Evil Twin Lil' B - Evil Twin Brewing

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.38/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours an opaque jet black in color with minimal amounts of gentle visible carbonation. The beer poured with essentially no head, just a partial thin dark tan ring of bubbles around most of the edges of the glass. Moderate amounts of lacing is observed. Kind of looks like soy sauce when it pours.

S: Moderate aromas of chocolate and some lighter notes of sweet dark fruits.

T: Rich with lots of roasted malt flavors and chocolate. Lighter notes of dark fruits but not overly sweet (not quite as sweet as other beers in the style).

M: Light to medium bodied with light to moderate amounts of carbonation.

O: Alcohol is extremely well hidden in this beer as you can detect none of the 11.5% ABV at all. Enjoyable but definitely a beer you need to take your time drinking, so drink it slow and enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 17:21:08 | More by dbrauneis

cvm4

Mississippi

4.38/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A - Pours thick & black with a light chocolate head. We sure this is a porter? Could be a stout from the pour.

S - At first it's sweet milk chocolate & malts. Some black licorice lingering then a tinge of black coffee.

T - Sweet malts, dark chocolate & a bit of dark fruit. This is good!

M - Creamy, smooth, medium body & low carbonation. Abv is well hidden.

O - Seriously impressed, but this is a stout or borderline RIS. Either way, I dug it!

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 01:16:34 | More by cvm4

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.4/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

With the major differences in porters and stout being in the amount of "roast" character and in body, the recipe formulators of Evil Twin blur these lines and push the limits of this imperial porter into a highly specialized taste.

Lil' B pours with a dark, bark-brown color and a cloudy haze that creates a slightly murky appearance. Even with a vigorous pour, the beer lackadaisically amounts to a dainty creme-like foam to top the beer. Remote islands of foam attach themselves to the snifter with understated lacing.

Strong aromas of all-things-dark spring from the glass and into the nose- chocolate, coffee, nuts, molasses, light smoke, vinous fruit, sherry, and savory notes of soy sauce come to mind with a single whiff of the beer. With no real hop presence, the beer's aroma relies on complex near-roast notes and wine like counterparts to achieve its balanced scent.

Flavors are even stronger as the intense taste of French press coffee, smoky chocolate, bittersweet fudge-like notes, walnuts, slightly scorched toffee, and charred wood all flood the palate with richness and succulence. Savory soy sauce, sherry, and port wine weigh in after mid palate while the taste of dark, dehydrated, and pitted fruit mingles with alcohol. Dates, figs, raisins, and grapes are all well represented when layers after layers of taste are lifted and exposed as the beer warms.

Its highly viscous texture allows the full bodied ale to caress the mouth with velvety smoothness, creamy softness, and somewhat powdery warmth. The strong alcohol presence seeps into the soft tissues of the mouth with warming delight and free of harshness or bite.

With its extended finish of milk chocolate, vanilla, and fruit, the beer continues to reward the palate with the same satisfaction as fine brandy or cognac, in place of after dinner dessert. With beers like Lil' B, Evil Twin continues to remind me why it's alright to pay such exorbitant prices for their beers- they are simply worth it.

Serving type: on-tap

09-17-2012 18:50:57 | More by BEERchitect

avalon07

South Carolina

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

A: Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Had a jet black color and a thick texture. There was a small amount of tan-colored, foamy, fairly long-lasting head. Not much lacing.

S: A big aroma of coffee, chocolate and dark fruit.

T: Tasted of coffee, dark chocolate, a nice shot of malt, light hops, and dark fruit (plums, raisins). Like the aroma, the flavor is big. It's well balanced, complex and powerful.

M: A decent amount of carbonation with a somewhat slick and viscous finish. Medium-bodied.

O: This is a beer that's closer to a stout than a porter, but that's not a problem. Well made and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2012 12:19:32 | More by avalon07

beer2day

North Carolina

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

22oz bottle from Bottle Revolution in Raleigh.

Dark, dark brown pour with a faint suggestion of red. Dark, dark mocha head. One of the darkest heads I can remember. Only 1/2 finger's worth, but retains a thin film on top of the glass. Laces well, but the lace is fleeting.

Nose is strong dark coffee, mocha, esters and light citrus, along with burnt but not quite scorched caramel malt. Well done, but maybe a tad bit understated.

Taste is ... delicious. Chocolate and light roasted caramel, medium roast coffee, a splash of vanilla cream, and light citrus bitters in the finish. Gets a bit sweet in the very end, with only a hint of the abv showing in a quick breath of alcohol.

Feel is perfect. Smooth and creamy, velvety smooth.

Get this one while the getting is good. While it is expensive, it is really good.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2012 01:15:13 | More by beer2day

Dope

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours an inky pitch black with a small dark brown head despite an aggressive pour. Fades at decent pace but has good retention at least. Leaves just bits of lacing here and there.

