Brooklyn Black OPS - Brooklyn Brewery

BrownNut

Florida

3.95/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A - 3.5 - Pours root beer brown, is opaque black in the glass. Fizzy tan head that dissipates quickly. Come back, head. Come back.

S - 4.0 - Initially there's an almost floral scent riding on top of chocolate sweetness, wood, and malty caramel. Maybe a hint of booze or I could just be expecting that from the barrel wood note. The floral note seems to fade a little with the head, leaving something closer to fruit and overlapping that fruit note you can sometimes get with chocolate. Yeasty.

T - 4.0 - Moderate chocolate with a vague hint of tart fruit. Tannic like apple skin. The fruit is acidic and vaguely vinous in a way that, when paired with the dry mouthfeel, comes across in a champagne-like way. Not sure I get any bourbon. Some char that is not previewed in the aroma or the main body shows up in the exhale along with chocolate and is welcome.

M - 3.75 - Unexpectedly dry. Fairly light and foams a bit in the mouth. Kind of disappointingly dry and light when you're looking forward to the nice thick sweet mouthfeel and robust body of an imperial stout. This comes across more like champagne. That's nice in its own way if you take it for what it is but you can't help but feel its soul is missing. Tongue is left a bit abraded like when you drink something super hoppy (but this isn't hoppy). Immediately warming in the throat upon swallowing, which is really nice. Give me that heat.

O - 4.0 An interesting and unexpected take on the barrel aged imperial stout. If champagne married an imperial stout, this would be it. That's a little odd and makes me feel a bit sad that I'm missing the body and slickness I was expecting with this style. This was a worthwhile experiment that I'm glad they tried and which I would not buy again, particularly not at this price or even half of it. I'd be interested to know what results anybody got from aging it though.

HA. Now that I read the label, it says it was refermented with champagne yeast. So that's exactly what I was tasting. I feel like a cicerone over here, ID'ing these flavors. Go BrownNut, go, go.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 04:31:31 | More by BrownNut

Immortale25

Florida

4.24/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured into a Dogfish tapered glass. Back label says 3212 (2012 bottle).

A- Pours an opaque motor oil black with a 1/4 inch dark tan head that doesn't retain long before becoming a thin ring around the edge of the glass and a scattered patch of light surface foam. Minimal lacing.

S- Dark roasted malt with notes of chocolate and coffee. Also has this odd metallic smell along with a considerable alcohol fume. Light oak astringency.

T- Great melding of roast, chocolate and oak. Alcohol is superbly well-hidden creating a smooth and dangerous drink. The flavors are all tied together by the champagne yeast which seems to be what provides its unique flavor. Booze slowly starts to creep in as it warms as well as a bit of char taste.

M- Very spritzy for a stout, obviously due to the champagne yeast. Medium carbonation with a body that's quite robust.

O- Commonly overpriced and I've had better, but still a very delicious and potent RIS.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 23:29:30 | More by Immortale25

templar316

Pennsylvania

4.01/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Aged for a year in the cellar and served in a Selinsgrove snifter. Pours thick and black with a dark, milk chocolate head. The oak notes dominate the nose, rising into bourbon burn before falling into; dates and chocolate. The champagene yeast dominates the flavor overwhelming the black chocolate opening, with sour apple and sharp pear. The wood finishes but it all fades fast and finishes smooth. You can tell they are striving for greatness and next time I'll buy 2 bottles (despite the price): one to drink fresh and one for 3 years deep. Smooth easy and effortless.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 04:29:03 | More by templar316

chanokokoro

Illinois

3.74/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a formerly corked and caged 750 ml bottle into a Brooklyn Brewery branded snifter

Pours extremely dark brown to black capped by a two finger tan head. Toasted oak, vanilla, bakers chocolate, hints of bourbon booziness, and accents of dark fruit. Big oak notes, vanilla, hints of dried black cherries, raisins, and prunes transitioning to dark chocolate and finishing with some more oak notes accented with pleasant warming bourbon booziness. Medium-bodied, certainly light for a imperial stout; creamy, with effervescent carbonation, undoubtedly due to the champagne yeast. Overall, this is an interesting and enjoyable beer. The re-fermentation in the bottle using champagne yeast does seem to work better with the other brews in the Big Bottle Series, however Black Ops is definitely an enjoyable, unique brew.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 04:37:43 | More by chanokokoro

JackieTH

Minnesota

3.73/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

2011.

