Imperial Stout - Boulevard Brewing Co.

riored4v

Colorado

4.48/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2011 release enjoyed on 4/16/13. 3 months past the "Best By" date.

Poured in a tulip with a pitch black body and a tan, 1.5 finger colored head. Good alcohol leggings on the glass.

Aroma had huge amount of chocolate, raisin, vanilla and bourbon. Good amount of alcohol in the aroma, but very inviting.

Taste was excellent. Super smooth. Roasty, burnt and chocolatey. A bit earthy with some raisin flavors. Vanilla and oak barrels were very present along with the whiskey notes. Very low bitterness in the finish. Some nice mellow alcohol warmth.

Medium body, medium carb and a slightly chewy finish that ends up crisp.

Overall.. fantastic beer for the style. Loads of barrel and whiskey goodness along with good amounts of chocolate.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 01:17:50 | More by riored4v

Dope

Massachusetts

3.41/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5

2011 batch.

A: Pours a pitch black with a medium sized but very dense medium-brown head. Great head retention, however. Abundant solid swaths of lacing as wel.

S: Hmph. Wet grass. Unpleasant. Some mild roasted malt is hiding in there but apparently this is one of those infected batches. Man, I think 3 of my last 4 beers have been bad (random breweries). What are the chances of that?

T: There is some really nice creamy chocolate up front and in the middle, but it's covered in this very strange off-flavor. Kinda spicy in places and other times tastes like old, wet hay.

M: Heavy, creamy, great.

O: Ugh, you can tell this beer is awesome. It's nice and thick and creamy. Great chocolate and roasted malt character. But it's covered in this terrible flavor and aroma that just detracts terribly. It's a shame but it's still not horrible even with a really bad off-flavor. Uninfected this must be great! Will have to seek this out again...non 2011 batch that is.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2013 05:01:56 | More by Dope

wisrarebeer

Wisconsin

3.83/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

2011
A: jet black with deep brown head, poured with good rocky head that dissipated to thin veil
S: deep roasted malt, slightly burnt with undertones of vanilla and toffee, mild nose
T: deep roasted malt, burnt undertones with well-balanced hop finish, nice barrel aging that's well-balanced
m: extremely rounded, well-balanced with some heat

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 00:35:39 | More by wisrarebeer

twiggamortis420

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Batch 2008-1 pours a rich black color with a large cap of brown head. Nice retention and even better lace...more like a sheet of foam on the glass.

Nose is rich blackberry juice with cocoa powder. Little bit of black licorice and wet grass. Interesting and complex, smells just about perfect for a 5-year old impy stout.

Wow! Dusty chocolate with a perfect amount of bruised fruit. It pretty much has it all, very complex. It’s not all that sweet, but nor is it dry. The alcohol is there, but in a nice "I’m here to caress your lower back big boy!" kind of way. Mouthfeel is great, I wouldn’t mid a bit more creaminess/finer carbonation but that is a very minor complaint. I had this beer fresh(er) about 4 years ago and it was too overbearing and hoppy. Now, it is a perfect example of a beer aging wonderfully and gracefully. It’s like a Rabbit Duck mixed with a Black Tuesday mixed with a Sexual Chocolate. Awesome beer drinking experience.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 23:13:06 | More by twiggamortis420

lawlerj

Nebraska

4.28/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 750 ml bottle into a snifter. Bottle # 7306 from 2011.

A - Pours motor oil black, with a little brown around the edges. No head/carbonation to speak of. Appears to be viscous and thick. Absolutely opaque. No light's getting through this sucker. Looks about right after sitting for a year and a half.

S - The aroma is strong and sweet. Bourbon is definitely there, as is some oakiness and vanilla notes.

T - The bourbon is noticeable up front, as is the oak and vanilla. There is a light astrigent flavor on the back end before the alcohol kick (which is actually farely tame, much more so than I thought it would be). I'm not a big fan of that astringent flavor in the middle, but the rest is very nice.

