Mephistopheles' Stout - Avery Brewing Company

Mephistopheles' StoutMephistopheles' Stout

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BA SCORE
92
outstanding
-
1,253 Ratings
THE BROS
100
world-class
-
read more »
rAvg: 4.13
pDev: 13.56%
Reviews: 756
Hads: 497

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Brewed by:
Avery Brewing Company visit their website
Colorado, United States

Style | ABV
American Double / Imperial Stout |  16.80% ABV

Availability: Rotating. bottle (722), on-tap (32), growler (2)

Notes:
No notes at this time.
View:  Beers  (59) |  Reviews  (43) |  Events  (2)

Reviews

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Photo of plaid75
plaid75

New York

2.13/5  rDev -48.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

Poured a dark brown hue with a two finger thick caramel head. Decent head retention and lacing.

The smell was extremely sweet with a strong alcohol presence. There were also traces of coffee.

The taste was sugary sweet. In fact much too sweet for my liking. I could tell there was quite a bit of complexity, but the excessive sweetness inhibited the full appreciation of this. I could detect, however, coffee, caramel, corn syrup. I could taste the sugar on my lips after I put the glass down.

The mouthfeel was full but the sweetness put this fullness over the edge. Not a good mouthfeel.

I had a hard time finishing this one - overly sweet and high ABV.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2006 02:21:49 | More by plaid75
Photo of phisig137
phisig137

Virginia

4.03/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Recieved in a trade from nvsblman. Bottled Jan 06, batch number one. Pours the darkest black possible... no light escapes this one. A thick three finger head rises from the darkness, and falls very quickly. Not surprising considering the alcohol. Decent lacing on the glass.

Aroma is filled with vanilla and alcohol. Chocolate cake, figs, and brown sugar also pop out.

Flavor is pretty incredible. It goes from roasty, to sweet, and back to roasty, with good complexity in each section. Huge coffee/espresso flavors, with a good amount of vanilla, and chocolate as well. Overly ripe fruits shine in the "sweet" section in the middle. The finish is firmly roasted and bitter, which helps to balance the sweetness. And the sweetness is not a malty sweetness, but tastes more like turbinado sugar.

Mouthfeel is slick and full. Each sip coats you mouth, and allows the flavor to linger forever. Drinkability is dangerously high.... this demon hides it's alcohol quite well, even though it's prevalent.

Out of the three "Demons of Ale" from Avery, I like this one the least. That's not to say that this beer is not great.... it truly is fantastic. But the other two seem to have a lot more to offer. I'll have to find a few more bottles to stash away in the cellar. This could last a loooong time.... evil doesn't die, and this could use at least 3 years, waiting, plotting its release from the cold darkness... Mephistopheles waits...

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2006 01:22:48 | More by phisig137
Photo of BadBadger
BadBadger

New York

4.43/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This brew pours an amazingly dark color, deep dark crude oil comes to mind. The head is tan in color and massive. The smell is complex: coffee, carmel, chocolate, alcohol? The taste is very similar to the smell, being a a sweet mixture, nicely balanced with a bitter counter punch, and loaded with much alcohol warmth. The alcohol is incredibly, considering the 15% ABV, brilliantly masked (but its warmth is ever present). The after taste consists of warmth to the palate and a very slight adherence of sweetness to the tongue. Crack one of these friends of Lucifer open only after you have removed your shoes!

