Mephistopheles' Stout - Avery Brewing Company

TechTriumph

Virginia

4.45/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Bottled: Nov. 2011 - Batch No. 7; Poured in a snifter.

A - One inch of khaki/mocha colored, frothy head with nice retention; Sinister, pitch black in color; Some lacing left around the glass, though had I consumed this faster, I'm sure there would have been much more left behind

S - Not as robust as I was expecting, but still a nice collection of aromas; Notes of sweet caramel, brown sugar, molasses, tobacco, rich chocolate cake, and dark fruits reminiscent of plums and figs; Hops lightly contribute to the smell as well; A bit of alcohol is present, but it works well with the overall aroma

T - Pretty complex with a nice balance of rich, dark chocolate, roasted coffee beans, thick molasses, sweet caramel, earthy tobacco, and dark fruits; Flavor is sweet, but is offset somewhat by a touch of bitterness; Some alcohol can be tasted, but it meshes well with the other flavors

M - Low carbonation, but prickly; Full bodied; Very smooth and more than thick enough to have a chewy-like quality; The finish brings a good dose of peppery heat, which is the only real indicator that this brew has an ABV north of 16%

O - This is one beast of a brew that I'm glad I got to try. I really enjoyed the depth of flavors and aromas in this beer and, as a result, struggled to drink this one as slow as I did. I realize that completely concealing the alcohol in this type of beer is nearly impossible, but Avery did a nice job of allowing the alcohol to work with the other aromas/flavors while still keeping it in check. A memorable brew for sure, I wouldn't mind having this one again down the line, both fresh and aged.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2012 18:47:46 | More by TechTriumph

jl28r1

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

05-21-2013 20:27:21 | More by jl28r1

gkozeny

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +9%

05-21-2013 18:24:23 | More by gkozeny

Whiskeydeez

Kansas

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

05-19-2013 17:07:26 | More by Whiskeydeez

vcoggins

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -9.2%

05-19-2013 16:50:21 | More by vcoggins

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

05-18-2013 20:53:18 | More by Photekut

FUwolfpacker

South Carolina

4/5  rDev -3.1%

05-18-2013 12:55:01 | More by FUwolfpacker

ElizabethEleanor

Texas

4.75/5  rDev +15%

05-17-2013 03:11:24 | More by ElizabethEleanor

SmellsofMahagony

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -15.3%

05-17-2013 01:26:29 | More by SmellsofMahagony

MinorThreat

Colorado

4.75/5  rDev +15%

05-16-2013 00:22:56 | More by MinorThreat

Bonko_the_sane

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +9%

05-13-2013 16:47:25 | More by Bonko_the_sane

drummermattie02

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -15.3%

05-13-2013 14:24:11 | More by drummermattie02

HKUSPC40

Washington

3.5/5  rDev -15.3%

05-13-2013 08:30:46 | More by HKUSPC40

InfernoBoss

California

4.5/5  rDev +9%

05-13-2013 05:51:18 | More by InfernoBoss

ewhugh

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +9%

05-13-2013 05:44:18 | More by ewhugh

mookihouse

California

4.5/5  rDev +9%

05-13-2013 02:49:56 | More by mookihouse

SFACRKnight

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +9%

05-12-2013 12:52:06 | More by SFACRKnight

HopBrain

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +9%

05-08-2013 20:27:53 | More by HopBrain

Dave_Treat

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -15.3%

05-08-2013 01:43:42 | More by Dave_Treat

Lledd

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5

A: Black, little to no head fading quickly. This stuff is pitch black, no exceptions.

S: Amazingly it doesn't smell boozy at aver 16%. Nice brown sugar smell. Very faint cocoa. Roasty malts. It smells really good.

T: Wow, surprisingly smooth. I can taste "campfire", a smoky wood flavor. The turbinado sugar is noticeable and works nicely with the aggressive flavors in this beer.

M: Heat. The taste is smooth but this beer definitely leaves you warm in the mouth. Moderate to mild carbonation.

O: Excellent. Bold and smooth, smoky and sweet.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 01:00:20 | More by Lledd

PaulsBrew

West Virginia

5/5  rDev +21.1%

05-06-2013 02:13:54 | More by PaulsBrew

JoninVT

New Hampshire

4.5/5  rDev +9%

05-05-2013 05:22:38 | More by JoninVT

BrewmanCapote

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +15%

05-05-2013 03:55:59 | More by BrewmanCapote

jsulko

Illinois

4.51/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle poured into a snifter.

Had this bottle over a year. Finally decided to break out before it gets too warm around here.

Pours a dark oily black. Small chocolate colored head that fades rather quickly.

Smell is roasty with some of the dark fruit smells. Hint of the Belgian yeast strain.

Taste is dark fruit and malty with a little chocolate bitterness in the finish.

A very unique beer. I think the chocolate notes that others describe have faded. Time seems to have somewhat smoothed out the beer. The alcohol burn is slight which is a bit crazy with the high alcohol content.

Something I would have again. Would like to try it fresher next time.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 03:11:38 | More by jsulko

blknikon

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +15%

04-30-2013 19:26:19 | More by blknikon