M - Surprisingly, not as full bodied as some other beers. More medium bodied, whcih was actually kind of nice.

O - Overall, this is a nice beer, and one that I'm glad I waited for. Merry Christmas to me.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 23:36:41 | More by lawlerj

beerpirates

Belgium

4.08/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

75 cl bottle

2011 batch 1 into a snifter

Pours a thick oily black with no head

Smells like chocolate, vanilla, bourbon, and a little sweet malt.

Taste follows the aroma with sweet caramel , whiskey and dark fruit.

Mouthfeel is medium with decent carbonation.

Good brew !

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 15:19:16 | More by beerpirates

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.3/5  rDev -21.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

750ml 2011 edition into a snifter. About a finger of brown head forms across the top and collapses into the black liquid. When held to the light, a bit of lighter brown clarity is noted around the edges. Spotty lace sticks to the glass.

The aroma has some tangy alcohol notes minorly reminiscent of whiskey but with an accenting fruity touch that suggests mild infection. There is some notes of black licorice along with earth and oak. A mingling of roast and tobacco gives way to some sweet vanilla scent. The enjoyable aspects of this nose are quite nice while there is an unfortunate amount of off aspects as well.

The flavor of this brew upfront is black licorice coupled with roast like burnt grain, coffee, earth and chocolate. Some strong whiskey notes are present that bring out more dark fruity aspect that suggest something along the lines of tart cherry, raisins and plum. The alcohol inclusion gets to be a bit perfume like and solvent with the fruity tart cherry aspect bringing up the finish.

This is a medium bodied brew with a modest amount of carbonation. This brew has some potential but overall I was not a big fan. The barrel presence is nice but the alcohol has an impact that suggests much more than the listed 11%. More focus on roast and a solid chewy body would do this beer good.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 23:30:36 | More by stakem

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

4.78/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Catching up review submissions and hit the 1500 mark, so while the review is from last year, maybe it will inspire you to pick a few of these up for *this* fall. Here's to J&T and their tireless efforts.

Appearance - a good black pour, deep burgundy hues around the edges. A thick creamy head of light mocha, starts out at three fingers and slowly fades back.

Aroma - lots of roasted grain accentuated with Hershey's-type chocolate. Some estery alcohol, but the roast grain keeps coming back. Woody notes creep in as this sets up. Excellent!

Taste - dark grain, espresso, and some hot boozy abv. Yowza, even after two years, this has some heat going down. The swallow has some just a nip, maybe hops, maybe the roasty character of the malt. Light woodiness on the aftertaste. With the resilience of the flavors, it makes for a fine extra taste of something, well, extra. The finish is long and lush. Ends nice and warm on this windy, rainy, and blustery fall evening here in Cincy.

Mouthfeel - smooth, velvety, good carbonation.

Drinkability - outstanding beer. Worth trying, waiting for, trading for...it's just worth it.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2012 16:50:37 | More by brewdlyhooked13

womencantsail

California

4/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Black in color with just a small brown head. Intense roasted malt aroma along with some rich dark fruits. A mild oak and vanilla note in the background with some nice dark chocolate. The flavor is heavy on the roasted malt and dark chocolate with some more mild/subtle coffee and licorice notes. Mild to moderate oak and vanilla with a nice touch of dark fruit, such as black cherry.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2012 20:29:02 | More by womencantsail

portia99

Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750ml corked and caged bottle (Batch 2008-1 - bottle 6335 of 11960) poured into a Bruery tulip.

A - Pours a super intense black color with three fingers of thick, frothy, dark khacki foam with excellent staying power. After several long minutes, the head dies down and leaves behind thick webs of lacing on the glass.

S - Lots of dark roasted malts up front...tons of milk chocolate. Rather boozy with some bourbony aromas. Hints of licorice and maybe even a bit of root beer.

T - Very roasty and even a bit smokey, astringent and charcoaly. Faint hints of bourbon, noticeable alcohol. Touches of licorice, caramel, molasses and dark fruits. Lots of yeast derived esters, fruity with hints of berries.