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2006 00:29:53 | More by BadBadger
Photo of Dogbrick
Dogbrick

Ohio

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

Oily black color with a thick dark brown head and nice sticky lacing. Huge aroma of dark chocolate, cocoa , plums and coffee. Rich body with a bold coffee liqueur flavor, along with dark fruit, caramel and toffee flavors. Brandy and port wine lend to the high-ABV feel of this. The finish is long and vinous, with an espresso and hops aftertaste. This is a sipper for sure, and every sip is very good.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2006 13:58:41 | More by Dogbrick
Photo of Frozensoul327
Frozensoul327

Michigan

4.4/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A powerful double stout. Pours out to a used motor oil black color, with a vigorus head that boiled shortly after meeting the glass. Uniform lace and lower carbonation. Aromas of chocolate and coffee, roasted malts, and a definite promise of alcohol. Taste is bold and rich; molasses right off the bat turn dark and spicey, with malt and chocolate overtones, mellowing out to coffee before the alcohol warms the palate. Wow. Mouthfeel is thick and dense, but maintains an element of zestiness from the carbonation. Drinkability is good, and that's pretty darn amazing for a beer @ 15% ABV. Worth trying. Not worth the 9 bucks I spent on it.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2006 22:50:18 | More by Frozensoul327
Photo of ommegangpbr
ommegangpbr

New York

3.33/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Bottled in January, 2006. Batch 1.
Booozey.
Sweeet.
Sweet bourbon?
Some vanilla extract, maybe.
Dark brown sugar syrup or dark dark maple syrup. Dark honey.
Dark Dark dark sweet sweet sweet.
Barely any hops presence at all.
Overly sweetened espresso just about sums it up.
An all day and night sipper sort of affair.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2006 04:27:33 | More by ommegangpbr
Photo of benito
benito

Oregon

3.6/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 2.5

This is an extreme beer. I picked up two at Bubbles last week, set one aside in the cellar and cracked this one fresh.

From Batch 1 (Jan 2006)). This is an opaque black that shows no signs of transluscence even when held to the most direct of light. The aromas include caramel, chocolate, lots of raisin, and a hint of leather--a mix to make my head swirl. The taste, too, is a mix of syrupy fruity flavors, distinct alcohol, a little chocolate, and a hint of bitterness in the middle of the tongue. Though the flavors do meld together well, they are overshadowed a bit by the strength and texture of the beer, which is exceptional. To my palate, this had the viscosity of molasses, tremendous length (not surprising for something so strong), and a nearly choking smoothness to it. The hops on the middle of the palate made for a distinct break midway through each swig.

For sipping, at the end of a long, long week of work. A wonderful brew that I could only even try to have once in a blue moon.

I can't wait to see what happens to my cellared bottle in a few years.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2006 15:57:57 | More by benito
Photo of Birdiebeagle
Birdiebeagle

Pennsylvania

4.6/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle Pours a deep black ruby with a frothy and fzzy brown-red head. The head deminishes but produces wonderful lacing. Has a super aroma of chocolate and carmel with a little pinch of sweetness. Definately full bodied with a good thick texture. Has a lively carbination, a lond duration, and as expected a little bit of an alcoholic finish. The abv is so high it tingles on your lips. Although for as strong as it is it blends very well. This is a great nightime beer, talk about winding down your day. This is a strong beer, not for the weak, but if youy can handle it, its super. I’m really glad I tried this one

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2006 14:13:00 | More by Birdiebeagle
Photo of blitheringidiot
blitheringidiot

Pennsylvania

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

12 oz bottle with the standard Avery attractive red foil cap cover. Over paid $10 for the bottle at Beverage Castle but the bottle I received from my trade is in Yuenglingville.

Label states Batch 001 Bottled Jan 2006. ABV 15.1%. Pours with a duh-dark buh-lack light encasing midnight 1976 Cadillac used motor oil hue topped with a dark cream 'n coffee spotty thin setled head cap. Not even the sides ofthe glass allowed a glint escape. Any brew that takes the light into a black hole is impressive in my book. A few healthy swirls pops up an attack of a densley packed coating.

Aroma is big with burnt malts, raisins, figs and toasted pumpernickel bread. Some black cofe and espreso rounds out the aromas. Some detectable boozy hints are present. This just smells THICK. Does that make sense?

