Ursus Spelæus - Sound Brewery

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.8/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

22oz bottle, 8.5% ABV, and dubbed a 'Belgian Style Imperial Stout'.

This beer pours a solid black, with prominent cola highlights, and nothing but a thin film of flaccid bubbly beige head, which bleeds away before my eyes, leaving a low landfall pattern of lakeshore lace around the glass.

It smells of chalky dark cocoa, lightly toasted caramel malt, thin toffee crisps, black licorice nibs, a very subtle dry yeastiness, and herbal grassy hops. The taste is semi-sweet chocolate, softly caramelized toffee, rather rich anise drops, ethereal zingy yeast, and earthy, leafy hops. A hint of warming alcohol permeates as it warms.

The bubbles are fairly low-key, but still capable in their support role, the body a sturdy medium weight, and really quite smooth, with a mild touch of creaminess. It finishes on the sweet side, the cocoa, licorice, and caramel malt all lazily colluding to push out any lingering Belgian-inspired yeast, or alcohol edge, for that matter.

As Belgian Stout is not yet a style on this site, it falls that this must be shoehorned in elsewhere. However, that seems patently unnecessary here, as this comes across as mostly just a lighter (in all manner save ABV) version of a Yankee Imperial stout, sexed up with licorice. Worthy of a try, even at around 10 bucks a bomber.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 05:44:45 | More by biboergosum

blackie

Virginia

4.48/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

drat at uber tavern

a: had no idea what to even think of/call this at the bar, served in a stubby snifter glass, ursus is deeply brown, opaque in color, with a short mocha head

s: loaded with dark fruits and caramelized sugars, strikingly complex from the start, notes of molasses, chocolate and char hint at the “ris” but it’s really much more, flashes of belgian yeast, plum and raisin, mildly hopped

m: thick, rich mouthfeel with a carbonation to the higher side of the moderate range

t: loaded with dark tree fruits and complimented with roasted barley, hints of cocoa, a touch of smoke, and a belgian yeast profile giving some interesting spice notes, maybe a touch of coffee, nicely bitter to finish with lots of lingering flavor

o: a unique an interesting style combination that completely impresses, quality stuff

4/45/45/45/45

Serving type: on-tap

04-19-2013 03:55:16 | More by blackie

HuskyinPDX

Washington

4.13/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Bottle opened on 1.613.

A - Pours a motor oil dark brown with a few small dark brown bubbles.

S - Roasted malt, coffee, chocolate and some sweet fruits.

T - Nice bitter coffee and chocolate mix and again some sweet dark fruit.

D - Low carbonation with a heavy body.

O - Very nice stout with a surprising fruit kick that is nice.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 06:10:50 | More by HuskyinPDX

JohnGalt1

Idaho

4.4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

22 picked up today at Home Brew Stuff in Garden City for a sorta pricey $10... Poured into my slim tulip and a thin brown head rises quickly and leaves nearly as fast. The brew is black.

The nose is rich dark fruits that mesh perfectly with dark malt and some lesser Belgian character.. "boozy raisinettes", does that sound interesting? It is in this beer. Some anise and possibly some clovey phenols.

Flavor does not disappoint.. thick and rich... cocoa, milk chocolate, a lot of golden raisins, lingering dark fruits... A bit of char/light smoke brings things back mid palate and lingers forever...

Body is thick and inviting... velvety.. carbonation is on the light side.. surprisingly there is very little alcohol... This is very well done.. Just hints of yeasty Belgian notes that I honestly believe could be bloomed a bit more..

I am amazed how much I like this one... As far as I can tell Home Brew Stuff is the only store that got this one in.. but Boise stores should pick this one up... so should Boise peeps. Really good... No Shit.

3.5/4.5/4.5/4.5/4.25

Not nearly as good as the best RIS out there, but certainly better than ANY Belgian Imperial Stout that I have had before... I am very.. VERY impressed.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 07:22:23 | More by JohnGalt1

snaotheus

Washington

4.1/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle poured into a large snifter

Pours like a normal imperial stout. Pitch black, still, with a tiny brownish head clinging to the glass like a crown. Smell is spicy, roasty, coffee and chocolate and very nutty, with yeast and licorice as a kicker.

Taste is initially very sweet, with a quick burnt bitterness, a yeasty tang, with a slightly sour memory. Something about it reminds me of maple. Still more of that odd yeasty spiciness (I attribute to the Belgian nature). It's good, but it's a bit sweet.

Mouthfeel is sticky and thick. Very chewy. Overall, this is a very good beer, and a good Christmas present from my brother in law.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 04:48:14 | More by snaotheus

trxxpaxxs

New York

4.38/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks libbey!

A: Pours a pitch black with no light shining through. There is a quarter finger of dark tan head that settles quickly and leaves a thin ring of bubbles along the edges of the glass. It's sticky and syrupy, and has serious legs. This beer looks great.

S: The nose is mainly raisin, with a big chocolate presence and a tad bit of Belgian funk and booze. I usually like my stouts with more burnt toast and bitters, but it smells good.

T: Mmm. This beer is sweet and syrupy with notes the raisin and dark chocolate hitting hard in the in the front. The middle turns towards more milk chocolate and burnt toast. I'm digging it. The finish is back to sweet and syrupy, but the raisin notes fade away. Really nice. The Belgian influences are mild and it makes me glad that they didn't overdue it.

M: Full bodied beer. Sweet, syrupy, cloying, milky, thick and smooth. Really solid.

