Mephistopheles' Stout - Avery Brewing Company

LoCoSiEmPrE

Kentucky

4.74/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

3/5/2013

First and foremost, I need to note that I found this beer tucked away in a land in my beer cellar that time forgot. The bottled on date says November of 2006. It's ABV is listed as 16.03%, which is stronger than most wines. As I write this, snow is falling outside and it's accumulation leads me to believe that I won't be teaching classes tomorrow. I couldn't be happier about it.

Appearance: There's carbonation, but it's subtle. As you watch the glass, you'll realize, as I did, that the beer continues to bubble in the glass for some minutes after it's poured. Pours thick like motor oil. Swirls of carbonation stick to the sides of the glass well with a swirl. 4.5/5

Smell: Hints of dark liquorice intermingle with wisps of raisin and plum. Nutty, earthy aromas on the end. From the smell, there can be no doubt about what you're about to be getting yourself into. 4.75/5

Taste: The taste of this aged beer can't be overstated. I've had my share of beers over the years, but none this old. I read some other reviews on here that made me think I had waited too long, but I put those fears to rest tonight. If you want a thick, powerful stout, look no further. I'm not a regular stout drinker, but I expect this to rank near the top of my all time favorites. 4.75/5

Mouthfeel: A very nice, foamy texture on the back end. When I do drink stouts of a lesser ABV, I like them but I am not drawn to them. The mouthfeel on this particular bottle is quite enticing. It's full and rich as any high-gravity stout should be, and yet I'm not disappointed at all as the beer gradually adjusts to room temperature over the course of the drink. 4.75/5

Overall: If you can find this beer, buy it now and forget about it for 5 or 6 years. As soon as (or if?) I can get some more, that's what I plan on doing. This beer is the ultimate snow day beer. If you're trapped at your house or you just have nowhere to go, crack one open. This Avery was an early foray into my cellar collection. It leaves me instilled with the hope that the rest of what I have stored up will be give me just as much satisfaction.

More notes: I enjoyed this bottle with some Hennings Chipotle Cheddar made with Roasted Jalapeno peppers. I was listening to a 7" vinyl of local ska/ soul / reggae acts the Pinstripes and the Green Room Rockers. If you've never heard of either of these bands, I highly recommend them both. They go well with beer tastings and relaxing when you've got nowhere to go!

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 21:16:06 | More by LoCoSiEmPrE

BeerForMuscle

New Jersey

4.04/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A - Pours a black, evil color. Huge head with great retention.

S - Chocolate bread, soaked in strong booze. Chocolate syrup, chocolate liqueur, strong.

T - Boozey, strong chocolate, almost fusel alcohol. Not too warm on the way down but punches the mouth and numbs the gums. This high abc evaporates on the palate. It's sweet, and warm, with a great depth of flavor and body from the alcohol. Bitter chocolate notes and a dash of grains and hops in the end somehow make their presence.

M - Warming, numbing, tingly. Strong alcohol is assertive yet not a turn off. Mostly warm in the mouth and not in your chest or throat on the way down. Semi slick and definitely smooth as hell.

O - A crazy version of an imperial stout, strong and bold. Robust and well rounded.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2013 00:01:57 | More by BeerForMuscle

vbiliyar

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +15%

06-17-2013 14:10:44 | More by vbiliyar

SteeleWright

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

06-17-2013 04:10:30 | More by SteeleWright

illy0sis

Texas

4/5  rDev -3.1%

06-17-2013 01:18:45 | More by illy0sis

kingmaker

Louisiana

4/5  rDev -3.1%

06-16-2013 00:21:56 | More by kingmaker

VictorWisc

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +15%

06-14-2013 07:18:31 | More by VictorWisc

NastyNate11

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +9%

06-14-2013 03:37:11 | More by NastyNate11

Sludgeman

District of Columbia

3.79/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A 12 oz bottle for $8.99. Batch no. 7 released on November 2011 (768 cases)
Poured into a fluted glass.

