Brooklyn Black OPS - Brooklyn Brewery

nhindian

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle poured into a Victory tulip. Split with russwbeck.

A - Pours an absolutely pitch black, nothing's getting through this at all. Builds about 2-fingers worth of tan head with poor retention. Leaves behind faint lacing, and when it finally diminishes it's gone for good, not even leaving a smidge of cap in its wake.

S - Smell is strong bourbon with some fruits maybe? There's a sweetness in here that seems a bit separate from the bourbon. Some oak, but there's something in the nose that's off-putting to me. It's an astringent characteristics that somehow reminds me of paint thinner. Not sure if it's the alcohol coming through mixed with the bourbon and sweetness, but it's a bit of a deterrent.

T - Unlike in the nose, the taste has a ton of vanilla and woody oak to it. The bourbon is lighter here as well. The strange astringency also comes through here, though, unfortunately. But it's balanced a bit with some roast, coffee, and pleasing alcohol.

M - The mouthfeel is creamy and medium bodied. Like similar bourbon Russian Imperials, the carbonation is on the low end of the spectrum. Long, bitter finish filled with a nice alcohol heat.

D - Drinkability is moderately high. If not for the strange, distinct astringency in the nose and taste this would be a winner. The alcohol complements the flavors marvelously and everything comes together nicely to make it better than the sum of its parts. If not for the high price tag, I could see myself drinking this a few times during its release.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2011 04:11:24 | More by nhindian

Envelopes

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -15.9%

05-21-2013 05:38:57 | More by Envelopes

tbone1384

Wyoming

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

05-19-2013 01:20:04 | More by tbone1384

barrelofbastard

California

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-18-2013 20:30:47 | More by barrelofbastard

carlosega

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

05-17-2013 19:29:41 | More by carlosega

Gregvg

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -9.9%

05-16-2013 18:27:29 | More by Gregvg

magsvmi

Rhode Island

4/5  rDev -3.8%

05-16-2013 01:52:28 | More by magsvmi

ajtorres311

Florida

3/5  rDev -27.9%

05-15-2013 22:53:36 | More by ajtorres311

Zimm

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-15-2013 17:28:14 | More by Zimm

Davit

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

05-15-2013 03:34:56 | More by Davit

sway0925

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +20.2%

05-14-2013 23:29:23 | More by sway0925

shagens

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-14-2013 18:50:20 | More by shagens

ADTaber

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-14-2013 00:01:31 | More by ADTaber

NSK79

Illinois

4/5  rDev -3.8%

05-13-2013 00:04:33 | More by NSK79

IPeteA91

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

05-12-2013 22:07:55 | More by IPeteA91

JaySchneider

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

05-12-2013 03:07:21 | More by JaySchneider

lic217

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -3.8%

05-11-2013 04:27:05 | More by lic217

civicm87

New York

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

05-08-2013 23:36:51 | More by civicm87

deadliest

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

05-07-2013 23:59:10 | More by deadliest

aLenwell

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -9.9%

05-07-2013 23:23:11 | More by aLenwell

bigedct

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-07-2013 23:18:38 | More by bigedct

freshtojeff

North Carolina

3/5  rDev -27.9%

05-07-2013 23:17:01 | More by freshtojeff

Hoptologist

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -15.9%

05-07-2013 15:15:34 | More by Hoptologist

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