Dark Truth Stout - Boulevard Brewing Co.

WWWade

Kansas

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I decided, since I moved here to Kansas, that I should try some of the 'local' beer. Even though Kansas City is about a 4 hour drive from here, and in a different state, Boulevard is one of the few breweries in the area. They mostly taste bland compared to micro-brews. It is almost like they want to have the image of a local micro-brew while having the taste of a major, commercial brewery.
Their beers are everywhere around here, grocery stores, bars, restaurants, and even gas stations. But this beer is only found at select liquor stores with large selections. I found it in a 750mL bottle that had a cork so tight that I used a wine cork screw to open. After pouring it into my chalice I realized that it was going to be worth the investment.

A - Deep black/brown with a four finger tan head that never fully receded. Exactly what a stout should have.

S - Light carmel and hops. Not as full.

T - burnt coffee and malts with a faint aftertaste of fruit. Not sweet, but not bitter. It is well balanced and complex enough to make you continue to explore.

M - Thick and smooth. Not as creamy as most stouts.

D - medium to low carbonation. But it it is one of the more drinkable stouts that I have tried.

Serving type: nitro-bottle

04-02-2010 02:32:50 | More by WWWade

oberon

North Carolina

4.01/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours jet black with a creamy one finger beige head that left a broken sheet of lace as it settled very slowly.Aromas are a mix of plum and raisin along with chocolate and some nuttiness.Flavors are roasted with alot of fruity tones,the raisin flavors are really magnified with a hint of char in the finish,the alcohol comes into play more as it warms.This is one of the fruitier impy stouts I have come across,it's not a big roasted dry earthy bomb,a nice change of pace for an American version of the style in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2013 21:12:11 | More by oberon

MistahBeah

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Black as night. Thick creamy two finger mocha-colored head. Great retention. A healthy amount of lacing. Looks like a stout all right and a damn good one at that

Smell: Heavy molasses and bittersweet chocolate dominate. Traces of fig, coffee, dried dark fruits. Hint of alcohol. Smells very appetizing

Taste: Pretty much follows the nose. Initially very sweet molasses. Roasted malts up the yin-yang. Rich chocolate throughout. Some figs and maybe plums. Finishes a little bitter like coffee or dark chocolate. Slightly boozy on the finish but pretty well hidden overall. Really nicely rounded out. As I continue to drink it becomes very acidic. I now have heartburn.

Mouthfeel: Chewy. Really coats the palate. Creamy. This beer feels big

Overall: Haven't been disappointed by Boulevard yet. This is a nice imperial stout but a little too astringent. Fairly easy to drink. Good for cold nights. Balanced with lots of flavor but points off for my indigestion

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2013 00:55:01 | More by MistahBeah

flayedandskinned

California

4.16/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Best before 5/12/2014 date.
Poured into a Duvel tulip.

Appearance: (4)
Pours a pitch black that is impenetrable. An absolutely massive, 4 fingers tall, light cocoa head spurts out of the abyss like beer rather and sticks around forever, leaving plenty of lacing behind in its wake.

Aroma: (4.25)
Huge, smoke tinged Belgian yeast phenols shoot out of the glass immediately; a big plum note, raisins, light fig. There is strong, creamy, dark chocolate tucked nicely underneath the yeast with some roasted coffee impression in tow. On the outside edges of the nose, there is a leafy, herbal hoppiness. The alcohol is masked very well.

Taste: (4.25)
Herbal, grassy hops upfront with more those Belgian yeast tones that were present in the nose; Plums, fig, raisins. On the yeast's heels is a very smooth and creamy, dark baker's chocolate note which coats your palate quite nicely. The stout finishes dry and slightly bitter with lingering notes of chocolate, freshly roasted coffee, light nuttiness, smoked malt and more of those stone fruits from the yeast. Very low alcohol presence.

Mouthfeel: (4)
Robust and full bodied, with moderate carbonation.

Overall: (4)
A very unique take on a classic style. The Belgian yeast that is used in conjunction with the dark, roast malts, really kicks out a lot of sweet, juicy plum and fig characteristics, but the roasted malts really help balanced everything out. Really interesting stuff, but I am left wishing that there was a bit more of that classic stout roasted character in the back end of the beer. I'd definitely recommend this for some one who digs both stouts and Trappist style Belgian beers.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 00:50:01 | More by flayedandskinned

StroppyMare

California

4.39/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Deep, dark, and thick, just the way I like it. Nice tan head that left copious lacing.

Smell: Curious. Summer fruit. Not what I expected for an imperial stout, but tempting.