Deep brown/black pour with a mocha colored foamy head that dissipates quickly and leaves no lacing. Smells of raisins, chocolate, oak, vanilla, prunes and alcohol. Taste is chocolate but somewhat chalky, faded bourbon elements, a bit of alcohol, oak wood. Mouthfeel is lighter than I'd like. Carbonation is decently adequate. As it warms, more noticeable alcohol. Perhaps it didn't age well, but I'm not digging this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 02:58:49 | More by JackieTH

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

2010 Vintage, been saving for a special day, and letting it age a bit. Hope it's as good as it's price tag makes it out to be.

Pours a somewhat decent fizzy fluffy bubble 1/2 finger head very dark colored, that fades semi quickly, but some decent lacing, typical for this big of a beer, huge thick long legs running down the sides of the glass, beer is black enough to suck the light from the computer screen into it.

Nose is about as good as I expected, a big time stout with great bourbon barrel notes. Dark malts galore, some black malts, little roast, charred coffee beans and a bit of fresh coffee grinds all from the roast, as well as some decent dark chocolate and powdered cocoa. Then bourbon, so much awesome barrel, plenty of vanilla and a little buttery oak, but no dusty oak barrel, as well as nice bourbon aromas, plenty of bourbon. It brings just a touch of booze, and light earthy spicy hops, there are hints of brown sugar covered brandy soaked raisins somehow.

Taste brings more great flavors, an aged soft dark malt bonanza. Starting with some dark malts, plenty of black malts, some roast bringing a hint of char, and some slightly over roasted coffee beans, and a light cocoa powder. It also has a touch of a soft aged malt flavor but not a lot. Not as full bodied in the malt area as I expected, but enough there, probably just not thick enough but at least it's not too syrupy. Booze kicks in quickly with warmth, tingle, and even a little fusel booze flavor, but not overbearing, and the roasted malts bring a bit of acrid flavor. Some dark chocolate comes through as well, with some vanilla barrel, the oak cuts in and brings the vanilla and a bit of buttery oak, but not nearly as much oak as the nose had. Similarly the bourbon is there, but not as much as the nose, and it seems to bring some of that booze flavor on its own. A little caramel and syrupy chocolate flavors round out the flavor, as well as a hint of an earthy spicy hop character, although more bitterness from the roast it seems. Finish is drier but very sticky and syrupy, a kick of tingly booze as well, more cocoa, roasted malts and faint burnt coffee, more vanilla and touch of bourbon barrel, but at the same time a nice big dark malty RIS flavor lingering too.

Mouth is med to fuller bodied but somehow seems a bit thinner than it should be, with plenty of tingly warming booze, and decent carb.

Overall pretty good, but mixed. The aroma is awesome, but flavor doesn't come through as much as I expected, and the body seems a bit thin for what it should be. Still tasty and a treat to drink, the aging didn't seem to really help as much as I expected as the booze is still rampant, bourbon seems to have died off a bit perhaps, and it's sweet and syrupy, but the soft aged dark malt feel brings a decent touch. However, the over roasted burnt acrid coffee I think I remember from fresh small sample I had is mostly gone, so that helps a bit. Still a pretty good beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 00:37:30 | More by jlindros

JantzArmstrong

Massachusetts

3.66/5  rDev -12%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

Had a glass of this as part of Easter dinner. Poured into a pint glass, it was jet black and had a moderate (albeit temporary) head. Lifting the glass to my nose, I was instantly hit by scents of bourbon, oak, vanilla, spices, and something vaguely and distantly fruity. The taste was similar. I did notice that as it warmed, the beer gave off much more of a bourbon taste and the 10.5% alcohol really started to come through. Overall, I enjoyed this as a sipping beer for a special occasion but it had too much of a bourbon taste for my liking. I would not turn this beer down, but I think I will stick to Founder's Breakfast Stout for now.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 01:24:32 | More by JantzArmstrong

CaptCleveland

Ohio

4.24/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

2012 bomber, 8oz pour into GLBC Christmas Ale snifter.

