The Event Horizon - Olde Hickory Brewery

Dreadnaught33

District of Columbia

4.68/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

On tap at churchkey as part of CBC.

Pours a super jet black with a nice tan head and pretty substantial lacing, looks very oily and delicious.

The smell is amazing and has tons of beautiful bourbon, vanilla, molasses, touch of sweet latte, honey, oak wood, and some fudge. Rides that line of imperial stout in bourbon and barrel aged strong ale, but it's delicious. Taste follows the smell to a T, with some extra decadent choco cake notes and more roast. Also some great honey soaked barley and amazing explosions of flavor from the spirit.

The feel is a little thinner than expected, but still great. I almost expect to have more alcohol hit me with something with this much flavor.

Overall this beer is great and so drinkable for something this flavorful!

Serving type: on-tap

03-27-2013 20:27:46 | More by Dreadnaught33

thegodfather2701

North Carolina

3.68/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Poured into a snifter. It was pitch black with a tiny ring of mocha colored foam that didn't leave any lacing.

S-Coffee, chocolate, bourbon, blackstrap molasses

T-Roasted malt, coffee, bourbon, leather, and a lingering flavor that I can only describe as like an artificial sweetener.

M-Fairly thick and creamy, with not much carbonation at all.

D-This was a one and done for me I didn't like the leather note and the lingering odd aftertaste.

Overall, I was disappointed in this beer. I have had Olde Hickory's regular imperial stout and thought it was amazing, but this let me down. However, I would try this again and recommend others trying it as well.

Serving type: on-tap

12-13-2012 01:54:49 | More by thegodfather2701

GJ40

North Carolina

4.48/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Sampled on tap at the Busy Bee in Raleigh. Basic appearance with black color and small head. But huge in aroma with loads of bourbon. flavor leads with bourbon but balanced with roasted malt and malt sweetness. Very interesting and only gets better as it warms.

Serving type: on-tap

11-24-2012 01:51:51 | More by GJ40

beer2day

North Carolina

4.88/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On tap at Busy Bee for the Raleigh Beer Week kickoff party. 2011 keg.

Classic black pour into a tulip glass. A bit disappointing was the complete lack of head and weak lace. Really the only thing taking away from this glass, though.

Nose is oh so good. Big chocolate aroma with a good hop character underneath. Musty tobacco, roast malt, dark roast coffee all combine with bourbon to yield a very complex nose. All the components work very well together.

All of the flavors picked up in the nose translate to the taste. The bourbon is a bit stronger than in the nose. Very dry finish with a good bitter bite from both chocolate and hop sources.

Medium body, not completely up to the complex flavors.

An outstanding glass of beer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-27-2012 15:44:47 | More by beer2day

beckard13

North Carolina

4.58/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

On Tap at Amos Howards

A - Pours a pitch black. A burnt caramel/khaki head that dissipates pretty quickly. Leaves a little lacing.

N - Smell the bourbon. Also, get the hints of dark fruits, dark chocolate and the honey.

M - medium mouthfeel. There is definitely a creamy/chewy feel but maybe not quite as much as you would expect from such a big barrel aged stout.

T - The bourbon is very present up front and at the back. Combines nicely with the sweetness of the honey. Pretty roasty as well. Slight alcohol burn going down. Very nice taste.

O - Awesome barrel aged stout. Very drinkable. Combines all of the flavors excellently. If you enjoy large stouts and barrel aged stouts, this is a must try.

Serving type: on-tap

01-15-2012 19:48:59 | More by beckard13

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.53/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Had this today at the Olde Hickory Tap Room down town...

Pour black & oily with a modicum of tan head. Minimal head retention & some sticky lacing

Nice Bourbon notes, some cheyy, oak & vanilla

Dark chocolate, Bourbon, & oakyness up front. A touch of dryness gives way to a bit of earthy coffee & molasess with nice vnnilla swwetness. Finishes dry, smooth & soothing, not perfect, but a damn good take on the stylr

MF: Chewy,sooth & warming

Drank very easy for the style. This brewery has really progessed in the last few-3 years, well done OHB. You've done this ex-Hickory, NC resident proud!

