Evil Twin Ashtray Heart - Evil Twin Brewing

Zraly

Virginia

4.08/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at The Birch in Norfolk, Va. Beautifully presented in a goblet; deep black with a crema-style head.

Nose of smoke and earth. Rich, dark chocolate notes with cigar smoke lingering in the background. Hints of cafe au lait and espresso are present. A touch of fresh earth and leather underlie the coffee/espresso notes. Finish is smooth, creamy, and silky. Alcohol is present but does not dominate.

Very tightly constructed and a pleasure to consume. This is prime material for a dessert beer and/or to accompany a good cigar.

Serving type: on-tap

09-10-2011 01:03:48 | More by Zraly

GrindFatherBob

New York

4/5  rDev +7%

05-15-2013 19:06:25 | More by GrindFatherBob

jklecko2

Missouri

2.5/5  rDev -33.2%

05-14-2013 16:33:42 | More by jklecko2

CloudStrife

New York

4.01/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle split and poured into mini pilsner glasses. Best before 2015.

A: Pours a deep brownish black with a large puffy khaki-tan head. LIght gets through about a 1/4 inch. A spot or two of lacing. Head remains as a covering on the top throughout the experience.

S: Smokey rauchbier campfire aroma. Reminds me a bit of a bandaid. Almost like a smoked meat too.

T: Almost like a blend of a dopplebock, stout and rauchbier. A dark fruitiness comes through, roasted malt and of course a heavy smoked flavor. Lingering smokey aftertaste. Bit of a milkstout aspect as well. Just a touch of metallic flavor.

M: Medium body with average carbonation. Has a bit of velvety mouthfeel to it. A touch on the sticky side. Isn't too hot considering the abv.

Overall an interesting variant to the RIS style. The smokiness is well done and adds some complexity. Would be great with some smoked meats.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 02:42:16 | More by CloudStrife

mynie

Indiana

4.06/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Had this on tap at the Lava Lounge in Waterloo, Iowa. Thought it was like a combination between a medium-strength stout and a dark IPA. It was enjoyable but hard to place. Here's my notes:

Very smooth. Nice brown head atop near opaque black. Smells not at all ashen: nodes of molasses and dark roasted barley with a firm back end of dry hops. Tastes the same as it smells, nice balance.

Okay, that's the end of the notes. I didn't pick up any of the smokey or vinous nodes that people pick up once they've been informed this is supposed to be a Russian Imperial. Power of suggestion, maybe? As it stood, it wasn't really a stellar example of its purported style, but it's still a damn fine beer.

Serving type: on-tap

04-23-2013 03:54:46 | More by mynie

shehateme

Massachusetts

2.25/5  rDev -39.8%

04-20-2013 22:20:18 | More by shehateme

AOShabaz

Massachusetts

2/5  rDev -46.5%

04-20-2013 22:17:39 | More by AOShabaz

ROGUE16

Delaware

4/5  rDev +7%

04-16-2013 22:13:37 | More by ROGUE16

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.94/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle at Torst. Big smoke, ash smell. But its great as I like the style. Ashtray, in the best way. Peaty, however that's in the secondary perhaps muted over time aged in a bottle. In that way, stands out from classic smoked beers.Lacy with a bit of head. Middling mouthfeel. Good drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 12:33:41 | More by northyorksammy

Lynn

Ohio

4/5  rDev +7%

04-12-2013 23:08:53 | More by Lynn

ThreeFishes

Florida

2.75/5  rDev -26.5%

04-12-2013 01:45:53 | More by ThreeFishes

bonkers

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +7%

04-04-2013 02:08:23 | More by bonkers

bacasnax

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -6.4%

03-31-2013 23:21:28 | More by bacasnax

kmahe

Washington

4.75/5  rDev +27%

03-18-2013 00:53:25 | More by kmahe

gshackles

New York

4/5  rDev +7%

03-18-2013 00:37:57 | More by gshackles

b2hogan

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +7%

03-13-2013 16:01:40 | More by b2hogan

twelveinches

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +20.3%

03-13-2013 05:52:35 | More by twelveinches

strongaf

Washington

4/5  rDev +7%

02-26-2013 08:19:11 | More by strongaf

Thomas_Picton

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +13.6%

02-20-2013 01:09:56 | More by Thomas_Picton

ryan1788a5

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

12oz bottle poured into a New Belgium globe.