Opaque, black elixir, tan-brown head, minimal lacing, legs.

Bourbon, toasted malt, earth, grass from the yeast and bottle re-fermentation. Faint vanilla--not much.

Nice combination of the bourbon and burnt malt. Some nice hop flavors. The champagne yeast really come through at the finish.

Medium-heavy body, not as thick of a feel as I would have expected.

Very nice BA RIS, but not in the class of BCBS, KBS.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 20:33:55 | More by CaptCleveland

homebrew311

Illinois

2.94/5  rDev -29.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

Reviewed from notes. Pours opaque black with evidence of champagne yeast as it it is rather fizzy. Head quickly fizzes out, much like a glass of soda. The nose is heavy on chocolate malts, fruity yeast esters come next which is followed by smokey and robust oak. The taste starts with chocolate and then takes an unexpected turn that I can't quite get in to. I pick up some metallic tons along with grapes, dark fruit, and a mild wave of vanilla. The mouthfeel is prickly and fizzy, just doesn't work for a barrel aged stout. Overall, this one doesn't work for me. I don't get much barrel character but I get tons of the effervescent champagne yeast character that seemingly detracts from this beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 04:18:16 | More by homebrew311

jpro

South Carolina

4.41/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

750mL caged, corked bomber from CBX. Poured into a tulip / wine glass.

A: Pours an opaque black, with a one-finger, light mocha head; thin retention leaves no lace... well, maybe a few spots.

S: Initial notes of dark currants and leather; dark chocolate and deeply roasted malts; oaky; alcohol after it warms.

T: Semi-sweet chocolate; dark cocoa; dark roast coffee notes on end; mild dark fruit flavor; light bourbon notes that stick on the palate... very nice as they don't overpower all of the other intricate flavors.

M: Interesting for sure... Medium-full body; high, effervescent carbonation; the high, champagne yeast induced carbo may lead to the feeling that the mouthfeel is a little on the thin side. On the plus side, the higher carbonation seems to make this brew more drinkable and almost refreshing.

O: A fine beer. Worth the $20 (or so) for the 750mL bottle. Delicious layers of dark, roasted malt, bourbon and chocolate flavors... Mouthfeel is lively and the champagne yeast adds an extra dimension that sets this beer apart from most other imperial stouts. At 10.5%, this stout is very drinkable. I'll definitely have it again... A very complex, tasty and interesting beer from Brooklyn.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 02:44:18 | More by jpro

rapidsequence

Virginia

3.6/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Corked and caged bottle from Neds. $22!

Appearance: Very attractive. Pitch black, dark head with good retention. Spots of lacing.

Smell: Great. Outstanding bourbony vanilla and chocolate. Sweet dark and roasted malt, no harsh roasty bitter smell.

Taste: Less than great. Lots of good bourbon flavor and some cocoa/ coffee notes, but its very simple tasting, in a boring way. Some alcohol heat. Finish is all vanilla/bourbon.

Mouthfeel: Feels thin, overly bubbled. A beer like this needs some finishing gravity to give it a hefty feeling-- absent here.

Overall: Its still a pretty good beer, but a total letdown. I'd pay maybe 7 or 8 bucks for it, not 20 something.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 00:53:14 | More by rapidsequence

HugeBulge

New York

4.06/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Hmmm. how do I start?
S- the best part about it is the smell. heavy bourbon. Just perfect
T- lacking. Not there. It comes off light , lacking flavor. no other way to put it. like a thin stout with a bourbon smell.
Nothing more to say, I would avoid the 2012 batch. Maybe others are better...!!!

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 05:12:27 | More by HugeBulge

macrosmatic

Florida

4.1/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes. Poured from corked & caged bomber into a CCB pint glass.

A: Very dark brown, opaque. A finger's level of brown head forms but fades fairly quickly. Low visible carbonation.

S: Bourbon, chocolate, wood (oak), hints of dark fruit & leather but these are subtle.

T: Bourbon, chocolate, vanilla (I'm assuming from oak), hints of coffee. The coffee aspect increases as the beer warms, almost a change in flavors to cacao or mocha.

M: Light body for imperial stout, moderate alcohol for style, and low carbonation sensation.