First swigs: THICK molasses and gut punching espresso evilness abound. This might be the THICKEST beer that I have ever had the pleasure of choking on and enjoying. Sugary thick with a tongue coating appeal. Turbinado sugars dominate the finish.

Feel is only derived from the creation of a madman. This is a demon with a warning label. Mephistopheles is a bawls-out front runner of thick syrupy sweet glass of suicide. Brew this tough is bound for the penthouse ot the outhouse, depending on your view. It wound up in my penthouse. Some boozy rum awl-kee-hawl notes are evoked towards the warmed finish.

Last swigs: Basically reformulated Avery jet fuel with a refined sugar flavor and les fusel. My guess is that Avery realized the Beast lived up to its namesake and retooled the recipe to be well, better. This would be the winner of my "Sipper of the year" beer and it's only March. This is a daring FULL flavored eye opening beer!

Beer is good-no! EVIL! Hapy evil beering.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2006 05:29:20 | More by blitheringidiot
Photo of TastyTaste
TastyTaste

Minnesota

2.6/5  rDev -37%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Appearance: Standard jet black body, surprisingly large khaki head, slow fading in nature.

Smell: Takes stouts into uncharted territory. A juggernaut of chocolate, coffee, alcohol, and hops. It hits the nose and numbs it. A large beer, good or bad, it's hard to tell at this point, the flavor could drag this beer in many directions, some good, some bad

Taste: Definitely went the wrong direction. Syrup sweetness ends in alcohol, the 'stout' flavors are only sensed in the background, along with some candy tartness. This needs to be buried in your backyard for about 15 years, and opened when it has had time to mellow.

Mouthfeel: Slick, well carbonated. This is the least of your concerns with this beer.

Drinkability: I will struggle to finish this beer, which makes the drinkability bad, obviously. If I would've purchased a bottle to age, this may change in later years, but not now.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2006 04:25:56 | More by TastyTaste
Photo of carln26
carln26

Missouri

4/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Inky black on color and topped by a long lasting chunky tan head. The head leaves a drape of lace on the side of the glass as it recedes. The aroma has some chocolate covered cherry, and a ton of sherry (is this oak aged?). Just a touch of citrus hops. More chocolate covered cherry in the flavor. Loads of this. Very sweet, with a bit of roast malt on the finish. The mouth feel starts very smooth. You don’t detect the alcohol at first, but it really comes on strong late. Not the typical Impy Stout. Very interesting though. I enjoyed this beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2006 00:52:25 | More by carln26
Photo of TerryW
TerryW

Ontario (Canada)

2.53/5  rDev -38.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

This is a fascinating beer, but just too extreme for my tastes.

To begin with, it looks magnificent. Dark and oily with a substantial head that takes its time to settle out. Gives up wispy lace early on. Beautiful to look at.

Nose is boozy and slightly sweet, with oak and vanilla and sweet dak fruit. Lots of interesting aromas happening in the glass, but the sweetness warns of what's to come.

This beer drinks a lot like like a coffee liqueur, but with a drier more bitter backbone. I found the sweetness just too overbearing and unsubtle. You can sip at this one, but I'm not sure you'd want to knock it back fast and hard. Too much syrup, too much alcohol, overwhelm the more interesting characteristics of this beer. Extreme.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2006 05:58:33 | More by TerryW
Photo of Truh
Truh

New Hampshire

4.15/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Avery Mephistopheles – But I knew what you were up to just the same with this one on 3/23/2006. 12-oz. red foiled bottle poured in a shaker glass.

Very thin slice of coffee ice cream for head at the start with little lace; swirls remain behind on the surface though as the pour dwindles. Obsidian hue, impossible to see through, so can’t tell if there is any action happening within. Vinous notes on the nose almost overpower, though caramel sugariness jumps through the hoops, along with dark chocolate, raisins, black pepper, and coffee. Very thick on the mouth, reminiscent of WWS, with treacle as the main ingredient. Also in there are chocolate malt, lots of roasted walnut, and a plentiful supply of hot alcohol, particularly after the pour warms.