M - Medium bodied, maybe a touch thin for the style. Carbonation is somewhat light, fine bubbled, only marginally tingly and gives a smooth feel. Noticeable alcohol, marginal warmth/burn.

O - Overall, this is a good imperial stout. Held up well over its 4yr life. Smooth, with lots of dark roasted malt and some char, mixed with sweet molasses and caramel. I wouldn't put this up at the highest level for the style but this is still very good.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2012 23:52:26 | More by portia99

draheim

Washington

3.78/5  rDev -10%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 (batch 2011-2, bottle #15909, best by 01-2013) into a snifter. I pull out the characteristically stubborn Boulevard cork with a degree of trepidation, as I know the brewery has confirmed this batch to be possibly infected. On the bright side, they've already reimbursed me for this bottle - so I have literally nothing to lose. Give Boulevard a 5 for customer service anyway!

Pours an opaque black w/ a dense 2-finger deep mocha head that settles slowly to a thin film.

Aroma is deep rich chocolate, bitter roasted malt, and a vaguely lactic red wine sour cherry smell. I can't be sure if this is just my imagination though, since I'm already aware of potential infection. Only way to find out is to take a sip.

Taste is bitter roasted malt, dark chocolate. Little or no detectable sign of infection - or bourbon - on the palate. Bitterness overwhelms everything else. It's good, but maybe a little one-dimensional.

Mouthfeel is smooth and full-bodied.

Overall I'm glad that whatever infection is here didn't destroy the beer, but I'm also a little disappointed at the lack of bourbon barrel characteristics I was expecting. A good imperial stout but not as good as I was hoping for.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2012 04:46:54 | More by draheim

mactrail

California

4.48/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Just a touch of the funky Brettanomyces in this batch 2011-2. I say it's fabulous and makes for an unexpected complexity in a big stout. Handsome in the Orval chalice with a dark beige head and lacing all over the place. Alcohol heat with fruity flavors and aroma of mincemeat pie.

Barrel flavors are muted but distinct. The impression I get is brandy-flavored fruitcake. Some yeasty flavors, along with raisins. Nutty and biscuity malt along with the roasted flavors. Dry aftertaste with some bitterness, both hoppy and bacterial. This is worth a taste just for the restrained barrel flavor that is in contrast with many boozy, over-wooded beers.

I think Boulevard is doing interesting work with beers and should be given some thanks for their tasting notes and acknowledging the Brett infection.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2012 05:40:37 | More by mactrail

Steasy66

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Batch 1 bomber into Boulevard tulip
A- Jet black, really light colored head which fades fast
S- Roasted malt, some wood, fairly little aroma
T- Big time roasty flavor, some chocolate, don't really get any barrel flavor, reminds me a lot of Ten Fidy.
M- Thick, could use a bit more carbonation in my opinion, but I say that a lot.
O- Good IS, not a great IS, pretty smooth but I would love to taste some barrel character in here.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2012 06:28:37 | More by Steasy66

Rhettroactive

Virginia

1.88/5  rDev -55.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5

From 750mL C&C bottle to Devil's Backbone glass on 5/5/12

-- Thanks to whichever of you degenerates supplied this one. --

A: Dark copper and a bit cloudy. A decent pour yields a small head and a reasonable collar.

S: Ugh...infection has set in, and it ain't good.

T: It's a bit better then the nose, at least. I do get some bourbon and chocolate. But as it warms, out comes the hiney hole.

M: If it weren't for the infection, I'd bet this would be pretty solid. It's got the proper structure, but it's overly bubbly and simply not right for a bigger BA RIS like this.

O: To clarify: this is not one of the (so-called) intenionally soured Imperial Stouts. I'm disappointed, as I really feel this has the makings of a good beer. But in it's current state, I highly recommend saving your dinero and cellar space for something that actually tastes good.