Taste: Wow. This is an immensely complex beer. Tastes range from fruity hops to tobacco. Finish is dry and roasty with a bit of warming. Alcohol is well-hidden under layers of flavor. There is simply so much going on it's difficult to record it all. Quite the experience.

Mouthfeel: Full, chewy with medium carbonation. Turns syrupy as it warms.

Overall: I'd definitely drink again for the fullness of the experience. You won't be knocking these back, that's for sure. Drink when you want to nurse a lovely brew over conversation and a card game.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 02:44:19 | More by StroppyMare

fdig23

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

From the bottle.

Appearance: deep opaque black, brown edges, nice medium sized sticky khaki head.

Nose: Green apple, but more like green apple flavored tobacco than fresh fruit. Balanced with bitter roasted coffee beans, and some sweet milk chocolate.

Taste: Lots of bitter coffee and dark chocolate. There's a bit of earthy dirt, a whisp of smoke, and a touch of milky sweetness. The bitterness overpowers a bit.

Mouthfeel: Astringent, slightly sticky, but a bit too thin.

Overall: Really interesting beer. The Belgian yeast gives it a unique quality that makes it stand apart from other big American stouts. A bit one dimensional in flavor, but solid nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 01:36:31 | More by fdig23

lacqueredmouse

Australia

3.99/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Small 12oz bottle purchased from K&L Wine Merchants in Redwood City, CA.

Pours a deep black, browning at the edges with a fine mild brown head that sticks around as a decent fine ring. Minimal lacing, looking a little like it's too heavy to stick. Carbonation is fine but the body looks surprisingly light when tilted. Overall, it's a beer of contrasts, thankyou.

Nose is dark, but mild, without a big boozy quality, a true sharpness, or a really sweet richness. There's toasty characters, a little dried fruit, a touch of spice, and perhaps a suggestion of whisky and a darker, roastier note. But no more: this is a particularly mellow now for an Imperial stout. I'm not sure that's a good thing.

Taste is also mellow, but here that's quite a boon: it mingles with a very pleasantly done smoothness on the palate, to create a supple and seductive body. There is indeed roastiness here, especially on the back: it develops from an almond nuttiness mid-palate into a true stout richness on the finish. It's dark, but sweet and full. Otherwise, there's a dancing spice above everything, but it's quite separate from the main event, which is that richness, morphing into that oh-so-subtle roast on the finish. Good stuff.

By the end, this was a very decent beer. It still didn't excite me so much as to make me effusive in my praise, but it had won me over by the end. I'm impressed that a beer that didn't start off looking or smelling particularly dark ended up being fully impressive on that score.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 03:25:47 | More by lacqueredmouse

Treyliff

West Virginia

4.2/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A- poured into tulip; pours pitch black with an enormous foamy tan head that retains well after the pour, leaving permanent thick patches if lace

S- dark fruity notes of plum and fig from the Belgian yeast, spicy hop notes, dry roasted malt, a touch of chocolate and coffee

T- dark fruit flavors follow the aroma, fig and plum. Chocolate espresso leads to a dry and smoky malt profile, almost a bit of smoked meet. The dry malt is balanced nicely by a spicy-yet-herbal hop profile. The finish is dry, lightly smoky & chocolaty with an herbal hop bite

M- medium-heavy body with medium carbonation, foamy and chewy mouthfeel with a creamy finish. There's a bit of alcohol warmth on the finish, but its very drinkable fir nearly 10%

O- the herbal hop notes add another dimension to the dry-roasty malt. The Belgian yeast also adds an interesting layer as well. Very complex and one I would gladly try again

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 01:41:19 | More by Treyliff

Archeron666

California

4.03/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Found in 4 pack at World Market for 8.99 on sale, I drank it out of Hangar 24 chalice, with all stouts, I hold them up to the light to get a true sensse of it's color..this one ..one word..Inky..So, I pour, nice head retention and lacing, medium carbonation...The nose is heavy, with molasses and malt making it a very nicce smell..so, the beer, roasty, dark, chocolately, malty, a very well rounded Imperial, not to crazy, not so everyday either.. stout, thick and nice, perfect for a dark night, or a chilly morning to get you going..would I buy it again..hmmm..I already did. Enjoy the beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 08:22:31 | More by Archeron666

JayReq

North Carolina

4.13/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

I actually had this recommended by someone very cool, so I went out to Whole Foods and found it! I am glad I did. I drank from a small tasting glass (basically a miniature pint glass), and man, what an easy pour!

Appearance: Poured out almost silky smooth, it looks very thick and has a really nice deep pitch color. The pour produced a nice head, somewhat creamy in its texture, but the foam is a light-tan brown, like the color of wet sand.

