1.93/5  rDev -51.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

This beer was more than I could handle. So much yeast, so much hops, and in a stout, too. Not sure why there was so much grassy, hoppiness in a stout. I know Russian Imperials can have that sometimes, but I can't imagine why anyone would like that. It was out-of-this-world thick with maltiness too. I knew I was probably purchasing the craziest beer I've ever had, but I was still not prepared for this. With four people partaking, we did not finish the bottle. Nobody wanted more than a few ounces of this beast of beer extremes. My throat just felt attacked from all directions. Guess I'll have to build up to this kind of beer more slowly. I'm usually really into strong dark beers like Boulevard's Dark Truth and Real Ale's Anniversary XV, but this was just a whole another level of intensity. One thing I noticed was that there was an oiliness in the mouthfeel that reminded me exactly of farmhouse ciders I used to drink in England. Must be the telltale sign of unfiltered, unpasteurized yeast.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 20:30:58 | More by ElCommodoro

ottomark

2.43/5  rDev -38.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

This beer is strong bu the flavors are mushy. There's no clear body to this beer. No purity to it. No clear flavors working together to make what I consider a good stout flavor. I looked hard for this beer, particularly on tap. But I was disappointed when I found it. The main feature here is the strength of the beer.

Serving type: on-tap

09-03-2012 23:13:51 | More by ottomark

champ103

Texas

3.13/5  rDev -21%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On cask at Hey Merchant in Houston, TX.

A: Pours a near opaque black color. At first a bubbly tan head rises, but recedes to a ring in seconds. No lace is left.
S: Up front is bitter chocolate. That fades in a second to nothing. Then out of nowhere, the sourness kicks in. Sour peaches linger for a minute.
T: Follows the nose with a big milk chocolate flavor up front at first. That vanishes in a second, leaving the lingering sour fruity flavors. Mostly peaches.
M/D: A Medium to full body with light carbonation. To thin and watery for my liking. Not hard to sip on, but one is enough.

Interesting, but most sour/stout combinations just don't mesh right for me. This is no different, and fairly simplistic. Just chocolate that fades, then sourness that fades. Not something I am going to seek out again.

Serving type: cask

02-18-2012 22:02:12 | More by champ103

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.15/5  rDev -20.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Poured like liquid black metal, only a little thinner with a good looking tan cap, bubbles and light lacing

S: Roasted malt, dark chocolate and a little bit of booze

T: Immediately felt it was a bit thin, dry and hot with some bitter chocolate and coffee there for support. Not impressed by the lack of "farmhouse" funk here and really not impressed by the metallic notes I received

M: Very dry, thin, a little warm, perhaps a tad bit overcarbonated

O: Pretty average. Was looking for a little more farmhouse here

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2012 21:07:49 | More by barleywinefiend

VaTechHopHead

California

3.35/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours your typical stout black but the head develops quite quickly from the carbonation

The aroma is slightly acidic and sweet from the farmhouse yeast. Not a lot of roasted aroma or rich stout smells

The flavor is alright but the carbonation takes away a little from the flavor and fills the palate with foam. There is a nice roasted flavor on the back end but pretty dull throughout

Lighter body for a stout and a gratuitous amount of carbonation. The palate is left dry and the aftertaste doesn't linger around too much

Honestly, this tastes extremely similar to a home-brewed chocolate stout I once made and I accidentally over-carbonated it. It's a good beer but nothing working seeking IMO.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 06:42:28 | More by VaTechHopHead

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

3.4/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bottle shared by Jason, 750ml into a tulip.

Black with a massive brown head - persistent retention and OK lacing. Nose of dark chocolate, farmhousey yeast, metallic, brown sugar and caramel. Taste of dark chocolate, heavy roast, coffee grains, light sourness and a hint metallic again. Some tar. Mouthfeel is too light for my liking in the style, and carbonation is almost fizzy. Interesting roast character but just a weird concoction overall.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 03:47:46 | More by liamt07

womencantsail

California

3.43/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours black in color with a rather large tan head. A lot of roasted malt with a bit of metal and acidity to it. Strong coffee aromas with a bit of licorice and burnt sugar. The flavor is heavy on the coffee and roast with the same metallic notes that were present on the aroma. The regular version is significantly better.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2012 20:28:30 | More by womencantsail

broken22

California

3.63/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

So the cool label caught my eye. After reading the description I figured it sounded as if it wasn't all for show an this beer could actually be good.

