Scarface Imperial Stout - Speakeasy Ales & Lagers

jethrodium

California

1.2/5  rDev -69.6%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

On tap. Pours a close to pitch black with a small tan chocolate head settles to a ring and leaves some light lacing on the glass. The arma is lots of molasses and licorice, a decent amount of roast, quite a bit of alcohol, and some brown sugar. It smells sweet and boozy, certainly not good. The taste is very sweet with molasses and licorice. The is a light vanilla note and some brown sugar as well as a bit of roastiness. The finish is slightly roasty with a bit of bitterness and a lot of booze. It is also chalky with quite a bit of astringency. Leaves a bit of a lingering vanilla taste. Fully bodied, but Syrupy. Low carbonation. This was easily one of the worst beers that I have had. It is way too sweet and also extremely boozy. It is also chalky and astringent. I could not drink this.

Serving type: on-tap

06-07-2012 05:33:28 | More by jethrodium

kojevergas

California

2.75/5  rDev -30.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

1 pint 6 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a Guinness goblet in me gaff in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are above average; I loved the payback porter from this brewery but was otherwise disappointed with many of their other beers.

Served refrigerator cold and allowed to warm over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a one finger head of nice tan colour, nice cream pretty good thickness, and good retention considering the high ABV. Colour is a solid nontransparent black. No yeast particles are visible, which might be because it's nontransparent.

Sm: Cream, well layered dark malts, chocolate, roast, caramel, and hints of coffee. A moderate strength aroma.

T: Roasted barley and interesting dark malts comprise the overzealous foundation. Some chocolate and coffee, but nowhere near enough. The balance is awkward. Cream and caramel. Somewhat layered. Not quite on the mark for the style. Not complex or subtle. The promise of the aroma was far better than the taste. No alcohol or yeast comes through.

Mf: Smooth and wet, with some cream. Should be coarse and dry; entirely wrong for the style. A proper stout uses cream to overcome the dryness of the roast. A touch thin, actually. Adequately carbonated.

Dr: Drinkable for the style and ABV, but somewhat unremarkable. I liked the appearance and aroma, but the taste didn't deliver. It's enjoyable, but I wouldn't get it again. Fans of the style might like it better than I did. I wouldn't recommend it to friends, but I wouldn't caution anyone against it.

C-

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2012 05:15:30 | More by kojevergas

RBassSFHOPit2ME

California

2.78/5  rDev -29.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

The label clearly stated "Brewed in Small Batches." You'd imagine this would be a good thing right? Speakeasy does a very good "Hunter's Point" porter *OR* Payback Porter so I thought I'd give Scarface a stab...

A - Good black appearance in the 12oz Tulip I poured it in, decent head and head retention. Nothing wrong here.

S - Above average, sweet malts, a bit of coco and vanilla. Upon a semi aggressive swirl you get a creamy milky smell as if I'd almost swear lactose was added to this brew. Roast comes out as well. Inviting...I've never had this beer before so I'm dying now to dive in.

T - OK. Here's where it all goes wrong. I do get the flavors I mentioned above in the smell BUT it's rough around the edges, or rather rounded out in the middle and finish with a char - cigarette smokiness that wont go away.

M - Get rid of that smoke. Ruined the beer for me...otherwise everything else was fine.

O - Drainpoured the last 10oz or so. At $5.99, not a bad price for a bomber of a Imperial anything...but money would have been better spend adding 2 more dollars and picking up a 4-pack of Green Flash Double Stout or Old Raspy.

Sorry Speakeasy for the rough review as I do LOVE your Firkin' Fridayz!

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2012 15:35:23 | More by RBassSFHOPit2ME

ArrogantB

Colorado

3.15/5  rDev -20.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

22oz bottle courtesy of one generous trader who I cannot remember at the moment, thanks! Dark black, little head, standard stout look. Smells a little sweet and roasty but rather boring overall, not bad just average. Taste is really lackluster, not bad just one of the most average imperial stouts I've had. I guess I'd say the flavor is just not very robust which is what I would expect from an imperial stout. Yes it has a roast character, yes it is sort of viscous but it just didn't seem very good.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 04:40:05 | More by ArrogantB

mactrail

California

3.25/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Really and truly black in the tall glass. Nice tight beige head. Monstrously powerful, both in flavor and alcohol. Plus big hops and endless scorched malt. A salty taste I swear tastes like blood. They seemed to be taking no prisoners on this one.

A little coarse on the mouthfeel. Medium body. Not at all syrupy, just um... gigantic. I'm always looking for ways to use these kinds of hugely flavorful but essentially undrinkable ales, and a small dose of this mega-RIS might ravish a timid cheap lager very nicely.

Bitter and more bitter as you sip. That charred flavor lasts through the aftertaste, and I won't be surprised to taste it when I wake up.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2012 06:23:31 | More by mactrail

claaark13

Indiana

3.4/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours black with a thick light-tan head. Sticks alright to the side of the glass.