S: Nice dark fruit aroma, primarily raisin, fig and plum. Anise too. Roasted malt aroma strong but not too strong. There is a nice bitter chocolate and ashy coffee aroma. Creamy and smooth (can a smell be creamy and smooth?). Wonderful aroma.

T: Loaded with dark fruit up front. Raisin, fig, plum and lots of cherry. Almost tart just for a moment. Roasted malt kicks in in the middle with some char initially but then turns into a really nice dark and bitter chocolate. Grows more bitter towards the finish until it's almost pure baker's chocolate by the end. Finish is creamy and mellow. Lingering bitter chocolate and char between sips. This is one hell of a beer.

M: Heavy and creamy and borderline chalky.

O: Wow, unexpectedly good. Especially for my first Evil Twin beer. One of the best imperial porters I've ever had, if not THE best. Strong fruitiness and milder roasted malt (though there is still plenty at 11.5% ABV) keeps this firmly in porter territory and doesn't cross over into imperial stout-dom. Wonderfully fruity, smooth and creamy. Balanced flavor. An expertly crafted brew in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 02:28:04 | More by Dope

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

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

Poured from tap into oversized snifter at Avenue Pub NOLA. Pours an oily black color with thin tan head. Crazy good roasted sweet malts, booze, dark fruit aromas. Taste is so smooth boozey dark fruit, chocolatey bourbon vanilla, slight coffee as well. This is just so crazy good and it gets better as it warms...wow. Slightly bitter mouthfeel, which I dig, nonetheless a spectacular amazing brew. Go have one now!

Serving type: on-tap

10-02-2012 03:30:47 | More by DrinkSlurm

thagr81us

South Carolina

4.48/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Because MSquared2 told me to tick Evil Twin brews this night… Served from bottle into a Mikkeller Teku (semi-proper!). Poured pitch black with a one finger brown head that subsided to a minimal amount slowly. Maintained excellent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, roasted malt, dark chocolate, bread, milk chocolate, sweet alcohol, vanilla, and very subtle coffee. The flavor was of sweet malt, roasted malt, bread, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, vanilla, sweet alcohol, and coffee. It had a heavy feel on the palate with medium-high carbonation. Overall this was fairly great brew. Where did this one come from!? Wow… Everything going on in this one was nothing short of fantastic and made it quite easy to drink despite the ABV going on here. The flavors and aromas going on here are nothing short of excellent as they are all on-point. This is definitely a really well done brew. If you have not had the pleasure of enjoying this one, you need to make it happen. Nicely done guys!

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2012 10:38:51 | More by thagr81us

WillCarrera

Illinois

4.48/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22 oz bottle, no bottled-on date, poured into a tulip glass.

A- Pours an incredibly black color, produces a thin mocha head with some spotty lacing.

S- Sweet, rich aroma, very heavy on chocolate, creating a nice brownie aroma. A bit of coffee and vanilla, some really amazing nut aroma as well. Light booze and vinous fruit. Wooo, swag.

T- Wooo, hoes on this beer cause it tastes like Jesus. A really delicious blend of chocolate and juicy dark fruit from the outset, roasted coffee beans and milk chocolate follow. As in the nose there's a very nice walnut/hazelnut flavor that lingers into the finish. A bit of bitter coffee and smoky roast in the finish, as well as a bit of lingering chocolate and mild booze. Hunned thousand dollars.

M- Full-bodied, smooth, velvety and creamy, low carbonation, if this was just a bit thicker it would be perfect.

O- This beer got bitches on deck. Seriously, this is a damn fine Paris Hilton style beer. The price is a bit steep, but I'm glad I picked this up, it's really delicious. Very drinkable for such a big beer as well, alcohol is nicely hidden. Master-chef cook chef cook swag swag swag.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2012 06:23:11 | More by WillCarrera

Chadster

Alberta (Canada)

4.71/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

just a beautiful ing on tap, At Avenue Pub last Year in New Orleans
This Gem Tastedof Vanilla , chocolate and sweet molasses hint to it..
Better on tap then in bottle but still well worth the buy..

Also recommended, St Arnold Bourban stout, Old Rasputin bourban barrel stout,

Serving type: cask

12-24-2012 11:47:00 | More by Chadster

vicsju1991

Pennsylvania

4.73/5  rDev +11%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On tap at eulogoy in philadelphia
A - pours out of tap like motor oil, very dark beer, small head goes away quickly
S - dark frutis, choclatey and roasted malts, little bit of ether bourbon or just alcohol
T - follows the nose , veyr complex every moutful a little different
M - a little thin, but still very good
O - very cool beer, happy I had the chance to have it on tap

Serving type: on-tap

09-06-2012 09:57:34 | More by vicsju1991

Damian

Massachusetts

4.8/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Drank from a 1 pt. 6 fl. oz. bottle purchased at Liquor World, Cambridge, MA
Served in a snifter

Inky jet black in appearance. The liquid poured viscous and slick with a motor oil-like consistency. Completely opaque. There was no head but some spotty patches of cocoa colored froth. The froth quickly dissipated to a thin ring of lasting foam.