Pours out nice and dark. Very much your typical Russian stout characteristic. An aggressive head mocha colored head formed with on initial pour. The head subsided fairly quick leaving just that little layer of cream patch to cover the surface. Visually this thing is dark like I said earlier. No light is penetrating this thing which is always a good sign. The beer does not have any noteworthy aromatic properties. I can smell a subtle alcohol note that is dominated by heavy malt. The flavor is very good. There is a nice smoke and a caramel like flavor. The beer comes in smooth without much hitting the senses. It is when you swallow that this beer comes alive leaving you with a nice lingering bitter. Mouthfeel is heavy with very little carbonation.

Overall this is a nice beer. I had my doubts with the over the top label. I'm glad it worked out that its an enjoyable beer that stays true to the Russian Imperial Stout.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 03:47:55 | More by broken22

WesM63

Ohio

3.63/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 750ml bottle into a large snifter.

A: Pours pretty much pitch black with an enormous 3finger head. The head just lasts with tons fo lacing as well.

S: Smells of dark malts and some chocolate. A tiny bit of funk on the nose.

T: Lots of dark chocolate and maltyness.

M: Full body, lots of carbonation. Thin but creamy.

O: Not sure what to make of this one. I applaud jester king for their take on a RIS. I feel it has makings of it's own RIS, but it's not quite there yet. Worth trying one.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 03:29:49 | More by WesM63

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to Frank (fbc24) for bringing this to the Nov. '12 Philly burbs bottle share.

Love the bottle art, first off. Black as a heathen Nordic soul, with a moderate tan head that sank to a ringlet, leaving spotty lacing on the glass. Aroma of dark malts, roast, unsweetened chocolate, ash from a burnt church. Taste reflected the nose, dark roasty malts with a touch of char, chocolate, slightly bitter, a subtle Belgian yeast character that never really came through significantly. Mouthfeel was a bit on the thin side for a stout, but maybe not for a "farmhouse stout," about medium-bodied. Decent, but not as great as the label had me believe.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2012 09:42:25 | More by Rifugium

t420o

California

3.63/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Jester King Farmhouse Black Metal

A- pour produces a massive 3 finger dark mocha colored head resting on a black body. Head recedes to 1/2 finger and stays around. 4

S- dark chocolte, cocoa powder, espresso, some slightly funky yeast, light hop presence. 3.5

T- a little better than the nose. The balance of the farmhouse yeast to the stronger imperial stout flavors is done quite well. Chocolate, some espresso, light hop presence, cream, slightly smokey, and farmhouse yeast. 3.5   

N- slightly light in the body for such a beer. The carbonation is good. 3.5

O- this one must be allowed to warm up. A good sipper that is quite enjoyable but nothing exceptional. 4

B   

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 22:32:50 | More by t420o

brentk56

North Carolina

3.7/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: A very Belgian-looking pour, with a huge tan foamy head that caps the black liquid; the head fades quicker than expected, only leaving a clump or two of lace behind

Smell: Chocolate, charcoal and a tart, yeasty character

Taste: Chocolate, charcoal and subtle tartness that builds a bit, in the middle, along with a hint of fruit; a touch of spicy yeast, after the swallow, that cuts through the stout flavors and leaves a Belgian impression

Mouthfeel: Way too foamy and over-carbonated; medium bodied, underneath

Overall: Such a disappointment when compared to the original version, the choice of the farmhouse yeast strain really doesn't work very well with this base beer - the only disappointing beer I have had from Jester King, however

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 01:26:45 | More by brentk56

Gosox8787

New Hampshire

3.73/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Presentation: Bomber bottle split with a friend. Served just below cellar temperature over the course of about half an hour. Poured into a Sierra Nevada tulip glass.

Appearance: Pours alomst all head on the first couple pours. Dark brown, but creamy lacing, with strong retention. When it finally settles, there is a nice full head and a midnight black body.

Aroma: Lots of smoky ash, char, and really dark chocolate. The roasted components are definitely in full force. After settling for a bit, a touch of cherry is noticable.

Taste: First impression is definitely strong char without much sweetness. As it warm, some dark chocolate becomes more prevelant and the yeast notes start to take over. Cherry sweetness and tartness mixed with the strong char and chocolate. Interesting and drinkable at this point.

Mouthfeel: Full bodied and very creamy.

Overall, a really interesting stout with a really strong char note upfront. Once the char settles, the yeast provides some nice notes as well. The stout qualities are far greater than the farmhouse notes. Probably not going to go out of my way to try again.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2012 11:41:41 | More by Gosox8787

yamar68

Minnesota

3.73/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks antlerwrestler19! Poured from 750 to tulip glass:

Pours a dark, dark coffee black with little clarity. The medium brown head swells to fill more than half the glass. Great lacing.