Dag, this kicks. Glad I got a second one of these while I was at the store!

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2006 00:04:15 | More by Truh
Photo of Padron4KM
Padron4KM

Arizona

4.22/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle, born in Jan 06, batch 1.
Inky black topped with a thin esspresso head that never realy went away. Lacing and alcohol coat the glass in a thin sheet.
Initial aroma is soy sauce, but allowed to warm slightly, you find chocolate, molasses, cherries, port and alcohol.
Flavors are sweet, prune, cherries, chocolate, port. also some salty soy sauce and just a little hops on the finish.
definitely a big, decadant, desert type beer. Can't drink more than one in a night though.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2006 05:42:36 | More by Padron4KM
Photo of Gusler
Gusler

Arizona

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer emerges from the 12-ounce brown bottle a soot black, the head Bunyanesque, the color a nice deep tan, the consistency thick and creamy, after its slow demise, the lace forms a glutinous blanket to obfuscate the glass. Ah that smell, toasted and roasted grain, sweet molasses, rich malt, a real foretoken of things to come, start is cotton candy sweet, the malt profile thick, the top full. Finish is merciful in its acidity; the hops mingle nicely with the 15.10 percent ABV, but a good thing to cut the sweetness, a belly warmer, and another hit for Avery.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2006 01:10:02 | More by Gusler
Photo of Sephiroth
Sephiroth

Indiana

4.47/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Sprinkle for the sample. Appearance is as expected with the ABV. Mostly black, if I hold a lighter on the other side of it I can see through it. Smells vinous and roasted.

Tastes of currants and other dark fruits, deeply roasted. Mouthfeel is good, there is a wine like quality to this beer. Can't wait to get my own.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2006 02:56:38 | More by Sephiroth
Photo of sprinkle
sprinkle

Michigan

4.43/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Dark black in color with slightly lingering tan head. Deep nose of anise and roast with coffee and port notes, smells more like a strange liqour(strange in a good way!) Rich and vinous in your mouth, complex flavors, deep carmel, coffee, roasty and fruity at the same time. Alcohol is on the finish but not offensive. Would like to see this beer in a couple years.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2006 02:43:35 | More by sprinkle
Photo of weeare138
weeare138

Pennsylvania

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

Review # 666 seemed fitting for this beer. I had it in between St. Pat's Day and the Feast of St. Joseph, so I let evil rule for a day.
Appears a midnite black with a fluffy tan head that slowly fades. Blotchy film lacing, like little islands, are left around the glass.
Smell is of creamy sugar with rich chocolate, espresso, lactose, rich hops, and nuts. Perhaps one of the most complex beers I've smelled lately.
Taste is of caramel shot, sweet espresso topped with cocoa and drizzled with resinous hops.
Mouthfeel is full bodied, sugary sweet, caramel, syrupy, cocoa filled, with hops in the mix. Slightly cloying and a bit too rich to handle but this is an excellent beer.
Drinkability - Sweet Lucifer...er Mephistopholes(the one that fell after Lucifer), this sucker is very rich and very potent. Very enjoyable but it's a sipper for the most part.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2006 18:03:53 | More by weeare138
Photo of wingnutter
wingnutter

Florida

2.45/5  rDev -40.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 1.5

Pours like 10W-30 motor oil. Thick, thick, black black with a thin tight tan head. Looks damn good. Unfortunately, the old addage "You cant judge a book by its cover" rings true, as I soon found out.

Aroma: Smells really boozy, with rum soaked dates or raisins. Slight oakiness or vanilla aroma as well. Theres alot going on here, but its a bit overshadowed by the booziness.

taste: Super duper sweet. Like powdered sugar. Lots of alcohol in the taste. After 2 sips, Im not a big fan. Like an imperial stout with some sort of sugary, fruity syrup added to it, along with a shot of rum. I dont know If Ill be able to finish this one. I put the sweetness in the cloying category. Feels as thick on the palate as it poured. Heavy, oily coating in the mouth. Very slight coffee/toffee/oak notes mingle throughout, but the sweetness is overbearing and too dominating.