S - Roasted malts are mixed well with hops. Then, there is some sort of almost fresh paint aroma. Hmmm...confusing. Not like an alcohol paint, but just a mild aroma that comes from the malts/hops.

T - Very, very similar to the aroma. Roasted malts, hops, then roasted malts again on the finish. The flavor I'm comparing to paint is in the middle before the malts take over again. Slight sweetness on the finish, as well as some cocoa notes.

M - Somewhere in the medium range.

O - Good everyday RIS in my opinion. The aroma is certainly off, but the flavors are good enough to make me buy a round or two at a bar. I just can't get past the odd paint aroma. It isn't like BA Black Sun, but it is in that direction.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2012 19:17:52 | More by claaark13

metter98

New York

3.43/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is jet black in color. It poured with a thin tan head that left a thick coating of lacing down the sides of the glass.
S: There are moderately strong aromas of alcohol in the nose.
T: The taste has flavors of dark roasted malts along with notes of alcohol and chocolate and hints of licorice.
M: It feels medium-bodied and a bit smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation. There is a little burn from the alcohol in the finish.
O: The alcohol in this beer is too prominent in the smell and to a lesser degree in the taste. As such, it’s a slow sipper.

Serving type: on-tap

03-13-2012 03:20:27 | More by metter98

YouSkeete

Massachusetts

3.45/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Jet black with a frothy mocha cream colored head. decent retention and nice lacing. Big smoky, nutty coffee off the aroma with tones of bourbon, bittersweet dark chocolate and molasses. Bitter chocolate and coffee bean flavor on the initial sip. The bitterness and hoppy mouthfeel is almost to the point of overwhelming, yet still lets some complexity and other flavors permeate such as the sweetness of molasses, roasted malts and licorice. Boozy, bitter mouthfeel with light carbonation. Overall pretty decent, nothing spectacular in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2012 00:03:13 | More by YouSkeete

infi

New York

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

32 oz. growler, courtesy of BA r0nyn. From 11/20 notes.

Poured into a Duvel tulip.

Typical stout: black and opaque, thin tan head of fine bubbles, very short retention before dissipating into a cap. Decent amounts of speckled lacing on the glass as well. At close examination, the stout is incredibly lively with tons of fine carbonated activity, especially after a couple swirls. Smell is also textbook. Thoroughly full of roasted malt and barley with the latter being the most prevalent. There are a couple hints of dark chocolate and roasted coffee and some booze, but quite subdued overall.

Taste begins with a big roastiness from the malt and barley, which makes up a huge component to the beer. Just like the scents, there are some decent amounts of dark chocolate and coffee, but don't impact much on the flavor itself. Towards the end is a moderate drying aspect of the astringency.

Mouthfeel is substantially light-bodied with a little carbonated feel. Honestly, too thin for me. Drinkability is moderately easy, but fairly slow with the 10.5%. An just-about-over-average beer overall. Thanks to BA r0nyn for this tapped treat.

Serving type: growler

11-21-2010 01:29:22 | More by infi

20ozmonkey

California

3.53/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Got this bottle at work the other day. Thinking about getting more to cellar it, but I’m gonna review it first.

Pours completely black with a thick, dark brown head.

I’m smelling some coffee notes from afar before I even got my nose to the glass. Bittersweet chocolate is the primary aroma on this here Scarface. I feel like I’m smelling chocolate cake batter while smelling this. (It’s pretty awesome.)

I’m surprised at first by how balanced this seems out the gate for an imperial stout. It doesn’t have a super strong bitter finish and instead has a slight bitter chocolate finish. Up front there is a strong blast of sweetness that is a bit jarring at first.

Heavy bodied with slight carbonation.

I’ve always thought Speakeasy was best when they were making darker ales. Their Sutro Stout and Payback Porter are probably my favorite beers from them. I’ll get a few more bottles of this to store away for a while and see if the upfront sweetness will fade over time.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2012 00:18:15 | More by 20ozmonkey

hoppymcgee

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a growler of this at Whole Foods Bowery Beer Room in Manhattan, NY.

A: The best feature of this beer. Black with a light tan head that doesn't want to go away.

S: Pretty basic. Charred wood and some cocoa nibs. Smells like a stout.

T: 70% cacao, some nuttiness, earthiness, and unfortunately a metallic undertone. Luckily there is a little oak presence to mellow it out and some hoppiness to give it a bitter touch.

M: Pretty light for this big of a stout. I thought this was rather dry too.

D: Drinks more like a regular stout - very easygoing and not filling at all. This would be the best feature of this beer, but it doesn't beg to be had anymore.

Overall, a decent (Imperial?) stout but I like their Midnight Run Black IPA much better.