Deep chocolate notes, various cocoa, some mocha bits, pretty damn smooth. Nothing to write home about but it definitely holds its own.

Dense dark chocolate character. Vanilla bean, hard water presence, some more bitter dark chocolate.

The feel is a bit aggressive. Everything seems in order but the sugar is slightly overpowering. Otherwise it's a home run.

Thanks Kyle!

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 04:54:26 | More by yamar68

Gobzilla

California

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: poured a dark as night black in color with a thin brown head that left a little lacing sticking to the glass.

S: some chocolate notes were noticeable on the first whiff alongside coffee roastiness, a tad of oaky barrel, smoke, and slight booze.

T: the roasty smokiness was more apparent on the palate alongside chocolate oaky barrel accents a touch of berries and a mild booze flavor.

M: the brew was medium in body with a fair amount of carbonation which had a sweet, smokey, roasty, slight oaky, and mild dry finish.

O: it was a decent stout with some strange qualities but was pretty interesting and tasty.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2012 06:14:22 | More by Gobzilla

DRyan

Texas

3.78/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Jester King’s
Farmhouse Black Metal Imperial Stout
Poured in JK tulip glass
A: Pours pitch black with dark brown fluffy head that slowly dissipates. Minimal lacing.
S: Roasty, coffee-like, somewhat sourish aroma.
T: Not nearly as strongly stout as it appeared to be; has a small sour tinge in the forefront, middle is roasty stouty, finish has an alcohol bite and a zing to it.
M: Light for an imperial stout. Smooth, velvety.
D: Very drinkable for an imperial stout. Goes down easily and the alcohol is not super-apparent. Very nice entry into the imperial stout canon.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 00:24:18 | More by DRyan

KKB

Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev -4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Not quite black, but very very dark brown with a huge tan head that stays up for a while demonstrating good retention. Looks pretty good overall.

S - Roasted malts in the forefront, some dark chocolate and coffee, light licorice and a little boozy. Smells pretty good. Perhaps a little bit of dark fruit in the nose as well.

T - LOADS of roasted malts and chocolate that come up somewhat bitter and even a little funky (not unpleasant though). Slight floral quality to it as well as black licorice, some hops in here (just noticeable), a little creamy and sweet as well, with earthy overtones. Lightly smokey.

M - Medium-full body, not much carbonation, a nice silky quality to it as well as a dry finish, and some slight alcohol warmth.

D - Entirely drinkable and I can take down the 750 without it ever becoming cloying.

O - This is a good imperial stout overall, probably not something I would rush out and buy again but if it was ever offered to me I would drink it gladly.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2012 05:06:22 | More by KKB

Claytonbrewsby

Virginia

3.8/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is an interesting one... Especially the farmhouse/stout combination. I was expecting this brew to be heavy as hell since it is called metal and all. But upo pouring it, it did come out very brown, almost black with a tan head. It has a mild spicy smell about it. The mild spicy smell does follow in taste, slightly. It definitely has farmhouse characteristics with a light stouty taste behind it. It's hard to describe, it's worth a drink so give it a try!

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 21:57:52 | More by Claytonbrewsby

brewcrew76

Wisconsin

3.85/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Solid black with a creamy tan head.

S - Bittersweet chocolate, milk chocolate, roasted malt, tart cherries, tobacco, caramel and yeasty esters.

T - Sour cherry, milk chocolate, woody tannins, burnt toast, lingering astringent coffee into aftertaste.

M - Somewhat thin for an Imperial Stout with a lingering astringency.

D - Strange, based on ingredients listed on bottle not sure where the sour cherry or belgian like esters are coming from (dry english ale yeast listed). Interesting beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2012 02:26:18 | More by brewcrew76

cvm4

Mississippi

3.88/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Whoa! With a slow pour the light brown head still billows out of control. It widdles down & leaves little lacing.

S - Roasted malts, dark chocolate, bits of licorice and light coffee.

T - Comes off slightly sweet with cocoa nibs throughout. Roasted malts and that farmhouse element are pretty evident as well. I'm picking up some dark fruits running through the nose. The taste is really great, although there's a slight alcohol burn as well.

M - A very light body for an RIS along with high carbonation. It doesn't load you down with a thick beer, but I miss that part.