O: This is a solid beer. I had my doubts with the Belgian Stout label on it. But this beer is just right. It's like candy cigarettes, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, raisin, and burnt toast. Would love to drink again.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 00:04:24 | More by trxxpaxxs

sukwonee

Washington

4.03/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Black with reddish tint, half a finger mocha head.

S: Milk chocolate (I think they added lactose sugar), some funky aroma, some roasted malt.

T: Yep definitely lactose sugar. It almost tastes like a milk/sweet stout. I can taste some hops towards the end, but it's not overpowering. Chocolate, malt, lactose sugar, some dark fruits coming through. Alcohol is very well hidden.

M: It's not super thick for the style, but it's thick. It's not super syrupy but it's syrupy.

O: This brew is quite solid. To me, it tastes like a robust sweeet stout, rather than a Russian imperial stout, but still it's quite delicious. Belgian yeast can be noted in the nose and taste, which sort of adds uniqueness (not really).

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 04:26:09 | More by sukwonee

DaveAnderson

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: A vigorous pour into a Darkness tulip reveals an oily dark liquid, and yields a tall, but thin head, which recedes quickly and leaves little lacing.

S: What an unusual smell. It's unlike any Imperial stout I have had before. I don't even know how to describe it. There might be some chocolate in there, and maybe some black licorice. I am at a loss for descriptors.

T: The taste is much more familiar. It has the usual Imperial Stout characteristics, with above-average hop presence and below-average sweetness.

M: This is a very thin Imperial Stout, which makes it seem really light. The alcohol is well-masked. I don't know whether the thin body is an asset or a flaw. It's very drinkable, but I kind of want something richer.

O: I don't know if I have ever had a Belgian Imperial Stout before. This is interesting and drinkable, but in the end, I find it slightly challenging, and lacking harmony.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 04:47:13 | More by DaveAnderson

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Huge thanks to ArchEnemyBrew for sending me this beer! Thanks Hollis!

poured into a tulip glass.

Appearance: black bodied beer with 2 fingers worth of medium tan colored head. Lacing is pretty nice on this beer as well; stick to side of glass.

Smell: This is a really fruity stout almost like a quad fruity. Black licorice, molasses, chocolate, mild roast and smokiness.

Taste: Smokey and dark fruits. Mild coffee roast that is mildly bitter adding balance to the fruity belgian yeast. A touch of spice mingles with the dark fruits. Really solid!

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer with carbonation between the middle to high end of moderate. Not a hint of booze for such a big beer. Really nice carbonation thats smooth and lucious. well made beer.

Overall: This is my first beer from Sound Brewery! Really really nice beer. They have impressed me! Its a unique beer that does a solid job in all aspects of this beer. Overall score of 4.5; wanted to bump the taste to a 4.25 score.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2012 14:42:45 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

Duff27

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Short tannish mocha head on a dark brown near black body. Head recedes to a collar.

Purple and red grapes. Slightly metallic? All good though.

Fruits, first and foremost. "Slight smokiness" as it warms. Would put this right at its stated ABV, well hidden booze overall.

Diggin' the mouthfeel, thicker side with carbonation on the high end...it works here when considering the Belgian yeast influence.

Well integrated use of malts and yeast rarely used together. Well done Sound Brewery. Thanks for the new beer try 4DAloveofSTOUT!

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2012 00:14:12 | More by Duff27

flagmantho

Washington

4.23/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 22oz bomber into a tulip.

Appearance: totally black hue with a one-finger cap of frothy dark tan foam. Attractive.

Smell: rich, chocolatey and caramelly malt aroma with a distinct oaky character. Not terribly complex but it all comes together rather well.

Taste: several big flavors come together here: a big maltiness with lots of fruit character, either from the Belgian yeast or from the alcohol; there is some cherry, grape and plum here; rich but not dank or dusky. Chocolate comes through from below, but it is not overpowering at all. I like the complexity quite a lot.

Mouthfeel: big body with a smooth, silky texture. Not particularly creamy, but it's a low-carbonation style. I like it.

Overall: a tasty and surprisingly drinkable beer for its ABV. It would be interesting to cellar this for awhile and see how much more Belgian character develops.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2012 23:10:44 | More by flagmantho

barleywinefiend

Washington

4.43/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured deep, deep brown with a small light brown cap, not much on lacing and the head was faint but stuck around by way of a small brown ring

S: Lots deep roasted notes, licorice, light smokiness, dark chocolate with some spiciness, booze sting

T: Perhaps some anse, but defeinite light spiciness back with huge roastiness, dark chocolate, licorice.The back end leaves some bitterness, sugar sweetness

M: Well carbonated, tasty, dry feel but yet sticky sweet, warming and big bodied

O: Awesome brew!

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2012 12:20:01 | More by barleywinefiend

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.38/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Black Raven pint glass. Pours pitch black, thin light brown head that dissipates to a thin film and ring around the glass with slippery lacing. Pleasant RIS aroma of roasted and dark malt, molasses and a hint of Belgian yeast. Flavor follows, dominated by roasted malt but with a lighter fruit and anise element. Finish with a sharp hop bitterness and espresso coffee that lingers on the tongue. Very tasty. Medium bodied with a hint of creaminess. Somewhat light bodied for a RIS, but the flavor is rich and compelling. A very nice stout and my fifth straight excellent beer from this stellar brewery.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2012 03:16:04 | More by LiquidAmber