I can see why some people might like this one, but aside from this single bottle I was talked into buying, I wont be revisiting this one again. Ever.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2006 04:08:50 | More by wingnutter
Photo of Gueuzedude
Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.48/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottled January 2006, Sampled March 2006
Pours with a rich, creamy-chocolate brown colored head that is initially two-fingers thick. The beer is simply midnight black in color. An interesting aroma; initially I get notes of dates and alcohol. There is a rich, malty, almost salty note; a sort of umami kind of notes that could perhaps evoke thoughts of soy sauce, though not really. When you go in for a good, long draught of the aroma your nose gets just a bit singed by hot alcohol notes. There are some hints of chocolate aromatics here, a definite roast-acidity & I have a feeling this is a bit too cold right now.

Thick, almost syrupy, no it definitely is syrupy. It is quite sweet, almost in a sugar-like fashion (as opposed to the richer malt derived sweetness found in many strong beers). The finish has a certain, almost astringent, and lightly hot alcoholic note, that is not really all that detracting, in fact it is almost needed to cut thought the sweetness. Definitely rich and decadent, in fact it is a malt bomb up front, it is not until the middle that a detracting, sugary sweetness takes hold. The finish has a lingering roast bitterness, as well as a hop derived bitterness. My impression up to this point is that this beer is too sweet, and that it seems like filtration has robbed this beer of a lot of complexity.

I am really surprise at how subtle the roast character is; it is definitely here, but is completely dominated by the sweetness. There is a touch of coffee ice-cream here, perhaps some chalky roasted malt, and a bit of burnt acidity in the finish. Put another way, there is a ton of roast character here, it just plays second fiddle to the sweet notes. Fairly drinkable for all its concentrated flavors and thickness, though I certainly won't be pounding this any time soon. In the end this beer ends up being a bit too cloying, after the first 4oz it becomes a chore, even a 12oz bottle of this is too much. I think there is some potential here; I can actually see this getting quite a bit better with age, what complexity this beer currently lacks, will be added to and made better by some years of aging and subtle oxidation. Even though this is filtered, with the alcohol this beer will age for quite some time; perhaps I will sample this vintage again in 5 years or so.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2006 05:19:56 | More by Gueuzedude
Photo of Crosling
Crosling

Colorado

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

Opaque black color. Full, dark tan head, which looks great. Distinctly Avery extreme beer smell. It smells a lot like Samael’s and Beast, but still certainly has its own unique characteristics. Hints of rum soaked raisins, red grapes, chocolate and espresso in the aroma. This is an impressive beer for sure. The body goes beyond chewy. It’s fully texturized and massive in body. The flavor throughout the front and mid-palate is very vinous (with cherries, grapes, fully extracted and juicy as hell.) Towards the finish, the chocolate and coffee malt flavor begins, with a very, very light hop hint on the finish. Tremendously well hidden alcohol. Very impressive work, fellas.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2006 05:46:40 | More by Crosling
Photo of ypsifly
ypsifly

Michigan

2.4/5  rDev -41.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

12oz bottled in January '06, batch #1. Purchased at Merchant's in Dearborn.

Black under two fingers of light brown. Rather noisy as the alcohol seems to chew down the head but it's taking it's time to do so. For such a high abv, the head is showing good retention with the webby lacework of a beer that has half the abv.

The nose is sweet and alcoholic with some coffee, burnt caramel and smoke in the back. Big and bold and it's nice to smell something other than alcohol.

Alcohol dominates the taste. Big jolt upfront paired with a cloying sweetness. The roasted flavors come through in the finish and aftertaste. Roasted espresso, caramel, and something close to teriyaki mixed with BBQ sauce. Fucking weird. To sweet, like it was dosed with the orange syrup that is used in Italian ices or even half a shot of Triple Sec. My taste buds are numbed by the third sip. This beer is all over the place and way off balance.