Another in a recent run of underwhelming Boulevard brews.

Drain pour.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2012 21:02:25 | More by Rhettroactive

jmdrpi

Pennsylvania

2.3/5  rDev -45.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2

750 mL bottle, corked & caged. batch number 2011-2. Unfortunately after I brought this back from Colorado, I learned this is the batch that Boulevard issued the statement that it was infected with Brett.

appears jet black, with 1/2" tan head. head retention is pretty good. a roasty aroma mixed with a bit of brett funkiness.

taste starts a bit of roasted malt and bitter cocoa, but then the brett flavor takes over. musty flavor. body is fairly thick, smooth body, good for the style.

overall - the infection hasn't ruined it. it's drinkable, but it's not real good.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2012 03:24:55 | More by jmdrpi

claaark13

Indiana

4.28/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I had 2011 b2 (infected) and found it to be very good. This is 2011 b1. Poured into a HF tulip at cellar temp.

A - Pours black with a SLOW rising head that never surpasses 1/2#, although it does stay as an appealing lacing. It legs on this one look great, as it just sticks to the glass. 2nd pour revealed a much thicker head.

S - Dark, roasted malts with notes of chocolate and wood. Pleasant, but a little light.

T - Milk chocolate along the backbone, light roasted malts. Middle/finish gives a little bit of oak coming through, a little bit of dryness. The barrel aging is subtle. There is a lack in complexity, but the fantastic balance makes up for it. Quite drinkable.

M - Medium mouthfeel, low carbonation gives it some weight on the tongue. Very well done.

O - I really like this. Looks incredible, the taste is smooth and flavorful. I think this would do very well in a blind tasting against some better known RIS.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2012 00:05:19 | More by claaark13

PerHops

California

4.43/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2011 bottle to chalice.

A- Very, very dark brown. Almost black, but not quite. Dark tan head, with semi sticky lacing.

S- Brett funk, cherries and oak in the beginning. Starts for the first fifteen minutes, or so as smelling really close to supplication. Then, as it warms up, I get chocolate, dark fruit, oak and coffee. with just a hint of funk.

T-Smoke, cherries, coffee, dark chocolate finish. Get some Islay scotch, but very little alcohol burn. As it warms up, booze is more evident, but has a warm chocolatey taste with a dry, bitter, sour finish making it hard to resist, but also to drink in excess. This is expected.

O- As it warms up I'm getting more chocolate and coffee on the nose and palate. Cherries are still there, but take more of a back seat until the finish. Still a very dry, bitter, slightly sour finish. Really interesting, and really a tale of two beers; for better, or worse.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2012 03:11:45 | More by PerHops

midworken

Nebraska

4.38/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Batch #1 - Aged for atleast a year (not sure exactly - was brewed winter of 2011)
Poured into a Boulevard Smokestack glass. Opaque black body with a dark tan head. Just an absolutely gorgeous stout.
Aromas are cherries, dark chocolate and a hint of coffee. Smells are very robust and complex, and more on the fruity side than the typical coffee. Really had to look for the coffee as it isn't very present.
Tastes very rich and malty - dark chocolate and coffee are much more present here than they are in the aromas. A very long lasting taste that features different flavors at different times. Upfront is this sweet, caramelly and sort-of vanilla-like taste that leads into the dark-chocolate bitterness. There's a noticeable astrigency between the sweet and bitter periods, maybe due to the alcohol content. The fruity, cherry flavors come in afterwards and the final taste

Age did this beer well. Very smooth and creamy texture. I'm watching the bubbles slowly make their way up the side of the glass.
Really a great, top-notch beer. I've been waiting to enjoy this one on a snow day, and today was just right - 12 inches of snow so far!

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2012 19:20:53 | More by midworken

DoubleSimcoe

New York

4.75/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Boulevard Imperial Stout, bottle bought at Collins Midtown Liquor in Tulsa, OK, for $11.99 plus tax on January 30 2012.