Serving type: growler

10-23-2010 01:40:36 | More by hoppymcgee

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.7/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served on tap at Mugs Alehouse in Brooklyn, NY

A: Pours jet black in color with a half finger tall mocha head. The head reduces to a thin layer covering the entire surface of the beer plus a slightly thicker ring at the edges of the glass. Significant lacing is observed.

S: There is a lot of alcohol present in the aroma of this beer that is slightly off putting but otherwise the aromas of this beer are extremely roasty. Lots of dark roasted and charred malts, along with some hints of bittersweet chocolate, and very light coffee notes.

T: The flavor of this beer is all roast - dark roasted malts, charred malts, bittersweet chocolate, and hints of coffee. Light amounts of alcohol can be detected.

M: Medium to full bodied with light to moderate amounts of carbonation. Slight alcohol heat in the finish.

O: I'm a huge fan of stouts and roasted malts but unfortunately the alcohol is just a hint too present for me to truly enjoy this one. I like the flavor profile once you get past the alcohol.

Serving type: on-tap

03-12-2012 16:03:48 | More by dbrauneis

ksimons

New York

3.73/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A-almost black with a fingers worth of dark tan head

S-roasted malt, dark chocolate, coffee, molasses, and brown sugar

T-similar to the smell but has an even bigger roasted flavor. Big roasted malt flavor, molasses, coffee, light dark chocolate, with some bitter hops, and alcohol warming.

M-medium to full body, medium carbonation, roasty mouthfeel

Overall this is a good RIS, I liked the smell a lot but the taste was a little too bitter.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 21:56:57 | More by ksimons

TheRealBigC

Nevada

3.8/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a black color with tan head that thins out as imperial stouts tend to do. Nice roasty smell and taste, a little bittersweet - like dark chocolate or licorice (though I don't taste anise per se). It's a pretty good drinker, not necessarily one that stands at the top of this crowded field, but a solid choice at any opportunity.

Serving type: on-tap

08-05-2012 18:52:22 | More by TheRealBigC

atr2605

New York

3.8/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-pours back with a frothy tan head with excellent retention
S-coffee, rich chocolate, carmelized sugar
T-chocolate and sugar followed by roasted coffee and finishing with more chocolate
M-full bodied and creamy
O-good flavors but balance was a bit quirky. Overall not a bad brew for the price and wouldn't mind drinking it again, just not sure I would seek it out

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 03:46:14 | More by atr2605

AgentMunky

California

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

Poured from a 22 ounce bottle into a St. Bernardus goblet.

A: A finger and a half of mocha head tops a dark-black, opaque beer.

S: Roasted malt. Lots of it. Touch of vanilla.

T/M: Pretty good, but I get the sense that it's trying too hard. Sweet-heavy malts and I strongly suspect some lactose. Creamy, rich, but rather flat of flavor. Roasted, chocolate malt and not much else. Lingeringly bitter, with a bit of cream. Not very carbonated, but moderately heavy. Nice.

O: In the final review, not a great imperial stout. Still a decent enough beer though. I wouldn't recommend it, or have another, but it looks cool and I wouldn't steer you away.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2012 06:29:41 | More by AgentMunky

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.85/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Enjoyed on tap at The Ginger Man NYC. Rpasty aroma. This is black with three-eighths inch of head, and leaves lots of lace tral down the glass. It has a thick mouthfeel and is smooth. Licorice, hoppy, a bit astringent, though good drinkability. Very good but not exceptional for the style.

Serving type: on-tap

03-06-2011 13:28:31 | More by northyorksammy

vacax

California

3.9/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Beachwood BBQ. Poured pitch black with around a centimeter of dark brown head that had some fair retention and comparably nice lacing. Aroma is pungent and loaded with roasted coffee beans, malt, oak, and vanilla. Maybe a bit overdone on the roast. The flavor is packed with roast, dark malts, a bit astringent actually, lots of oak and oaky bitterness, vanilla, and cookie. Finish has a touch of floral hops along with lots of roast and cookie. Full bodied, lightly slick with a slight chewiness. I liked this beer, it was perhaps a bit much on the roasted elements, but the overall flavor was nice.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2010 20:55:32 | More by vacax

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle poured into a pint glass

A near black body with a creamy tan head that rose two+ fingers. Some nice sip marks develop as you work your way through the glass.

The nose has a good amount of dark roast, bordering on char, with brown sugar, rich dark chocolate, and licorice. Solid aroma, but not overly impressive.

Deep, dark roast with some char and smoke come out in the flavor profile. Licorice and molasses notes evident as well. Sweet. Dark, rich chocolate notes and some coffee grounds come out in the finish with a little bit of ashy char. Most times you encounter char or ash it is a detractor, but it works well balancing out some of the sweetness in this stout.

Full body, smooth and rich. A touch slick, but mainly creamy.

