Mephistopheles' Stout - Avery Brewing Company

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From BeerAdvocate Magazine Volume II, Issue VI:

No that's not a typo, Batch #3 bottled in November 2007 is indeed 16-percent ABV, which without a doubt is pushing the envelope.

Three fingers of brown head rise from a steady pour down the side of the glass, and the bubbles have a tough time getting through the viscous liquid to form their head. Black, there is no light when looking at this beer ... just black. Aromas of a charred raisin bagel, alcohol-soaked Bing cherries, light molasses, vague licorice root and vanilla, clean solvent and vinous alcohol, espresso and baker's chocolate all come to mind. Creamy and a little syrupy with a semi-smooth carbonation. Dense flavor profile slowly unfolds with each sip and each degree it warms up. Choco-goodness seems the strongest out of the bunch, molasses, charcoal, molten chocolate cake flavors blanket the taste buds. Hops are mellow and drop a little bit of flavor. Alcohol dials in quite cleanly for its size and the faint solvent flavor is a little spicy, but a vinous character really shows the complexity. Peppery sweet chocolate finish.

Chocolate wine? An extremely enjoyable sipper. Seriously, it tastes like chocolate wine if there is such a thing. Don't just buy one bottle, this is one gem that could be consumed now and cellared.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2010 13:41:46 | More by BeerAdvocate

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