Serving type: on-tap

12-02-2011 23:50:51 | More by russpowell

GehenHerzog

North Carolina

5/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Had on tap at Duckworths. Poured into a 8.5 oz goblet. Thanks goes out to Habmike for throwing this (a long with a bunch of other awesome brews) for the brothers appearance.

A- Pours pitch black with a finger mocha head. Dissolves quickly but leaves tremendous lacing

S- Smell is of rich chocolate, bourbon and slight hint of coffee. Wonderful.

T- Taste is very creamy. Nice chocolate flavor. Nice toasted coconut flavor and very slight bourbon, oak wood flavor on the back end.

M- Thick but not too thick. Perfectly carbonated.

D- Dangerously drinkable. Poured a couple while I was at Duckworth's. Couldn't get enough of it. The alcohol is very well hidden even though it's not a "huge" beer.

This is my favorite beer and can't wait til it's released again at the end of the year. IF you haven't tried this beer, do whatever you can to try it. It's worth the hype and some. This is the first time I've reviewed it on tap and it's worthy of all 5's, in my opinion.

Serving type: on-tap

05-13-2011 02:05:56 | More by GehenHerzog

ROBORB

North Carolina

4.78/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A: On draft and from 22 oz bomber this beer pours solid black with a brown 2 inch head that fades quickly.
S: The beers smells like a bourbon stout should with dark roasted malts, chocolate, smooth bourbon and some residual molasses.
T: The taste is what does it for me with this beer. You are assaulted with the aforementioned malts and chocolate initially. The taste develops into a nice vanilla/coconut bourbon that is still holding onto the chocolate. And finally it finishes sweet with the honey and chocolate following through. These guys did a great job of making something just complex enough and not over the top that it is actually very drinkable!
M: The mouthfeel is on par with some of the best bourbon stouts that I have had. The carbonation level seems to be just right but I would still like it to be a little more viscous.
D: At 8.5 ABV and the taste not fatiguing your palate this beer is very drinkable.

Kudos to Olde Hickory for a great job on this beer, highly recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

02-04-2011 15:52:09 | More by ROBORB

SeattleBeerBlog

Washington

5/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A- Poured a midnight black, with a dark tan head. Seriously dark, held a flashlight to it and it sucked the light in...like an event horizon, crazy cool.

S- Smells of Burbon, and good burbon at that. also has chocolate, coffee notes as well as some sweetness. I couldn't believe how much this smelled like Burbon though, reminded me of putting your nose in a glass. Fantastic.

T- Tastes of sweet burbon at first but quickly gives way to roasted coffee and Chocolate as well as a slight bitterness. The beer is a smooth rise and fall of flavor, extremely impressive, while the burbon makes you think alcohol it quickly gives away. FANTASTIC

M- great carbonation and mouthfeel, a bit on the heavy side like a Imperial should but still not cloying.

D- This is probably the best Imperial Stout I have had so far, perhaps even one of the best beers I have ever had, if not the best. Not for the timid or weak but this beer is simply spectacular. Props to Old Hickory, and please make more of this.

Serving type: on-tap

01-19-2011 16:13:43 | More by SeattleBeerBlog

wcudwight

North Carolina

4.8/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Opaque in color with a nice creamy beige colored head. Head lasted until the glass was empty and left soapsuds lacing. Very rich and intense aromas of dark chocolate, vanilla, espresso and burbon. All very balanced and working together as a cohesive unit. The flavor is very intense without being too much. This beer walks that fine line perfectly. The flavor is a mixture of dark chocolate, espresso, roasted oats and grains, and burbon. Thick, creamy and smooth mouthfeel. Man I wish this one wasn't so limited because I'd love to stock my cellar up with this one.

