Double Stout - Green Flash Brewing Co.

WeisGuy

New York

4.45/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

8.8% abv

a - pours black with a two-finger cappuccino colored head, good retention and lacing

s - sweet fruits, cherry and plum, mixed in with roasted malt, malted milk, milk chocolate, latte, not as "dark" and bitter smelling as most impy stouts, notes of alcohol in there as well

t - light roasted coffee and dark chocolate up front, chocolate covered cherries on the midpalate, black cherry, dark bitter chocolate, and light coffee flavors on the finish, hints of alcohol

m - medium-to-full bodied, lower carbonation, moderately dry finish, alcohol warming

d - definitely a big stout, but a fairly drinkable one, not much alcohol in the taste and definitely complex enough to keep you interested

Very interesting and unique stout and another great beer from Green Flash. The quality/price ratio on this beer is great at under $6...I enjoyed this much more than the '07 Dark Lord I had the other day.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2008 01:27:32 | More by WeisGuy

alcstradamus

Illinois

4.45/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a black color with 2 full fingers of head that leave a thick layer of lacing down the walls of the glass. Smell is big and roasty, with hints of sweetness and bitter coffee present.

The taste doesn't have much of the sweetness that I detected on the nose, but the roastiness and the bitter coffee come through full force. This one has some huge flavor, more than I anticipated. Very nice too....pretty much the blueprint for what an 8.8% ABV stout should be like. Only thing keeping this from being a 5 is a lack of any real complexity.

Mouthfell is medium to medium-full, good carbonation levels. This beer impressed the hell out of me. I really didn't have any expectations at all, but if I did it would have exceeded them. Buy this beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2009 04:07:03 | More by alcstradamus

tigg924

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: one inch head, black, opaque

Smell: roasted malt, chocolate and some sugar

Taste: deep dark chocolate, light coffee, roasted malt, and a touch of cream/sugar sweetness at the end

Mouthfeel: light body, sweet with a nice semi-bitter back, dry finish, medium-low carbonation

Drinkability: A pleasant surprise and arguably my favorite from the brewery. It is sweet but not overly so and the alcohol is well masked. Could sip several on a cold night.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2010 15:56:20 | More by tigg924

Gushue3

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- pours deep dark brown almost black with a pretty large mocha head that leaves a ton of lacing. (almost a 5, it it wasnt transparent on pour i woudld have wet myself)

S- heavy on the malt. chocolate and coffee beans add a nice note. subtly sweet and bold.

T- mmm... initially i get a medium hop taste that quickly goes away and opens up to a light malt finishing with some chocolate. well played green flash.

M- good ammount of carbonation for a stout, not necessarily bad.

D- very good taste with great flavors that work well with one another. a great brew

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2011 01:50:03 | More by Gushue3

ehammond1

California

4.45/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle (2011)

The Davis Beer Shoppe
Davis, CA

A beautiful beer. A nearly midnight black pour and a foaming light brown head that sticks and sticks leaving sheets of lacing down the entire glass.

An immense amount of chocolate and coffee in the nose along with roasted and bitter malts...but the star of the show is the rich, decadent chocolate aroma. It's sublime.

Taste follows right along with the nose. There's just enough bitterness to cut through the sweetness, though the chocolate and roasted coffee flavors are a match made in heaven. An incredibly tasty stout.

Medium to thick mouthfeel. While certainly good, it could be just a tad thicker and more velvety.

A truly delicious and, in my opinion, an under-appreciated stout. This is a big stout done right. No alcohol presence, just pure and delicious clean flavors and aroma. I'm going to do my best to keep this one in the fridge year-round. Yes, it's 100 degrees outside, but it still tastes perfect.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2011 04:24:43 | More by ehammond1

LaneMeyer

California

4.45/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle into a tulip.

A- Black, black, one finger, mocha head beautiful beer.

S- Chocolate covered raisins, mud pie, caramel.

T- cocoa nibs, some dark fruit, slight coffee notes, sweet & bitter notes.

M- It's like liquid velvet running down my mouth, thick and creamy.

O- For the price this is the best bang for your buck as far as an everyday Imp Stout.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2011 08:52:11 | More by LaneMeyer

warbird07

Michigan

4.45/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

poured into my 6oz snifter...