O: It's not terribly complex, but the flavors that are there are fine. Just nothing to stand out, especially in the weight of the body. It's quite drinkable, but the body leaves something to be desired. I'm not as impressed as I thought I would be, but worth trying once. I have one more bottle, so we'll see what happens to it.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 21:11:10 | More by macrosmatic

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 4

2012 edition 750 mL bottle poured into a snifter at cellar temperature.

L – Black color with a 3-finger bubbly tan head that fades relatively quickly into a thin cap of bubbles on the surface of the beer. Some patchy lacing and some visible legs on the side of the glass.

S – Big bourbon and vanilla aromas with chocolate, plums, currants, and some roasted coffee. There’s a touch of oak here, too. This smells like it’s going to be a bourbon-filled monster.

T – It starts off sweet with plums, figs, molasses, and chocolate and quickly gives way to a big bourbon barrel taste with bourbon (obviously), vanilla, and oak flavors. Subtle tobacco and licorice flavors come through before the beer shifts to a bitter roasted coffee focus at the finish.

F – Light-to-medium-bodied with lots of carbonation, a slick but effervescent mouthfeel, and a sweet, mildly bitter, and mildly dry finish. Bitterness and dryness build as time goes on. No real flavors linger, but there is a certain heat from the alcohol apparent in the throat. Way too thin for an RIS, maybe from the champagne yeast.

O – This is a good and interesting RIS but unfortunately it does not pass into the realm of elite. I think it definitely has the potential given the aromas and taste, but the mouthfeel is way too thin. My guess is that it’s from the champagne yeast. I’m not sure if that kind of yeast adds more to the aroma or flavor, but I almost wish they used regular old ale yeast. While the mouthfeel doesn’t quite fit the big RIS style, it is an interesting and very different touch. All in all, this is a tasty and drinkable beer, and I’m very glad that I got to try it.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 05:05:13 | More by BlackBelt5112203

Cavanaghty

Maine

4.78/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance: Black with a brown head.

Smell: Strong smell of bourbon, malts, coffee, maybe some chocolate too.

Mouthfeel/Taste: Smooth, full bodied but light feeling. Excellent taste of bourbon, coffee and malt.

Overall: Excellent brew! I would highly recommend.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 23:36:52 | More by Cavanaghty

Mertzy81

Maryland

4.71/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 5

A-black with a thin brown head

S-dark bittersweet chocolate. Medium strength. Dark roasted grains. Dark fruits. Complex scent indeed.

T-comes in with a high quality taste of slightly smokey dark roasted grains, bittersweet chocolate, and dark fruits. Matching after-taste with less smokiness and more fruits.

M-creamy medium carbonation. Very thick. Creamy finish

O-well this is what you want in an imperial stout. It's awesome. It doesn't taste strong, but it'll take you awhile to finish. The taste has a lot of complexity to it, though it might lack some boldness.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 06:41:06 | More by Mertzy81

beerdrifter

Germany

4.48/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Snagged this while on vacation in Dallas. Pitch black pour with one finger caramel colored head that fades quickly with decent lacing. Huge bourbon and oaky notes dominate the nose along with dark chocolate, coffee, licorice, and just a touch of bubblegum. The oak nudges out the bourbon for the top spot in the taste. Probably some of the most intense woodiness I've ever tasted in a barrel aged stout. Almost comparable to a good oak aged wine. Also getting hints of chocolate, tobacco, espresso, molasses, vanilla, and dark fruit. The mouthfeel is really creamy with a subtle thickness to it, but a little more fizzy than a typical big stout. Definitely not as heavy as most, with a nice vinous character on the finish. I really wasn't expecting to be blown away by this beer, but it really was a pleasant surprise. Because it's lighter in feel, it's really drinkable and the 10.5 ABV is well hidden. I will definitely be trying to get more of this one!

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 22:27:46 | More by beerdrifter

MattyG85

Minnesota

4.65/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

Poured from a 750 ml corked bottle into a Surly Darkness chalice. 2012 vintage bottle.

Appearance: Pours a oily pitch black with a fair amount of bubbles. Solid three finger deep tan head which slowly recedes into a thin creamy layer. Leaves a decent amount of lacing on the glass.