At 16.4% ABV this is in class of stouts with very few other comparables, maybe the DFH World Wide Stout. A very complex beer that is unfortunately, at about 1.5 years since release, still too hot and in need of some cellar mellowing. My first taste was actually a bit of a surprise, a harsh jolt to the sysem. Afterward the first sip my tastebuds were thorough blasted so that the beer became a bit more acceptable. Nevertheless, this beer needs some time alone.

A - Poured slightly viscous (but not as syrupy as one might expect with such a high ABV), and opaque black/reddish brown. A healthy pour resulted in a one-finger rocky light brown head, which quickly disapated. Average lacing.

S - Whiskey/alcohol (a bit too much), sweetness, dark chocolate, dark roasted malts.

T - Malty, dark fruit, slight syrupy sweetness, moderate bitterness, other hoppy characteristics overwhelmed by the ABV, maybe some hints of licorice, hot alcohol in the finish.

MF - Full bodied, low carbonation, creamy, alcohol throughout, slick in the finish.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2013 00:45:16 | More by Sludgeman

superfriend

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +9%

06-11-2013 15:43:45 | More by superfriend

BJasny

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +9%

06-11-2013 02:57:00 | More by BJasny

jarrgal

North Dakota

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

06-10-2013 12:07:43 | More by jarrgal

Phillyz

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

06-08-2013 17:11:04 | More by Phillyz

calcutron

Texas

5/5  rDev +21.1%

06-07-2013 23:09:26 | More by calcutron

BMart

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -9.2%

06-07-2013 18:48:30 | More by BMart

vicsju1991

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -9.2%

06-06-2013 06:03:44 | More by vicsju1991

Geno206

Washington

3.75/5  rDev -9.2%

06-05-2013 07:03:50 | More by Geno206

AndrewScottPentland

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

06-05-2013 05:14:51 | More by AndrewScottPentland

blkcld

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

06-04-2013 03:32:15 | More by blkcld

maxwelldeux

North Carolina

4.75/5  rDev +15%

06-03-2013 01:29:16 | More by maxwelldeux

Polarslag

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

06-03-2013 01:27:55 | More by Polarslag

scratch69

Missouri

4.26/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

I poured a bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance- Jet black with a half a fingers worth of quickly fading dark brown head.

Smell- Dark roasted malt aroma with hints of brown sugar and dark fruits.

Taste- Strong flavor of dark roasted malt with notes of chocolate, char, brown sugar, and some dark fruits. Slight hint of alcohol.

Mouthfeel- This has a syrup-like full body and is velvety smooth. Low level of carbonation and a hint of alcohol warmth.

Overall- This one is definitely a sipper and worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2013 03:03:03 | More by scratch69

DenverBigRed

Colorado

4.75/5  rDev +15%

05-31-2013 23:16:08 | More by DenverBigRed

homebrew311

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

I acquired this beer in one of my first trades which was with Schmittymack back at DLD 09. This is batch 1 bottled in January 2006 with a listed ABV of 15.1%. Appearance is dark black with almost no head or light passage. Not quite as viscous on the appearance as I'd expect for a 15+ abv brew. Nose starts with heavy amounts of dark fruits and molasses. Figs, brown sugar, plums, and dark cherries join forces to make for a very sweet smell. Roasted malts come in towards the end along with cocoa which rounds out this massive aroma. The taste starts with a very sweet malty presence with much of the dark fruit characters that I detected on the nose. Molasses and brown sugar dominate the mid palate with a rush of roast on the finish. This brew has aged into a very complex sweet imperial stout. My last experience with this beer (fresh) was over the top boozy. This cellared version, while still boozy and big, is much more complex. Mouthfeel is smooth and big with light carbonation. Overall, this beer is in the realm of Dark Lord and World Wide Stout in terms of its high abv and residual sweetness. The age has been nice to this brew as I find it much more enjoyable than when its fresh.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2013 06:26:59 | More by homebrew311

DarthGuitarHero

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

05-30-2013 14:11:07 | More by DarthGuitarHero