O - An odd element of blurring the lines. It has stout characteristics along with farmhouse characteristics. I tend to like the former and the latter separated and not combined. The original Blackmetal is leaps and bounds better.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 00:08:38 | More by cvm4

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had a SMBDC Stout tasting thanks to Amy and Michael, but don't remember who brought this one. Also thanks to redredwino for my own bottle of this.

Pours a huge dark creamy head with decent lacing, pitch black colored beer.

Nose has a Belgian stout yeast, light chocolate, milk chocolate, creamy, light black patent malt, light barrel woody esters, light dark fruit and hint of dark caramel.

Taste has bitter oatmeal dark chocolate, bitter charred malt, bitter earthy hops as well, roast, light soy, a bit astringent and briny tannic flavors, chewy and creamy chocolate, Belgian yeast esters and woody flavors, light herbal. Finishes a bit sweet and chewy, briny, tannins, astringent hops, char, chocolate, etc.

Mouth is bigger bodied, good carb, just a hint of booze.

Overall not bad, decent malts, booze is mostly hidden well, good hops for the most part, dark malts, but gets a bit too briny and astringent, burnt roasted malt flavors a bit too much.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2012 23:53:19 | More by jlindros

Etan

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 750ml bottle into a pint glass at Bradford's tasting.

A: Midnight black with a thick, spongy, tan head. Awesome lacing forms immediately.

S: Soapy, barnyard farmhouse yeast, followed by mild roastiness and chocolate notes.

T: Strong notes of chocolate, coffee roast, a bit of fruity Belgian esters (pineapple, cherry), nice dose of hop bitterness.

M: Not too carbonated for a bottle-conditioned brew, but nice silky body nonetheless.

O: This is pretty tasty. Not mind-blowing, but the yeast adds some interesting complexity.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2012 02:43:53 | More by Etan

StaveHooks

Oklahoma

3.9/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml split between 3 of us.

A - Pours a heavy metal black, with 2 fingers of espresso frappa head. Rounded patterns of vertical lacing.

S - Rich and roasted black malts, dark chocolate, coffee, vanilla, berry fruit, allspice, nutmeg, unknown spice.

T - Dense and creamy chocolate, almost astringent, heavy roast, acidic coffee, raspberries, star anise, charred vanilla, spicy hops. The Belgian yeast is present but mellow.

M - Moderate carbonation cuts through the density lifting the body creating a super creamy feel and light/medium body

Black metal is a good name for this brew. The Belgian yeast takes a back seat to the full on stout components. Lots of chocolate and roast. Light feel for such a big brew.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2013 03:23:48 | More by StaveHooks

Hopswagger

Oklahoma

3.98/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

P:  Huge mountain of dark brown frothy root beer head that crowns a vicious carbonated pitch black abyss.  Retention is outstanding and seems to stand still and retreat for no man. 

S:  A heavy offering of roasted malt, bitter cocoa, heavy cream, molasses,  syrup, spices, chocolate covered raisins, and slightly acidic. Also, aromas of leather, musky old furniture, sweet prunes, roasted barley and farmhouse funk.

T/M:  First thoughts is that it is harsh and unrefined. The body is thinner than expected, but still creamy, sticky and aggressively carbonated.  Mouthfeel gets somewhat chalky toward the end of the sip. 

 Flavors are similar to the nose but has more pronounced chocolate covered cherries and stevia like sweetener.  Alcohol is more prevalent but masked well given the ABV.  Heavy doses of barley and chocolate are the lead in this epic band.   Finish is semi dry with timid chalkiness followed by oak and roasted barley.  Coffee and peanut butter become involved once warmed. 

O:  This was an interesting RIS. Rough but definitely enjoyable.   When I first opened the bottle I got a whiff of some funky farmhouse yeast which is crazy weird but at the same time it works. I'm glad that they introduced so much barley it really changes the flavor up and makes things interesting. The sweet fruit was great and I really enjoyed every aspect of it. Too bad we can't get more Jester King brews in OK but I guess that gives a reason to visit Texas.   

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2012 23:15:25 | More by Hopswagger

Mora2000

Texas

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the Whip In in Austin.

The beer pours a very dark brown to black color with a small tan head. The aroma is full of chocolate and roasted malt, with a little bit of leather and a few assorted spices mixed in.

The flavor is similar. The chocolate and roasted malt notes are very strong and dominate the initial flavor. As the beer warms up a bit, I start to get a little bit of Belgian yeast and a little bit of brett mixed in to the flavor. There is also a little bit of anise and pepper mixed in.

Thick mouthfeel and low carbonation.

Serving type: on-tap

11-17-2011 04:08:55 | More by Mora2000