Serving type: on-tap

01-02-2011 03:49:30 | More by wcudwight

CBlack85

South Carolina

4.28/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Duckworths in Charlotte, served in a pint glass

This beer is completely black with no highlights and about one inch of dark tan head that quickly recedes leaving behind a fair amount of lacing.

The aroma is all sweet milk chocolate with subtle hints of vanilla, bourbon and honey. Quite a sweet nose with very little roastiness to balance it out.

The taste is very similar to the aroma. Lots of sweet chocolate and honey. Very little in the way of roastiness; there is some there, but not much. There are some hints of bourbon, and some vanilla from the barrel. I get just the slightest bit of alcohol burn. Full bodied and very creamy, the carbonation is spot on. Extremely easy to drink.

Really this is a terrific beer that will only get better as it ages. Mellow and quite drinkable for an 8.5% ABV Impy Stout. Just a little sweeter than I would typically like, but overall a great beer.

Serving type: on-tap

12-27-2010 21:48:02 | More by CBlack85

HKYJoe286

North Carolina

4.68/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured into a 12 oz pilsner glass at Olde Hickory Tap Room.

Appearance: Totally opaque blackness (a camera flash won't even penetrate it), with a 1/2 inch creamy tan/mocha head consisting of tiny bubbles. Begins to dissipate immediately, leaving lacing on the glass.

Smell: Immediate notes of vanilla, bourbon and oak. Slight tobacco aroma as well.

Taste: Complexity, complexity, complexity. Coffee, dark chocolate, hints of toffee and caramel. The vanilla lingers on the end.

Mouthfeel: It tastes as creamy as it smells. The carbonation is perfect for the style.

Drinkablilty: This beer can't be 8.5%, it drinks way too easy. I could drink this all night long, granted I might only finish a couple pints, but this isn't a beer that you would want to chug, that would be just greedy.

Overall: This beer is a gem! For such a limited release this beer could sell for twice its price. One of the best barrel-aged beers from Olde Hickory yet. For being so young out of the barrels, this beer is deceptively smooth. I wish I could drink this beer in one ounce sips per night over the course of a winter.

Serving type: on-tap

12-23-2010 05:38:35 | More by HKYJoe286

Onenote81

North Carolina

4.38/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Went to the OHB tasting at City Beverage in town this last weekend, and thought I was only going to get a sample of this, but to my surprise, they had it on tap! Score! Now I can muster the self control to hold my bottle for a little while longer. Enjoyed this one with a couple local BAs, mjmadden and EasyReader.

They poured this one into a pint glass, filled to the brim. A small mocha sheet thinly veils this evil-looking brew. On first whiff, this reminds me a liquid Hershey's bar. Pure sweet chocolate. Notes of vanilla, oak and faint bourbon. This aspect is not as strong as I'd expected, but that's just fine with me. I prefer the roasted/chocolate tones to the boozy ones.

Excellent mouthfeel as this completely coats and warms the palate. Silky smooth. Soft finish. The bourbon quality complements this beer excellently, but is not in-your-face at all. Lots of roasted malts, bittersweet chocolate, mild cold coffee, honey, and hints of vanilla tannins. And only 8.50%, are you kidding me?! This was such a treat. I could sip this one all day. Best thing OHB has ever put out. For those that enjoy the big boozy BBA Stouts, this may not be your favorite, but I loved it.

Serving type: on-tap

12-13-2010 14:30:02 | More by Onenote81

Powderhornphil

Minnesota

4.15/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

2012 vintage

Nothing unexpected that this beer pours black. Jet Black. It is of note the richness of the caramel colored head about 2 fingers deeps. Nice.

Not a bourbon bomb, the nose has hints of bourbon, deep cacao, some barrel and vanilla.

The taste starts with a sweet bourbon and continues to cacao. Lots of bittersweet roast. It tastes like a 90 percent cacao chocolate bar with the healthy does of bitterness. But there's a honey, malty sweetness to balance it and it finishes like the dryness of just swallowing a chocolate covered expresso bean.