After the burn, the mouth is very oily with plenty of slick residuals. Too much syrup. If I buy another I will get a post hole digger and bury it in the yard for ten years before drinking this again.

What started off as a fun ride took a turn for the worse and went horribly wrong. A example of when not to do an extreme beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2006 04:39:18 | More by ypsifly
Photo of Matcpd
Matcpd

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

(Sampled at Spuyten Duyvil in Brooklyn)

appearance --
If there was a color deeper than black - this beer would define it. Lovely dark tan head just clings to the edge of the glass, afraid to let go and be lost in the blackness forever...perhaps.

nose --
Piercing alcohol scent; strong coffee AND VERY strong chocolate scent; slight tease of floral hoppiness

taste/mouthfeel --
WOW! Dry, sweet, thick, syrupy, raisony. The taste really coats and then lingers on the palatte - lucky for the palatte. Very alcoholic. Very sweet, creamy and smooth. Reminds me of a milk/sweet stout or like a strong Old Dominion Oak Barrel Stout...slight hint of vanilla. Also a little spicy...perhaps cinnamon?

drinkability --
One at most. Every sip is like a punch in the stomach - really fills you up. This combined with the alcohol content does not make it the most drinkable beer...darn!

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2006 01:38:49 | More by Matcpd
Photo of petemoss14
petemoss14

Germany

3.75/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle.

Pours, well, black. The beer is an abyss, a black hole -- I'm fearful of being sucked in (actually, that might not be so bad). Topped with a thick, frothy mocha-tan head.

Aroma is full of molasses, soy sauce, chocolate, and overripe raisins and dates -- like someone took them and strangled all the juice out of them and then boiled that down to a sweet sticky syrup.

Woe! Is this beer sweet! Like, sacharin sweet. Again, lots of dark fruit -- raisins, dates, black cherries. Also, chocolate, roasted coffee, caramel, and vanilla are present. Fairly syrupy mouthfeel. Finishes with a lingering hop bitterness at the back of the palate. Lots of alcohol warmth in the back of the throat.

Definitely should have shared this one with a friend. Halfway through and feeling the buzz. Not positive I can make it all the way through this one -- getting a bit cloying. Definitely a dessert beer. Interesting beer and I'm glad I tried it, but not sure I would shell out another $8 or so to have another.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2006 01:16:26 | More by petemoss14
Photo of kmo1030
kmo1030

Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev -8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 2.5

no joke... the blackest beer i have ever seen. it is almost actually black. brown head with what seems like a faint reddish hue.
the aroma is very sweet. overripe candied fruits plum, cherryespecially grape seem to dominate, hints of soy sauce on occasion. chocolate, coffee, smoke, vanilla, and a little booze round out the aroma.
i'm not sure i would have ever guesse this was a stout, imerial or otherwise, but the taste is quite an experience (understatement). tons of sugary fruit, grapes, raisin, plum, cherry. underneath this there is an interesting complexity of coffee, chocolate covered cherries, a yogurt like vanilla quality, caramel shows up now and again, alcohol, and a little bit of smoke. it's too sweet though, and that can be distracting sometimes. the alcohol ispeppery on the tongue, and is burning my slightly chapped lips.
full bodied, but not as syrupy as i would have thought with relatively delicate carbonation.
not the most drinkable beer in the world (i wish this were a 4 ounce bottle), but very good none the less. the beginning of the beer is really good, but becomes almost a chore to finsh. you really have to take your time with it. most definitely worth a try though if over the top is your thing, cause this throws out all convention. a double stout? ok....

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2006 01:09:12 | More by kmo1030
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Mephistopheles' Stout from Avery Brewing Company
92 out of 100 based on 1,253 user ratings.