This beer pours a real dark black, not much light getting through this..generous,off-white head, moderate lacing,..a good looking brew

molasses,chocolate,slight alcohol on the nose,bit of hops as well...

taste is pleasing..chocolate malts,anise,molasses,a bit warming,hop finish is nice..

mouthfeel is a bit thin for a double, but the abundent carbonation gives this beer good stature...a real nice example of an American double sout...Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2011 04:20:44 | More by warbird07

rootbeerman

Virginia

4.45/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: pours black, dark brown around the edges when held to a light. Head was two fingers just after pour, after a while it was a thin dark brown.
S: dark and roasty, a nice chocolaty sweetness almost reminds me of a milk stout in the aroma. It smells creamy.
T: dark roasted malt, a creamy mix of the malt, chocolate, a little nutty, oat smoothness/sweetness. There is a nice slightly piny aftertaste.
M: creamy, smooth carbonation
O: no complaints, is a great stout, wish it came in sixers and not four packs.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2011 10:22:54 | More by rootbeerman

elNopalero

Texas

4.45/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to XicanoBeerRun for this bottle. He knows how much I like stouts, and I couldn’t wait for cooler weather to drink this one. Can’t tell how old this one is but I’ve been sitting on it for a couple of months. Should be fine, since it clocks in at 8.8%. This beer is advertised as “big, bold and complex.” It definitely lives up to its tagline.

Poured from the bottle into a nonic pint glass. The beer is a dense, dark, velvety black. More like dark chocolate, a shade of dark brown just before pitch black.

I get a big eruption of billowy foam. Poured about half the bottle, waited for the beer to settle, then topped it off two more times. So I have a solid finger’s worth of dense, creamy head to take in.

And you know what? It smells wonderful. Just full of big, roasty, creamy, aromas. Sharp, perhaps even some hop bitterness on the edge? Definitely lots of dark chocolate and some vanilla sweetness that rounds it out. And the faintest whisper of the crema from an amazing espresso. All this in the nose, I can’t wait to taste it as my mouth is watering in anticipation.

I certainly catch the big roasty flavor from the first sip onward. Not a lot of the sweetness that I smelled, but more of the sharper, bitter chocolate and coffee/espresso notes.

The beer surprises by being lighter to the palate than I expected. Especially for a double or imperial stout I anticipated it being thick, heavy. There’s a nice bit of carbonation that keeps it light, however. It’s hot, for being nearly 9% I definitely notice the alcohol.

I sipped it and thought of long nights and cooler weather.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2011 02:28:57 | More by elNopalero

Smokee

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This poured, black/brown with a thin tan head. Chocolate, bready smell, not too much though. Great first sip. A little boozy, coffee, bread, and a peppery 2nd taste. Chocolate, coffee as well. After sitting, the head maintains much more than I thought.

Overall great.

Very drinkable and very interesting.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2011 23:15:08 | More by Smokee

JuicesFlowing

Kansas

4.45/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a standard pint glass. The beer is an espresso coffee bean black, with a dark rich cream colored head that's slow to dissipate. Faint bubbly lacing. The beer smells of rich bitter chocolate, roasted malts, and a hint of sweetness. Tastes like it smells: rich, sweet bitter chocolate. There's a faint milk stout sweetness in it. Also roasted malts and slight smokiness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with a dry finish.

Overall, very impressed. I cannot believe how smooth this goes down for 8.8% ABV. There's a slight milk chocolate profile in it that's delicious.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2012 18:56:15 | More by JuicesFlowing

JMad

Texas

4.45/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours an opaque black with a thick rocky coffee colored head. Smells sweet and dark chocolatey, there are also some fruity notes in the background that make the beer very appetizing. Bittersweet dark chocolate dominates the taste buds with some coffee and herbal hops. The beer is thick and silky with moderate carbonation and a dry finish but seems to thin out mid-swallow. This is a top notch stout and I could drink a few of these.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2012 01:35:13 | More by JMad

siege06nd

Virginia

4.45/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A. I grow tired of describing stouts as "dark". This, like every other, is dark/black/brown. Has a nice two finger head that is muddy brown. Excellent, syrupy lacing and some oily legs. Very good retention, a good half finger covers the top of my brew.

S. Brownie batter, coffee bean, caramel, cherry juice, and some mild citrus hops. A subtle but enjoyable bouquet.

T. Excellent. Chocolate, vanilla, dark fruit like strawberry and cherry, some very faint smokiness, and a little bit of hop bite. A semi-dry finish that echoes ash, but the chocolate flavors back it up and even it out. This is delightful.

M. Creamy. Like chocolate milkshake creamy. There are some bold and diverse flavors here. Tying them all together into a smooth package took some talent. Excellent balance reigns supreme. Perfect.

O. One of the best imperial stouts I have had that wasn't aged in a barrel. This is a steal considering its wide availability. For the money, I just don't think you can find a stout that offers more flavor and yet retains such evenness. Outstanding.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2012 20:33:29 | More by siege06nd

BrewDocCT

4.45/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into my Bell's pint.

Appearance: Black. Creamy tan head. Lovely.

Smell: Chocolate, little coffee.