The nose was remarkable. Rich, dark and complex. Super smooth and quite sweet. Bourbon notes were apparent, even though this beer was not barrel aged. Boatloads of dark malts. Good amount of vanilla and brown sugar. Strong indications of licorice and dark fruits. Plums, figs, raisins and prunes were noticeable. Lots of dark chocolate and freshly brewed coffee. Some smooth, port-like notes came through as well. Touch of smoke as the beer warmed. This reminded me a lot more of a rich and robust, well-aged imperial stout than a relatively fresh porter.

The flavor profile was even more impressive than the nose. Quite sweet with intense bourbon and brown sugar notes. Tons of vanilla. Lots of semi-sweet chocolate and molasses. Dark fruits galore. Strong notes of plums, figs and raisins. Good dose of black coffee. Slightly roasty on the finish. The 11.5% ABV was completely undetectable. Like the nose, the flavor profile shared many similarities with an aged imperial stout.

The body was super viscous. Rich, oily and slick. Creamy on the palate with a fine, mild effervescence.

Even though this beer is classified as an imperial porter, it drinks much bigger. Lil' B is the base beer for Imperial Biscotti Break, but I liked this so much better (and I happen to be a huge fan of espresso, vanilla and almonds, which are added to Lil' B to create Biscotti Break). With its smooth, sweet, indulgent richness and over the top mouthfeel, it brought back memories of earlier Dark Lord vintages.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 04:15:49 | More by Damian

Rickythejeweler

Maryland

4.85/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A - Pitch black, one finger dark mocha head, light lacing.

S - Smoked malts, vanilla, dark chocolate, roasty/grainy.

T - Amazing! Smoked malts, tobacco, chocolate wafers, walnuts, vanilla, espresso beans covered in Hershey's syrup!

M - Full body, viscous, low carbonation.

O - So very good! I have tried it both on tap and from a bottle; I actually prefer the bottle.

22 oz. @ Liquor Pump, Baltimore, MD $15.99

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2012 14:26:34 | More by Rickythejeweler

StuartCarter

Alabama

5/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Appearance: jet black - motor oil. Fluffy tan head that collapses to a thin ring.

Smell: chocolate, caramel, fruity, a little coffee. Much heavier on the chocolate/fruit than coffee.

Taste: revelatory. Chocolate, fruit, caramel, gentle coffee. This is a porter rather than a stout - the chocolate is up front and centre, the coffee is in the background, but still there.

Mouthfeel: for such a thick beer the mouthfeel is lovely - dense and creamy rather than viscous.

Aftertaste: rich caramel fruit, chocolate, light coffee.

As it warms: the coffee becomes more apparent in the nose, but the flavour leans to more chocolate and fruits.

This is a truly wonderful beer deserving of more recognition.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2012 15:20:14 | More by StuartCarter

Impfan

Washington

5/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

The best porter I’ve ever tasted, hands down. I’m not usually a big fan of Baltic style porters, only because I find them to be too sweet, but this Imperial version is deceptively complex. At first, I thought it was a bit flabby in texture, and totally straightforward in flavor. However, as I continued to sip this voluptuous monster, flavors other than chocolate, toffee, and vanilla began to emerge...leather, tobacco, plum, kumquat, raisin, sandalwood, smoke, Cabernet, and bourbon began to poke out their heads, seemingly out of nowhere. The richness continued to build, but the sweetness never became overbearing, and leveled out at just the right point. This may be the best Evil Twin I’ve tasted, which is even more surprising when one takes note of the fact that it’s a contract brew executed by Westbrook Brewing Co of Mount Pleasant, S.C. I’d never heard of them, but I’ll definitely be looking for any future nationally distributed beers of theirs.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2012 22:25:02 | More by Impfan

lackenhauser

Maryland

5/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours just like used motor oil-thick and viscous right out of the bottle. Jet black with a very slight tan head on top. Deep raisen, dark dried fruit aroma. Chocolate and espresso notes. Mild oak and port. Slightly treacle like and a faint caramel sweetness. Big and bold dark roast flavors. Deep espresso and bakers chocolate. Sticky toffee sweetness to it as well. Velvety smooth mouthfeel. Lip smackingly sweet finish. No sense of being so high in abv. WOW! My first offering from these folks and I am just blown away. Just a huge wonderful beer all in. Has desert island beer written all over it.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 02:00:02 | More by lackenhauser