Smell: A big rich dark chocolate driven, whiskey soaked, and creamy aroma. Big scent of bourbon whiskey up front with hints of vanilla, oak, and wood. Dark roasted malts with big hints of dark cocoa, coffee, cream, burnt caramel, toffee, biscuit, and toast. Hints of champagne yeast from the bottle conditioning. Some sweet molasses and a little anise. Also some good hints of dark cherry, raisin, plum, and fig. Hop presence is pretty subtle. A very good aroma.

Taste: Like the nose leads, a big taste of choclate, whiskey, cream, and fruity undertones. Starts with a taste of bourbon whiskey along with notes of vanilla, oak chips, and wood. Sweet dark roasted malts with notes of dark chocolate, coffee beans, cream, burnt caramel, biscuit, toffee, and toast. The champagne yeast comes through adding to the creaminess. Sweet molasses and brown sugar. Light hint of anise spice. Solid undertones of dark fruit with notes of dark cherry, plum, raisin, prune, and fig. Hops are very light. A really great stout taste.

Mouthfeel: Medium body feel with a fairly high level of carbonation. Very creamy. Slightly syrupy. Even with the whiskey presence the alcohol heat is pretty low. Very smooth.

Overall: A very good and unique version of a barrel aged imperial stout. Has the good chocolate and fruit notes of the base beer and adds an interesting twist with the champagne yeast along with the barrel. Really good.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 08:28:14 | More by MattyG85

zac16125

South Carolina

3.95/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Black ops
2012 vintage

A: opaque black, >1 fingers width mocha head, somewhat thin on the pour, decent retention, little lacing

S: fair amount of bourbon on the nose,some medicinal phenolics, roasted malt, some booze, hints of chocolate

T: unique flavor profile, its lighter than I anticipated, with a vinous character probably from the champagne yeast. roasted malt, hints of chocolate, faint bourbon that gets slightly more prominent as it warms

M/D: carbonation fairly high but appropriate, mouthfeel too thin, medium bodies, no hint of the ABV, excellent drinkability

O: good but bourbon notes could be bigger and champagne yeast makes it a little lighten than I'd prefer, unique. Not great and not worth the price but glad I got to try it

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 14:35:41 | More by zac16125

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

4.36/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours a deep, deep black into my yeti tulip. Looks thin but the head looks dense and rich with a nice mocha color. Well carbonated.
Aroma is bourbon barrels, oak pews, vinilla roasted malts and cocoa nibs.
Unlike other stouts which are thick and velvetty the use of Champaign yeast gives this beer a spritzy and lively feel but perhaps a little too much.
Taste is malty and roasted but dominated by bourbon barrels. You can taste sutle hints of aok vinilla and cocoa too just like in the nose.
The beer has an ashen and chalky feel on the palette with alcohol warming in the aftertaste.
The use of Champaign yeast gives the beer a lightness that one wouldn't expect from a RIMP.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 13:39:15 | More by micromaniac129

beertunes

Washington

3.61/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Thanks to Dopplebockulus for this one. Poured into chalice. Poured a solid black color with just a thin cap of dark tan head that had low retention, down to a thin ring very quickly, but still managed to get OK lacing.

The aroma was a bit too bourbon forward and nearly covered up the great malt, and nice grain scents. On the tongue the bourbon didn't come in until the back of the tongue, and thus complemented the basic stout flavors nicely.

The body was nicely smooth and even, there was a tangy finish that was clean and dry. There was a bit of an aspect that I couldn't really figure out, a slight funk that wasn't really a taste, but hung around over the whole of the beer. Drinkability was very good, I enjoyed this brew and would like to try some more. Overall, a very nice beer that's certainly worth your time.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 20:29:19 | More by beertunes

mfavoino

Washington

4.11/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Got to take part in sharing a '09 bottle on 2/9/13.

A: Pours black with a creamy brown head.

S: Subtle aroma of burnt malts, dark fruit, and just a bit of bourbon.

T: Dark fruits, grapes, burnt malts, light chocolate. Grape could be from me feeling the champagne yeast and thinking champagne flavor. Unique for a stout.

M: Thinner for a RIS, tingly carbonation from the champagne yeast, kind of weird.