Taste: Roasty, chocolate, cherry.

Mouthfeel: Terrific. A smooth drinker, esp. considering the ABV.

Overall: This is one worth seeking out. Really delicious stout. Complex and easy drinking. Green flash nailed it.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2012 00:50:18 | More by BrewDocCT

CB_Crowe

Vermont

4.45/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Review #3 for those keeping track at home.

12oz bottle from local bevy poured into Lawson's Tulip 11/29/12

A: Black. Awesome two finger beige head.

S: Mmmm. This smells really tasty. Coffee, cappucino. Slight chocolate and hops too.

T: Yeah! Cappucino. Slightly bitter since it was probably a tad on the cold side when poured but I couldn't wait any longer. As it warmed, the chocolate came through nicely on the finish and some of the bitterness disapperared.

M: Smooth. It's not chewy or super heavy but it's not too thin either.

O: Wow. Really nice balanced stout. I was suprised by this one so I thought I should review it. It's one of the better balanced stouts I've had recently. Considering picking up a 4 pack now.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 15:41:31 | More by CB_Crowe

brenty0man

California

4.44/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: very dark. Tan head about 3 fingers tall. The head stuck to the sides all the way down. Very good looking.

S: Nutty and coffee aromas. Not very strong in the smell arena, could have been due to the huge head.

T: Taste was great. Coffee, roasted nut, smokey flavor. Really enjoyed it, but I expected a little more weight to this one being an american double

M: Mouthfeel was actually quite smooth. Very easy to drink. I expected a little more viscosity when it was poured but I still really enjoyed it.

O: I really enjoyed this. Will definitely have it again. Maybe not the most robust Double I've had but it was really enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 17:51:24 | More by brenty0man

GJ40

North Carolina

4.43/5  rDev +7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Sampled from a 22oz bottle purchased at Sam's in Durham, NC.

A - A deep, dark, black hole that allows no light to pass through. It's got a huge tan head with some serious retention.

S - Roasty and malty with some chocolate and coffee notes.

T - A very smooth stout with a balanced foundation of roasted malt and alcohol. Not dry but not sweet. Some hops too. Not much bitterness (almost could use a bit more).

M - Very thick and chewy. I wonder how it would pour on pancakes. Great carbonation. Lots of small bubbles like a nitro tap.

D - This is a very nice imperial stout. It's smooth, complex and easy to drink. I'll definitely be bringing it home again.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2008 21:52:38 | More by GJ40

jjayjaye

New York

4.43/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

HUGE thanks to drunkmonk for hook'n me up with this one. Dude, awesome extra!

Pours an opaque darkness with a full finger foamy dark tan head that fades to surface fairly quickly, leaving spotty patterns of lacing behind. Needs to warm up pretty good, but the smell will get your attention. Initially an almost pungent roasted character, but upon further 'consideration' complexities are revealed like the rings of an onion. A dark fruit thing comes through and something that comes across with some bitterness takes on a licorice-like character with a cocoa accompaniment. Adequately carbonated, the mouth feel is full bodied, smooth and coating. Full flavored, the taste is also complex. Scoring points for imagination and creativity! A classic Double Stout; molasses, cocoa, java, licorice and a cherry/vanilla barrel-aged character. Too cool! A ton of stuff to consider. 22oz is definitely not enough of a sample to dignify this one. A real easy drinker...the 8.8% ABV may 'kick in' at some point. Highly recommended!

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2008 23:28:54 | More by jjayjaye

DousedInStout

Washington

4.43/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Another masterpiece from Green Flash. For an imperial stout, this how relatively lower abv and much higher drinkability. The appearence is pitch black, with aromas of bittersweet chocolate. The taste is roasted, but well balanced with some hops shining through at the end. Well made, and can be enjoyed all night long.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2008 16:47:52 | More by DousedInStout

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

4.43/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pure black body, medium tan head, excellent lacing.

Aroma of coffee, chocolate, and fruits both juicy and dark.

Taste follows the nose. Rich coffee and chocolate abound. Earthy, juicy and darkly fruity.

Thick, rich, and oily, but thin enough to still flow easily.

Alcohol tucked away smoothly enough for good drinkability.

An under the radar, damn nice, oatmeal imperial.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2008 04:09:48 | More by RonfromJersey

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

4.43/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Inky black with black raspberry highlighting. Despite being opaque it is nowhere close to the thick or nubilous Imperial Stout. That said, it's a heck of a looker nonetheless. The firm, dark caramel crust spread over top adds a fashionable dressing. It also frills the glass with its own unique style of graffiti. And already I know there's more than meets the eyes...