Medium mouthfeel. not too heavy.

Certainly worth it to try this beer at least once.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 23:01:13 | More by Powderhornphil

homebrew311

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Appearance is pitch black with minimal head. Nose features heavy dark chocolate with cacao, molasses, vanilla and a touch of honey. Taste is rich and full of deep chocolate with minimal bourbon character. Mf is thick and lightly carbonated. Overall

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 21:55:20 | More by homebrew311

UCLABrewN84

California

4.08/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Thanks to Wowcoolman for sharing this one at his tasting.

2011 vintage.

Pours an opaque black with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, cocoa, char, and wood aromas. Taste is much the same with cocoa and bourbon flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of roasty bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good beer that tastes much better than it smells in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 01:19:30 | More by UCLABrewN84

kawilliams81

Illinois

4.46/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

2012 vintage. Poured from a 22 oz bottle into a Pipeworks snifter.

A- pours pitch black with a 1 finger cola head. Sporadic bubbles and blotches of lacing remain on the glass.

S- very nice blend of chocolate, bourbon and vanilla.

T- chocolate, caramel, honey, vanilla, and bourbon.

M- medium body and carbonation. Actually drinks bigger than a 8.5% beer, in a good way.

O- very nice BA RIS! Surprised that it was only a 8.5% beer. Nice meld of chocolate, bourbon and vanilla.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 03:16:12 | More by kawilliams81

Chaney

District of Columbia

4.78/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I had this on cask at Churchkey as part of the Craft Brewing Conference 2013. I had both a full snifter and another taster of this stuff.

A: Poured as black as night and with an oil-like consistency. That coupled with the fact that the head was only a couple of shades lighter than the liquid below it let me know right off the bat that I was in for a ride.

S: Nah, wouldn't say this was a bourbon bomb at all. It deserves more credit than that. The bourbon combined with the overall hop/malt profile produced something that was oaky, nutty, and even a bit fruity (dark fruit - dates and/or figs). Take high grade hot cocoa, throw in some dates and vanilla, then age that on oak chips and then take a whiff... You've got yourself some Event Horizon!

T: Cocoa laced buttercream frosting with oak. Simply sublime! Also, the finish on this was as smooth as silk and sort of reminded me of the first time I ever had a dark chocolate Dagoba milkshake at the Hershey's Chocolate World.

M: Ridiculous sticky lacing on this bad boy, not much bitterness, no booze detected, yet at the same time, the sugar was really dialed down to a very gulpable level. Remarkable!

O: Pure bliss in a glass. No need for dessert if you have this one around. Actually, come to think of it, there's no need for breakfast or lunch either.

Serving type: cask

03-29-2013 11:24:28 | More by Chaney

WillCarrera

Illinois

4.54/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On cask at Churchkey, served in a snifter.

A- Pours black with a thick layer of creamy, mocha head, has great retention and some spotty lacing.

S- Goddamn this smells delicious. Has a great aroma of creamy milk chocolate, caramel, bourbon, vanilla, some barrel, and an awesome honey aroma. The chocolate, bourbon, vanilla and honey are all amazing and create a sweet, but not at all cloying, aroma. This is really fantastic.

T- Nice chocolate and honey sweetness, accents of vanilla, caramel and bourbon. There's a bit of roastiness, but it's mostly this great, smooth sweetness.

M- Full-bodied, has moderate to low carbonation with a soft, smooth feel and a tiny bit of alcohol warmth.

O- I love this beer. The flavors are blended very nicely and are all delicious. It also has a huge amount of flavor for 8.5%, it's complex and tasty enough to sip at but I could happily have finished off a bomber of this on my own. I need more of this beer.

Serving type: cask

03-28-2013 05:11:11 | More by WillCarrera

joefuzz

New York

4.49/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2012 bottle

Dark brown pour with small almond head. Smells wonderfully of bourbon and chocolate, barrel aging is very apparent. Taste starts with vanilla, brown sugar and oak and ends with some slight alcohol heat. Carbonation is lower side with a slightly light mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 02:15:20 | More by joefuzz

smakawhat

Maryland

4.29/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a small snifter at Smoke & Barrel DC for the bottle share.