O: The champagne yeast gives it an interesting dynamic that might turn some people off because of the mouthfeel. Held up fairly well in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 02:51:08 | More by mfavoino

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.99/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle, 2012 edition. It is rather amusing to see the treatment of this purportedly rare beer upon its arrival in our fair province - two stores received it, and the one with which I have more than a passing acquaintance got the lion's share. And what do they do with it? A dismal, hardly visible stack of it in one corner of the store. Hidden gem? Yes, indeed.

This beer pours a solid black abyss, with ever the slightest of basal cola highlights, and three fingers of tight foamy tan head, which leaves but a few elongated specs of island lace around the glass as it groggily abates.

It smells of grainy, woody bourbon notes straight up front - oak, vanilla, dry caramel, and spicy grain - on top of a pungent dose of astringent coffee grounds and baker's chocolate, some mildly soused black fruit esters, a bit of wet ash, and earthy, leafy hops. The taste is nutty chocolate malt, prominent biscuity coffee notes, pleasantly soft bourbon-tinged vanilla, caramel, rye, and simmering alcohol, a subtle black fruitiness - hinged on a singular summer cherry remembrance neuron - some equally sublimated black liquorice essences, and a somewhat musty, yeasty character that disappears rather soon, along with most of the rest as the flavour fades just past the middle, in a just less than concerning manner. The 21-proof booze is damned near imperceptible, so bully - no, hurray for that!

The carbonation is quite sedate, and generally out of critical contention, the body a teetering medium weight, and actually quite smooth, very little taking a pound of flesh out of this low-throttled train ride. It finishes a tad on the sweet side, the cocoa, coffee, and muddled fruit holding fast against, well, against very little, as the expected alcohol and hop cavalcade fails to properly manifest.

I feel that the mystique surrounding this offering is a little uninformed - it isn't really all that 'big' in the general booze and malt sense. It's hefty, sure, but in a much more restrained, subtle sense - coffee, cocoa, and fruit, all fluffed up by a crazily understated alcohol measure, one which may the enduring point here, as you can barely sense the barest prick of alcohol edge. That may very well be the biggest champion for this offering, which parlays rather well into my overall impression - big, level, and sneaky, all at the same time. Maybe not quite worth spending all that much effort seeking out, but grab it if you can, even if you have to bend your local retailer's ear and/or arm.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 04:44:39 | More by biboergosum

PorterLambic

Florida

4.58/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

This bottle was allowed to warm for a full hour before I started this review.

Pours the black of the vilest soul, the deepest, darkest corner of the universe, the black seen by a blind person in a cave 2 miles underground with a black bag over his/her head. Speaking of head, this is the darkest brown head I've ever seen. It fizzes like root beer and looks like its darker cousin. Retention is for shit but you were expecting a fluffy cloud on this bad boy? Silly mortal.
Smell is almost overwhelmingly rich. Notes of bourbon, malt, chocolate, caramel, many and varied dark fruits, wood and brown sugar sweetness. Holy olfactory assault, Batman! The balance is pretty good but it seems to reach out of the glass and grab the nose by the short hairs. Seriously intense.
Taste is phenomenal. Sweet, malty bourbon with fruitcake. Every single note I just mentioned above.
A serious sipping beer. Full bodied liquid velvet. Smooth with a capital and underlined SMOO. Nicely warming. A bit cloying after the swallow with a goodly coating of the upper palate. It goes great with homemade chocolate chip cookies. ;) A rich, decadent dessert in a glass. Should have shared this but I'm just too greedy.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 02:46:07 | More by PorterLambic

hardy008

Minnesota

4.28/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

2012 Vintage

Pours dark black with a 3 finger mocha head with very good retention and lacing. as soon as I poured this out of the bottle I could smell the bourbon, and it has a very nice aroma. The aroma also has chocolate, dark roasted malt, oak, and vanilla. Just a fantastic aroma. Hopefully the taste is much like the aroma.

Gladly for me, the taste is very much like the aroma. There is bourbon, chocolate, dark roasted malt, oak, vanilla, and also some anise. Sweet with some balancing bitterness from the dark roasted malt and oak flavors.

Medium bodied with modest carbonation. The alcohol is noticeable and warming, but there is no alcohol burn or heat. This is a very nice beer. I will keep the other bottles I have for a while, to see how they age.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 02:36:37 | More by hardy008