Because the aroma caught my attention instantly, even before I could look at it! It is a rich and almost sickly sweet smell of long-boiled malts. It bears resemblance to fresh-roasted mocha coffee, almond biscotti and delicatessen European chocolate truffles. As so very lovely these scents are, it is the majestic hints of dark caramel and hazelnut that are ultimately responsible for keeping my nose on such a short leash.

The list of flavours is almost too long to list here in its entirety. Some highlights include: unrefined cocoa, black coffee, Black Forest Cake, summer berries, almond biscotti and chocolate covered hazelnuts. There is an excellent balance of bitter and sweet, both wrestling for position but neither able to pin the other for any substantial amount of time.

As far as I'm concerned, this is a "double stout" only because my enjoyment of it in comparison to the average stout is, in fact, double. Disregarding the alcohol percentage, which is higher than normal but scarcely noticed anyways, there isn't anything overly dynamic nor decadent about this beer. It really is just like anything other stout - except, for whatever reason, twice as enjoyable.

And it's disappeared twice as fast too! Although I shouldn't really be surprised by how much I'm enjoying this stout nor that it seems this one bomber won't be enough. Come to think of it, every bomber of Green Flash I've had - Barleywine (10%), Imperial IPA (9%), Le Freak (9.2%) - have been no problem to finish and in all cases left me yearning for even more. I'll take note and be sure not to buy just one bottle of this next time around.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2009 02:53:48 | More by biegaman

tavernjef

Minnesota

4.43/5  rDev +7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A black mass in a glass. Double tall foamy topping of dark tanned froth all thick and lush saying hello and sticking around for a conversation of lacing the glass with heavy amounts of sheeting with some broken edges.

Aroma is somwhat lighter then I would have thought, but what is there is clean and mildly so with a mere chocolatey presence and creamy tanged coffee tint. Slight burntness and some green juicy hops. Picks up a welcome biggerness as it warms.

Decadent taster; simple, ample, roasty, chocolatey tanged and creamy with bits of vanilla, dark cherry, dark orange, pineapple slush, coffee edged bitterness and drying in the finish. Its supply of flavors is nearly perfect and quite adequate to the Ol' taste buds with a steady, firm, tangy mild roast of milk chocolate wrapped in a darker chocolate bitterness and coffee dryness. Hops squeezed in with a fresh oily touch of leafyness. Warmth ensues and settles in some as ya get thru it, but does not hamper any enjoyment levels.

Firm and steady, creamy, smooth, bold, lush, ample medium body that encompasses a great tangy tone of roast and darker undertones of chocolate loaded fruits. The dryness is the finish is outstanding as a perfect little blend of chocolatey tang swirls about with a coffee edges blackness with burntish hints. Nice!

Gone in no time flat as this stuff drinks down way to easy and smooth with an amazing tone of creamy tang and chocolatey roast and easing bittering dryness. A super nice stout by Green Flash!

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2009 01:46:10 | More by tavernjef

Zekezilla

Maryland

4.43/5  rDev +7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Beautiful appearance, nearly completely black with lacing throughout. A little thinner than I thought it would be, giving the appearance. Taste reminds me of dark fruit, maybe dates or raisins, with nice smokiness underneath. Would definitely try again.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2010 22:03:38 | More by Zekezilla

kaseydad

California

4.43/5  rDev +7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. poured into a snifter and it damn near billowed out the top. Huge mocha brown colored head with massive lacing and a black as night ale. Very roasty aroma with chocolate in the air, butterscotch, some nice cocoa hints and a slight orange-y whiff in there too. The taste is definitely on the bitter side! A nice smokey initial taste followed by bitter chocolate and some expresso hints. Awesome stuff. Full bodied with a slight bit of carbonation on the swallow but nothing to detract from the taste. Overall I think this beer is great! I was pleasantly surprised by this beer. Rich, chocolatey and creamy with a nice bitterness to it. I never imagined such an awesome brew resided in a non-descript bottle. Excellent stuff and worth searching out. Would love to see how this ages but drank all eight within a few days. Addicting.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2011 01:57:30 | More by kaseydad

Chaney

District of Columbia

4.43/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured a ridiculously vicious pitch black with an equally impressive peppery mocha head (1/2) finger or so.

S: Cocoa bomb for sure... laid waste to everything as a matter of fact. Strong, air freshener-like aroma, with tons of roasted malts.

T: Pure BA candy. It literally tasted like a melted candy bar... chocolate, vanilla, all toasted on a ketted, mildly chilled, then served!

M: Thick and creamy, with barely a trace of booze to be found. Low, yet perfectly realized carbonation. Sweet... but isn't all candy?

O: Almost like Silva, only not QUITE as memorable. Easy A!

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2011 02:04:39 | More by Chaney