A very dark walnut black body, very dark brew, with a nice mocha brown colored dark head. Very nice looking brew.

Nose brings some sticky molasses with a lighter sense. Good balanced mix of caramel senses and light charring roast. Good oak "round"-ness, everything feels subtle and together, but noticeable.

Palate brings much of what is expected on the nose, with some surprises. Very mild roast character with a large oak depth and feel. Very light palate but still manages to fill the mouth with flavors of light bodied dark chocolate. Light warmth and in control, mid palate seems to have most of the flavor with not much of a finish, but balances with perfect roast and chocolate.

There is a huge dark chocolate milkshake quality to this brew, which really does blur the lines a bit between beer, but it makes it super easy to drink. It may not be an ultimate favorite of mine, but it's easily one of the most memorable beers I've had in this style. I would have this again, but strangely it's un-beer like character is a bit of a turn off, and that's by far a minor fault if there is any with this brew to begin with.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 18:28:57 | More by smakawhat

Beerontwowheels

Maryland

4.33/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Bottle courtesy of kbuzz. Many thanks for knocking off this want!

Poured to a snifter with about a fingers worth of creamy dark tan head. Leaves a light film that intrigues. The smell is amazing. Rich, dark, brownie batter chocolate mixes eloquently with smooth bourbon. Damn.

The taste is more chocolate, coffee, vanillins and bourbon. Really well incorporated. There something a little different about this one and I think it's the honey that I'm picking up.

The mouthfeel carries a nice heft. This is a pretty thick one, but not overwhelming. Can be creamy at times.

Overall, I could drink a bottle or three of this a year. Definitely something I'll be looking for in the years ahead.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 17:54:12 | More by Beerontwowheels

mdaschaf

Washington

4.38/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

2010 Vintage

A: Pours a deep black with a tan/brown head on top, about a finger upon pouring, which reduces to a thin cap on top. Thin lacing.

S: Some dark fruits, cherrys, plum, and raisins mixed with chocolate, bourbon, a bit of oak and vanilla.

T: Similar to the aroma and fantastic. Lots of chocolate and bourbon flavors up front, a bit of brown sugar and molasses. More dark fruit in the middle mixed with a touch of honey.

M: Full bodied with moderate carbonation.

O: Glad I was finally able to try this beer, definitely a highlight from the tasting.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 23:03:54 | More by mdaschaf

jeonseh

Indiana

3.96/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Shared by leftyhyzer at NWI tasting group super bowl drinking

A - Dark chocolate color with thick body that coats the glass. Light brown on the edges with small amounts of carbonation and not head

S - Bourbon on the nose with light caramel and vanilla. Dark, roasted chocolate and slight honey

T - Sweet bourbon vanilla up front with light caramel. Light honey, roasted malt, and slight smokiness. Finish is slight roasted coffee that lingers on

MF - Light body with light bitter coffee that lingers on in the finish to create a slight astringency

O - Solid fudgy beer with chocolate and honey sweetness. The honey adds a nice sweetness to the beer overall that is unique in a stout

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 04:15:04 | More by jeonseh

harrymel

Washington

4.18/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Vintage 2012

Black with a quilt of mocha foam. Smell was evident as soon as I cracked the bottle. I don't know what barrels they used here, but I only have smelled this nose in PVW 20+ yr barrel aged beers. Minerals, nougat, vanilla, booze, cocoa, marzipan and honey in here. Really complex nose. Flavor is robust with sweet malts, some caramel, some fudge and some molasses. Again the honey is evident - which surprises me. Mineral character still there also. Full bodied with low carb and an off-dry finish. Nice beer, really the nose does it, the flavor doesn't do the olfactory justice.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 08:09:15 | More by harrymel