Solid stout on all fronts. This is a great go to.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 19:18:13 | More by ColForbinBC

DovaliHops

California

3.91/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

2013. Pours pitch black with a medium-large dark tan head that goes down slowly. Scent is packed with roasted malt and burnt cocoa aromas. Lots of dark chocolate. A bit of charcoal with some nice espresso aromas. Some earthy aromas with more burnt malt and roasted malt. Very roasty! Taste is dark chocolate at first...tons of roasted malt and a hint of citrus...just a tiny bit. There is a coffee flavor, but it is a bit stale...not very fresh. Finishes with more dark chocolate. Mouthfeel is full bodied, and nicely carbonated...maybe a bit too carbonated. Drinkability is high for an imperial stout. Overall, where this beer lacks in depth and complexity, it makes up for in drinkability. It goes down way to smoothly. A beer like this should be treated as a sipper, but it's hard when you are able to take big gulps of it (partially due to carbonation). This is a solid imperial stout, just nothing world class. Flavor is lacking a bit.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 08:30:45 | More by DovaliHops

woosterbill

Connecticut

3.93/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at the Rattle-n-Hum into a 25cl Allagash goblet.

A: Jet black body with an inch of frothy brown foam. Good retention and lacing. Very dark and very attractive stout.

S: Coffee, chocolate, roasted barley, and a hint of citrus hops. Very sweet overall, but the hops are a nice touch.

T: Coffee is dominant out of the gate, with very sweet maltiness backing it up. Maybe a bit too sweet, as the flavors don't resolve into chocolate or caramel, but remain purely sweet malt. Some hops on the finish, but not quite enough to balance the cloyingness. Quite tasty nonetheless.

M: Fairly thick with moderate carbonation.

D: A little too sweet for me, but not too bad. I still would have liked more than 25cl (especially since the menu said 12oz, which is 40% more beer, but I'm not a complainer).

Notes: This one came highly recommended by Phil the bartender, and I was excited to try my first Speakeasy brew. While not quite blown away, I found this to be well-done and thoroughly enjoyable. There are many impy stouts I'd rather have, but this was a great one to get to try.

Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

06-08-2010 11:14:54 | More by woosterbill

kaseydad

California

3.98/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Scarface...

Pours a solid black brew with a nice brown frothy head with light lacing.

The aroma has some chocolate up front followed by roasted malts and some boozy bourbon.

The taste is very roasty with some chocolate and coffee coming through. Somewhat smokey and woody also and the finish is roasted malts. The booze is there for the enjoyment and some light lingering hops.

Decent mouthfeel. Slick and oily.

Overall this is a good Imperial Stout. I like the placement in bourbon barrels though I think I may have drank it a tad early. This would probably do well with a little age on it. Not a bad price either. Solid beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2012 02:37:19 | More by kaseydad

BlurryVisi0n

New York

3.98/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served in a snifter glass.

Appearance: Pouring this beer it is super opaque, a brown-black with a tan head rising to maybe 1/3".

Smell: This is the weakest property of the beer granted it smells good just very light of chocolate and malts.

Taste: Screams dark bitter chocolate, malty and rich. Coffee no make that more like espresso. This is fine beer.

Mouth: Sticking after-taste, with a medium carbonation. On one more note the flavor and complexity just hugs your cheeks (for real, for real).

Overall: This beer was bought be3caue of my love of imperial stouts, and honestly it hangs with the best of them. It isn't perfect but it is damn well great. It won't hit you in the head as far as pockets but will but will hit you with great quality, Salud!

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2012 01:50:20 | More by BlurryVisi0n

birchstick

Missouri

3.98/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Another hook-up from KevSal. Thanks again Kev!

A - pours dark black with a chocolaty head on it

S - nose is a mixture of dark chocolates with less strong coffee aromas

T - starts off with sweet chocolates that quickly move to dark chocolates. The dark chocolates pretty much take the helm of the ship and guide the beer through the rest of the palate journey. Although not uber complex, this is nice and rich.

M - full and smooth from all of the malts packed into it

D - really nice imperial stout on show case here. Rich and full of flavor. Enjoyable and definitely worth a shot. Thanks again for the bottle, Kev!

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2012 02:47:26 | More by birchstick

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.98/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours jet black in color with a thin tan head that left a mild coating of lacing down the sides of the glass.

S: A nice little booze sting on the nose with dark chocolate, anise and coffee

T: Taste starts with some black patent malt, chocolate malt and hints of coffee. There is a substantial amount of anise throughout this beer. A nice booze sting persists, but sharpens on the end

M: Big body, well carbonated, not really creamy but more so in your face. I can see how some stouts drinkers could find this abrasive

O: A nice, tastefull Imperial with just the right amount of everything I like in a stout.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 17:02:38 | More by barleywinefiend