Smell: Banana bread and nuts, believe it not, but I can't really place what kind. I can't really pick anything else up in the nose.

Taste: This is a rather complex stout. For a 9.7% Imperial Stout the alcohol is barely there, and it tastes a bit like darker rum. The banana bread is definitely under the rum, and there is a hint of burnt oat and hops, almost an ale-like quality in the latter. A little bit of a bite on the finish, which reminds the drinker that there is indeed alcohol in there. Very smooth and drinkable for stout fans, but I don't know if I would suggest this to first-timers.

Mouthfeel: Barely-there carbonation, which I like in my stouts. Very smooth, velvety on the tongue. Very nice. "Warming" is a good word, and warming usually means a good stout. Settles very nicely.

Overall: I really quite enjoyed this. It isn't a pinnacle beer, but it is a masterful expression of the style. Boulevard really made this a pleasure to drink. This is probably one of the best stouts I have had, period, and I will most likely pick it up again.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 17:58:03 | More by JayReq

Lledd

Massachusetts

3.05/5  rDev -23%
look: 3 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

12oz bottle into Hill Farmstead snifter ;) I let this beer sit out for about 20 minute to warm. That's how I like stouts.

A: Pitch black, looks thick. Big head even with a gentle pour. I couldn't fit the whole bottle in the glass.

S: Banana bread up front big time. Nutty, walnuts. It sounds weird, but if I really focus on the aroma, it almost smells like a dairy freezer, like in a super market. Maybe a bit of dark rum.

T: The banana bread from the aroma is in the taste too. The nutty aroma comes through in the taste as a must, not wonderful, but not the dominant flavor. Slightly boozy on the backend. Bitter, hoppy finish, burnt oats.

M: Carbonation is fine. Body is thick. It's a little less smooth than other stouts.

O: I'm not crazy about this stout. The aftertaste is funky, the booze isn't masked well, and the mouthfeel is a little harsh for the style. The aroma was definitely the best part of this beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 02:27:00 | More by Lledd

Jeffreysan

Maryland

4.4/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 12 oz bottle with a “best before” date of 11/9/14, into a goblet. Like to try another one in a little year to see how the flavors develop.

Appearance: Pitch Black, like tar. The beer had a finger of chocolate colored/tan head, that quickly faded to a thin lacing on top of the beer.

Aroma: Roasted coffee, chocolate, dark bread like pumpernickel and raisons or dried cherries.

Taste: Nice roasted malts on the front end, much less coffee than I was expecting from the aroma. Heavy alcohol finish which I liked, and at 9.7% it should have that. As the beer warmed, the more the hops came to the forefront, but not too much, which nicely balanced the roasted malts.

Mouthfeel: This stout is very, very smooth, like silk, with a very pleasant warming alcohol finish that lasts for several long minutes.

Overall: I really, really enjoyed this stout, and will certainly be getting it again.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2013 02:07:32 | More by Jeffreysan

farrago

New Jersey

4.54/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Pours a nice two finger head of dense, dark brown microfoam, even surface with minimal dimpling, retention is above average, leaves quite thick streaks of lacing behind as well. Obligatory pitch black liquid, opaque yet near the surface you can just make out a strong presence of bubble beads, little to no hue change to orange or yellow. Powerful nose of bitter dark chocolate, roasted coffee, caramel, flowers, licorice and plum to cherry fruit, there’s cereal grains and oats in there plus some pine sap and more leafy herbaceousness, has a good deal of discernible hops for the category and in no way overly sweet. Full-bodied, while generally creamy in texture it is on the dry side and can stiffen up on you. Again lots of chocolate, here the licorice to anise almost outmatches the coffee, molasses, caramel, certainly plays into enlivening the flowers and white citrus. Fewer grains but more pine and garden herb notes. At times smoky, does a great job of shifting on you so you can’t really peg it down. Takes awhile for you to more consistently register the plum, date, golden raisin, cherry fruit. Long lasting without being pushy, you taste it some time after you have swallowed. An achievement of complexity without excessive makeup.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 22:48:27 | More by farrago

BEERMILER12

Maine

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

BEST BY 05/18/14

A: Pours a near pitch black color with 2 fingers worth of head that reduces to a cap after a few minutes

S: Fruity Belgian yeast, roasted malts, chocolate, molasses, coffee, and a hint of spicy hops

T: Follows the nose. Starts off with dark fruits, roasted malts, and molasses and moves into chocolate, coffee, tobacco, leather, and a very light hint of spicy hops. Finishes with a light smokiness from the roast

M: Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation. Soft and creamy

O: A very good imperial stout with lots of complexity. From the Belgian yeast to the roasted malts, there is just about anything you could want in a non-BBA imperial stout. Great value as well, at $10.99 for a 4-pack

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 21:11:26 | More by BEERMILER12

Sludgeman

District of Columbia

4.24/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Best before date of 12/26/14. Poured into a DFH chalice.