54% ale 46% ale aged in whiskey barrels, batch number 2011-1, bottle 1280.

Appearance: Served in a tall glass (didn’t bother to use a snifter this time), this brew comes looking big, black, deep and mean. One solid finger of cappuccino-colored head that lasts and lingers. Great retention and carbonation. 4.0

Smell: 4.5 Whiskey, wood, vanilla, hops. Chocolate. Cat pee as the brew warms up. Soy sauce? A bit, but one you’d want to drink straight up the bottle. You can smell the thick stickiness of this beer!

Taste: 5.0 This is outrageously smooth and beautiful. Right away you get the wood and the subtle smoke and barrel taste of the whiskey. A bit of caramel and liquorice drops follows. Some grassiness, reminds me of walking through the prairie at Chocolate and subdued hops at the end, plus a bit of alcohol. Anise as it goes down the throat.

Mouthfeel: 4.0 Creamy, drinkable. Full flavor and body, medium-and-perfect carbonation.

Overall: 5.0 Exceptional indeed. So damn drinkable and fuckable. 1,000 steps beyond the 2011 bottle I tried last year!

---
Boulevard Smokestack Imperial Stout, numbered bottle bought at Friar Tuck in Savoy-Champaign, Illinois, for $13.99, in late summer 2011. Very excited to try this brew! This is Batch#1, bottled January 2011 and with no trace of the brett that appeared in Batch#2 (after reading the BA notes, it looks like this does have some brett.)

Appearance 4.0: Served in a small snifter-aka-wine-glass at my hotel room in Decatur, Illinois, the beer pours pitch-black and laborious, as if it were a culinary puree instead of a brew. A hefty, foamy, mocha-colored head appears eventually, and it lasts for a while. This is the classic look for a big beer of this kind!

Smell: 4.0 Lots of bourbon (whiskey), wood, some smoke. Barrel, age, pirate ship. Yum! A tad of chocolate and dairy.

Taste: 4.0 Chocolate, wood, oak, fire. Brown sugar, some vanilla. Reminds me of Dogfish Palo Santo. The whiskey is out there, all the way, despite being only 46%. Nice, but a lil' too harsh in the mouth.

Mouthfeel: 3.5 A tad thin for such a big beer, but it works alright nonetheless. Nice chocolate feel all around. Full flavor and body, low-to-medium carbonation. Dry, spicy, woodsy finish. Boozy, but oh-so-tasty!

Overall: 4.0 Not so drinkable, that's for sure. But hey, that's not what you ask for in a beer like this, right? It is very tasty, it is very nice and, considering it is only 46% aged, the barrel does a great work (if slightly overwhelming at times). Wish it were cheaper, but it ain't a bad price considering how limited this is. Would gladly have again!

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2012 00:53:09 | More by DoubleSimcoe

WoodBrew

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

What do you get when you cross the Dark Truth with either the Bourbon Barrel Quad or Rye-on-Rye...This Russian Imperial Stout!!! Bottle is January 2011, #1455. My neighbor shared the bottle with after a couple hours of shoveling snow off driveways and teh pond out back. The beer poured a black with a slight red hue to it. The head was one finger thick and tan in color. I smelled mostly bourbon/whiskey and chocolate. There were hints of oak, vanilla, and coffee. The taste is dominated by whiskey, chocolate and alcohol. Eventually other flavors worked into the mix. The mouthfeel is full body and smooth carbonation. Overall this is a fantastic stout to sip on a cold winter's night.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2012 22:23:04 | More by WoodBrew

Treebs

Illinois

4.47/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750 ml C&C bottle served in a Darkness Snifter. Batch #1 and bottle #0588, 2011 vintage.

A: Pours a jet black body with 1.5 finger mocha head that has some nice retention and leaves some splotchy lace down the glass.

S: Dark roasted malts and chocolate are very present in the forefront which leads way to some dark chocolate and oak from the barrel.

T: Same as the nose. More fudgey chocolate brownie and some minimal whiskey that is blended nicely.