A: Very deep brown on the pour with auburn and ruby hues. A massive four fingers of pillowy brown head swiftly rises atop the beer and does not budge and inch. A thick collar of lacing is left in the wake of the head as the beer is consumed.

S: Milk chocolate, brown molasses, charcoal. Juicy berry esters are hidden tightly. A blanket of bacon and campfire loosely covers it all.

T: Milk chocolate, bittersweet dark chocolate, woody and nutty tastes and a tight juicy berry ester are perceptible for only a moment. Then the smoked malts absolutely bulldoze everything. Extreme char, highly ashy, intense smoke. Soot, campfire, jerky and bacon. The smoked malt onslaught subsides just enough to let bitter black coffee and bitter dark chocolate poke through on the finish and ride it out with a lingering ashy sensation.

M: The body sits on the heftier side of the spectrum, though it isn't too weighty. Full, creamy, and well-rounded. Modest level of prickling carbonation. Good.

O: It grew on me a little toward the end, but this is one hardcore smoked beer. Absolutely not for the faint of heart. It is aptly named; it gets so smoky that it really does call to mind a full ash tray. Evil Twin went a little overboard with this one. You'll really need to love smoked beers to justify the $10 single bottle price tag and the ensuing, borderline masochistic palate stomp.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2013 04:47:48 | More by ryan1788a5

DoubleSimcoe

New York

4.5/5  rDev +20.3%

02-10-2013 15:53:21 | More by DoubleSimcoe

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.33/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into an Elysian snifter. Pours pitch black with a healthy three finger medium brown head with good retention and lacing. Aroma of dark toasted malt, chocolate and peat. Flavor starts with a healthy dose of campfire smoke, developing dark toasted malt, coffee, nuts and peat. Finishes with great lingering smoke, dark toasted malt and light vanilla. Medium, creamy body. This is definitely the most complex smoke flavor I've experienced in smoked beer and although I am not a cigar smoker, the flavor does suggest the rich leathery smoke from cigars. The ashtray moniker is appropriate, but the stout gives more of a suggestion of the smoke before the stogie gets to the ashtray. Well done and very enjoyable. Evil Twin pulls off another beer that pushes the envelope and triumphs.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 04:38:10 | More by LiquidAmber

kylehay2004

Florida

4.05/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: single finger tan head with nice lacing on a jet black body.

S: espresso, roasted malt, smoke, some peat, campfire

T: very smokey but so good. Mesquite and campfire notes, capturing all of the smokiness you can handle which I can see how it may be overpowering but a vanilla and chocolate sweetness to the finish provides some balance.

M: medium to full body and moderate to high carbonation.

Overall:really smokey but doesn't linger. Well balanced for me. A must try if you like this style.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 04:57:55 | More by kylehay2004

nickfl

Florida

4.05/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours with one finger of tan foam on top of an opaque, black body. The head settles rapidly but leaves thick lace on the glass.

S - Coffee and lots of peat with notes of cigar smoke and caramel.

T - Smoky chocolate up front with hazelnuts and peat. Smoky caramel in the middle with a finish of peanuts, spicy chocolate, and lingering peat smoke.

M - Medium body, moderate carbonation, and a dry finish.

D - Really smoky, but oddly drinkable. The peat is intense, but not unpleasant or bandaid like as it is in so many other beers.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 04:57:47 | More by nickfl

lupercmda

North Carolina

1/5  rDev -73.3%

01-27-2013 04:31:47 | More by lupercmda