A - Black, opaque, slightly viscous. 3-finger brown rocky head. Great lacing.

A - Roasted malts, licorice and dark fruits.

T - Coffee (not strong), faint licorice and a little sweetness.

MF - Smooth

O - Nice finish without the bite of a dark roast coffee. I do not taste the smoky finish the brewer extoles on the bottle. It has a bit of that raisin/dark fruit finish I personally don't like from Belgian yeasts.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 00:28:19 | More by Sludgeman

MattyG85

Minnesota

4.33/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a Surly Darkness chalice. Bottle says best by 11/09/14.

Appearance: Pours pitch black with a moderate amount of bubbles. Solid two fingers of tan head that slowly fade into a thinner creamy layer. Leaves a lot of lacing around the glass.

Smell: A big sweet dark roasty aroma with a big fruity yeast profile. Dark roasted malts with hints of chocolate, coffee, caramel, toffee, burnt toast, cream, biscuit, oats, nut, and smoked malt. Sweet molasses and brown sugar. Light hint of anise spice. The yeast presence is very noticeable adding some spice and a big scent of dark fruits. Hints of fig, tart cherry, plum, prune, and raisin. Some earthy and herbal hops in the background. A pretty good aroma.

Taste: Like the aroma hints, a rich taste of roasted malts, fruity yeast, and earthy hops. Dark roasted malts upfront with notes of dark chocolate, coffee roast, cream, burnt toast, caramel, toffee, biscuit, oats, nut, and smoke. Molasses and brown sugar add to the sweetness. Lively presence of Belgian yeast with some black pepper and dark fruits. Notes of plum, dark cherry, fig, prune, and raisin. Some anise spice in the mix as well. Solid backing of herbal, earthy hop bitterness. A really solid taste.

Mouthfeel: Body is on the heavier side of medium. Carbonation is fairly high for the style but expected with the yeast. Very creamy. Somewhat slick. Alcohol heat is hidden pretty well.

Overall: A unique and very good imperial stout. Big roasted malt taste with a nice fruity kick from the Belgian yeast.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 06:58:46 | More by MattyG85

jpro

South Carolina

4.31/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

12oz single from Sam's in Durham, NC. Poured into a Boulevard tulip...

A: 8-ball black; opaque; 2-finger, cappuccino head - it's milkshake-like; great staying power... the retention leaves thick rings of sudsy lace.

S: Belgian yeast is definitely noticeable - it's pretty bright and fruity; black patent malt; char / roast; chocolate cake; the fruity / spicy yeast aroma is a bit off-putting for the style (for me, at least), but otherwise - the aroma is great.

T: The yeast is far less pronounced than what's in the aroma - which is a good thing; roasted malt / coffee; dark chocolate; a touch of chicory / smoke on the the end.

M: Near full feel with high carbonation; nice, velvety feel... very smooth, too; the Belgian yeast works well here; sticky.

O: This is an interesting American double stout, with the Belgian yeast and German hops; it works as something different, but it's not something I'd have the urge to have more than one of - it's definitely an interesting twist to this style, though; great mouthfeel and very smooth - 9.7% is hidden very well. (Best By Date: 5/18/14)

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 01:38:04 | More by jpro

Samuel906

California

3.51/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours very nice, dark and rich, huge brown tinged fluffy head with great retention. Smell is pretty mild, even as the beer got warmer, mostly chocolate and brown sugar. At first I felt this beer was way too sweet; it was kind of overwhelming at first. It is very sweet, but it does help the balance of some of the very potent flavors. Chocolate, molasses and apple up front, roasted malt, smoke, charred wood, and coffee at the end. No booze in the flavor but you can feel it in the warmth. Feels very thin considering the type; I would prefer a creamier, heavier stout. Overall, not too bad; huge flavor, a little too sweet,

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 03:14:39 | More by Samuel906

MickeyD

Kansas

4.28/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

I poured this from a 12oz bottle into a clean tulip glass.

Appearance: Black as night with tiny bubbles floating up the sides of the glass. Fine yeast at the bottom, tiny little bubbles form a thick but small head. Good lacing throughout the drink.

Smell: Dark roasted nutty and slight coffee smell.

Taste: Dark roasted caramel with nutty overtones.

Mouth feel: medium to heavy body with pronounced nut after I swirled it around in my mouth.