M: Incredibly smooth and drinkable. Lightly carbonated, but just enough to keep you interested. Medium to heavy bodied. Nice slightly bitter chocolate lingers on the palate.

O: The partial barrel aging did some great things to this beer and it was a treat. I'm glad I have one more in the cellar as I'd like to see how this develops.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2012 16:23:44 | More by Treebs

nlmartin

Ohio

4.45/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Blind beer #5 gift wrapped caged and corked 750. Seemed to be an appropriate beer to pop open at Midnight New Years Eve. My wife popped the beer open took a smell and promptly volunteered to save me from this beer. The beer was shared out into 2 snifters.

A- 4.5 The body of the beer is black no opaqueness noted to light no matter how I back tried to highlight it. The head was 2 or 3 fingers high looks like coke that has had milk added to it. Nice head retention. Thick oily sheen left behind along with foamy film on the glass.

S- 4.0 Dark roasted malts ranging from dark cocoa and chocolate a spritz of soy marinated raisins and plums. Vanilla aromas rise out occasionally. As a trailer to the above aromas I smell a bit of ashyness and some acidic notes.

T- 4.5 This beer gives a major delivery of dark roasted and chared malt. Cocoa, milk chocolate and dark chocolate with a dash of soy. Vanilla and whiskey notes are very nicely incorporated throughout the beers flavor. This beer only improves as I allow it to warm all the way to room temperature.

M- 5.0 Full bodied very smoothly carbonated. Nice deep long lasting roasted notes. The alcohol is a bit hot but honestly I think this characteristic works nicely.

O- 4.5 This beer is fantastic! I was going to have a few more beers last night but this one totally satisfied that craving.

The Reveal: Boulevard Imperial Stout 2011. This was a major want! I love Boulevards Smokestack series beers and buy them every time I see them. The whiskey barrel treatment is very nicely incorporated into the beer.

Thanks Thirstyherf for yet another great beer treat.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 23:00:35 | More by nlmartin

beerwolf77

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2011 bottle courtesy of Ilikebrew. Tasted a week or so after release.

Pitch black hue. Huge three fingers of mocha head. Some cascade action. Sick retention. Dark chocolate, coffee, roasted malt, bourbon, wood and a tiny hint of of brett. Rich dark chocolate, roast malt, bourbon, and just a hint of bitter hops in the finish. No brett in the flavor. Full thick body. Mild carb. One of the better Imperial stouts I've had.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 21:35:47 | More by beerwolf77

Pencible

Virginia

4.13/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Batch 1 from 2008, reviewed November 2011

A: This poured an opaque pitch black with lots of tan head.
S: It smelled like rich dark chocolate (flour-less cake), with some molasses and buttery oxidization and coffee.
T: It tasted like bitter coffee and sweet dark chocolate, with some molasses and cream and pumpernickel. It had a clean and rich and smooth aftertaste.
M: It was thick with a bit of carbonation. Nice and full body.
D: This was a very delicious chocolaty stout. It had a great scent and taste and body, with decently hidden alcohol. So it was easy to drink, and was very enjoyable. I'm curious how this is fresh, but it's great after 3 years of aging. Possibly peaked?

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 21:14:18 | More by Pencible

Bfarr

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Black; large foamy/frothy brown head with okay retention and lacing. Molasses, herbal, and wood aromas. Notes of spice and chocolate leading to traces of herbs, caramel vanilla, and wood with no dryness. Lightly sweet finish and a delayed warming effect and creamy linger. Full bodied, smooth, and a light mouthcoating.

Balanced and sufficiently complex to be pleasant to sip and the great feel makes an all around pleasant drinking beer. The blend is certainly subtle and almost an afterthought as you’re drinking it (oh yeah! this is barrel aged). A great beer to share as the milk chocolate linger tends to distract a bit if you have more than around a 6-8 ounce pour.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2011 01:40:48 | More by Bfarr