Overall: This is a great tasting interpretation of this style. I love it, roasted coffee, chocolate and hazelnut. Brilliant!

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 19:39:54 | More by MickeyD

JohnnyMc

Ohio

4.34/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

First Boulevard beer!!

Pours out a pitch black with a nice, roasted/dark tan head.

The aroma is full of roasty notes, chocolate, coffee, big dark fruit notes as well as some smokiness.

The taste is also full of flavor. Tons of roasted malt notes, coffee, chocolate, dark fruits; plums, figs and raisins followed by a light smokiness that blends in very well. It's a bitter beer, but not overwhelming and there are some light earthy/grassy hop notes too.

The body is full and the mouthfeel is slightly creamy, but there is a decent amount of carbonation. No alcohol in the taste or smell, but there is a definite heat as it goes down.

This is a great non barrel-aged Imperial Stout! The dark fruit really helps add some complexity, but the high carbonation is a definite turn off. It's not so much to impact the beer too much, but a much lower carbonation and creamier mouthfeel would have been nice. Great beer to try though and pretty cheap!

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 03:20:49 | More by JohnnyMc

notchucknorris

California

3.81/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A: Pours a nice, dense looking black color with a two finger khaki colored head. Some spotty lacing.

S: Faint dark yeast an smoke aromas. Something that smells like smoked plums. A faint woody aroma as well as some burnt dark chocolate. A bit weak.

T: Opens with a light hit of hops, which was pretty surprising. Some chocolate covered plum, burnt malt, raisin, and smoke. An almost tannic
Like dryness on the finish with a hint of smoked meat and malt. Interesting.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 19:47:49 | More by notchucknorris

Jacurdy60

Alabama

3.83/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A-Pours a pitch black like all stouts with a thick, copper colored head. However, this head is more fizzy than any other stout I've eever had. Nice retention. Coats entire glass as I drink.

S-Huge hoppy nose with a kick of the Belgian yeast. Took me by surprise at first because I was expecting typical stout notes based off the color. Dried apricots make themselves known in the back of the nose.

T-Follows the nose, mostly. Hoppy, but just the right amount. The yeast is a touch too bitter in the finish but it balances well with a malty aftertaste. The dried fruit isn't as prominent on the palate.

MF-Probably the least impressive aspect. A touch too carbonated and crisp for a stout.

O-Boulevard has yet to disappoint. This is a terrific stout. The hops, yeast, dried fruits, and maltiness balance well for an exceptional brew.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 23:54:48 | More by Jacurdy60

Dcmpres

California

2.74/5  rDev -30.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

A: Jet black with rocky tan head that leaves spotty lacing throughout.

S: Expresso, tobacco and herbal aroma's.

T: Burnt coffee, dark molasses and hint spiced dark fruit carry on to a dry talc-like finish.

M: Medium bodied, but lacks any complexity due to its high astringency. I get the sensation that I just smoked a hot cheap cigar.

O: This beer shows more of its belgian yeast complexity and drinkability when it is consumed on the warmer side, but didn't impress me to say the least.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 03:00:56 | More by Dcmpres

deadonhisfeet

Kentucky

4.08/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a Brooklyn Brewery snifter. It's a really nice looking pour. Very black (of course) and a massive frothy mocha-colored head that sticks around for a short while. The nose is quite interesting. I definitely get some smoky notes on the nose. The first thing that comes to mind is beef jerky. Underneath the smoke, I get some char, burnt notes, and a little coffee.

Interesting flavor on this beer. The smoke promised by the nose is definitely there. I have a fairly low tolerance for smoke in beer, but I do not find this objectionable. It goes well with the typical double stout flavors of dark fruit and roasted malt, rounding out the bitter and sweet flavors very nicely. The sweetness recedes a bit at mid-palate, letting the bitter burnt and smoky flavors carry through the finish. Feel is about average for this style.

An interesting beer, but not one that will please every palate. I haven't had a double stout like this one before. It has a unique flavor (to me) and drinks very nicely. I would probably try this again someday.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 00:37:11 | More by deadonhisfeet

OBeerMeGreatOne

California

4.35/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours out pitch black with a huge mocha head. Decent lacing.

Dark chocolate, plum, earth and a hint of booze.

Chocolate, toasted pumpernickel bread and dark fruit start this beast off. Earthy and grassy hops balance it and give it a nice bitter balance. Alcohol shows up as it warms, but it never overwhelms. Thick and smooth, on a touch too much carbonation.

For the price this is one hell of a brew! Might even hit my top 5 traditional imperial stouts. You want the dark truth, this beer is awesome!

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 17:10:54 | More by OBeerMeGreatOne