Doubly Down 'N Even Dirtier - Tyranena Brewing Company

chicagobeerriot

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A very solid stout from Tyranena.

As Ron Burgandy would say: it is the color of fine mohogany. Not the pitch black of some impys, but let's wait until we taste it before getting too bent out of shape about this.

The smell shows considerable promise: complex blend of coffee char, molasses, vanilla and wood. No one note bowls you over; just a nice subtle blend.

The mouthfeel is a shade thinner than some of the category leaders, but it holds its own.

Lots to mull over on the taste buds. Some baker's chocolate, nutty breadiness, some mild coffee and vanilla. With repeated sips, the vanilla begins to club the other flavors into submission and the finish has a very mild acidic note that detracts slightly. That said, this is a solidly above average stout. Well worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2011 01:48:41 | More by chicagobeerriot

nrbw23

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- Pours a pitch black color with a fairly thin brown head. Head is gone pretty quick, forms a ring around the edge and leaves very little lacing.

S- Smell is really nice. Picking up quite a bit of roasted malts, chocolate, vanilla and quite a bit of bourbon and wood too.

T- Taste is really nic too. Follows the nose quite well. A great taste from the barrel. A good amount of vanilla, bourbon and roasted malts.

M- A little bit thin in body for my liking. Medium in body and carbonation was good.

O- This is a very solid brew for sure.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2011 16:40:27 | More by nrbw23

Duff27

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Not much in the way of looks. No head, some lacing.

Wonderful smelling. Vanilla, oak.

Lots of sweetness. Vanilla dominates, takes it to a whole new level. Not the artificial kind either, just real sweet vanilla. Some chocolate roastiness in there. Would guess at a higher ABV than what it actually is just because of the -bal factor.

Nice thick mouthfeel, lower end of carbonation.

A real vanilla treat, bring this one back Tyranena! Wooo!

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2011 05:46:46 | More by Duff27

doughanson78

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle poured into a snifter. Received this from Phelps in the Tickers BIF.

A: Black as night in the glass. The slightest wisp of a mocha head that still leaves awesome lacing.

S: A nice subdued bourbon aroma. A very nice vanilla coming through. Chocolate mingles very well with the bourbon and vanilla. A very slight roasted coffee comes through.

T: Bittersweet milk chocolate upfront. Vanilla and bourbon come into play and blend very well with a very mild roastiness. No alcohol is detectable. Just a light butterscotch bourbon finish.

M: Medium bodied, very light for an Imperial Stout. Low carbonation. Smooth. Would have liked it to be fuller and creamier.

O: A very good beer. The chocolate, vanilla, and bourbon come together very nice. Very well balanced.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2011 19:53:33 | More by doughanson78

tsauce2

Indiana

4.47/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

P: 12 fl oz bottle in to an imperial pint glass

A: SRM is dark brown/black. Tan head is 1 in., tight bubbles, recedes to line rim of glass. Medium lacing. Nearly opaque.

S: Chocolate, bourbon, and vanilla mix with roasted malt.

T: Coco nibs and vanilla initially hit, with roasted malts following and finishes with a bourbon note.

M: Medium body. Complexity in flavor gives a unique mf. Sweet, bitter, and bourbon/wood notes give contrasting points of reference.

O: Excellent use of ingredients. Fantastically balanced and very, very tasty. One of my favorites.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2011 12:42:22 | More by tsauce2

kzoobrew

Michigan

4.08/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes. Enjoyed 7/9/11

Big thanks to Eric for this bottle. Cheers!

Deep black body, minimal light breaking the surface. One finger cafe au lait head rests atop momentarily. Retention is rather minimal, works its way back rather quickly leaving scant lacing clinging to the glass.

Rich roasted malt and coffee up front. Pleasant bittersweet chocolate and vanilla come in just behind. The oak is almost more prominent that the bourbon. The bourbon is noticeable but remains subtle.

Sweet chocolate and caramel flavors flood the palate upfront. Strong vanilla flavor comes in to play just behind. The bourbon flavor is very smooth and pleasant through out, never becomes as assertive as I imagined however.

Medium bodied stout, carbonation is moderate. The texture is soft and smooth, falls just short of being creamy.

Rather tasty beer. Flavors are very pleasant and well balanced. The sweetness becomes a bit too assertive for my likings however it does not become obstructive. Very easy to drink, would definitely seek this one out again.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 16:51:21 | More by kzoobrew

oline73

Maryland

3.88/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a goblet.

Appearance: Pours a completely opaque dark brown. There is a half finger of off white/light tan head. The head goes away completely quite quickly.

Smell: Slightly roasty but the dominant smell is sweet chocolate. There is some vanilla and a very mild bourbon note.

Taste: Tastes like bourbon/vanilla chocolate milk. There is a very mild roast to this beer. The sweetness is full of chocolate and vanilla. The bourbon shows up more in the finish as the beer warms.

Mouthfeel: The body is on the thick side with very mild carbonation. The beer clings to your mouth and is quite slick.

Overall: This is a very nice desert beer. Lots of chocolate and vanilla notes. The bourbon just adds to the flavor and doesn't take over the beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 01:38:53 | More by oline73

emerge077

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottled on: 04NOV10

Thin ring of tan stucco up top, spotty flash on the sides. Wispy across the surface. Jet black body. Frothy sticky edges.

Deep and distinguishable aromas, all coffee, vanilla, and chocolate. Softened with age, but still spongy and marshmallow sweet.

Milky sweetness, vanilla and coffee figure largely into the flavor, earthy dark roast coffee bitterness cameos later. Vague hints of char in the aftertaste. Melted dark chocolate intertwines with a light bourbon impression.

Thin, milky, lightly buttery feel, lightly astringent from the roast. Similar to a few other Tyranena stouts of distant memory. Big on flavor, light on body... could beef up a little. A tasty stout, glad to have tried it.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2011 03:44:48 | More by emerge077

readbaron

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to bauermj for the pour.

Looks like your standard Impy Stout - maybe slightly more transparent and brown, but look is good.

Nose is very impressive. Vanilla and chocolate dominate. It's rich, sweet, and deliciously malty with a touch of booze and bourbon.

Taste holds up as well. Chocolate malt up front, balanced by a bit of bourbon, with subtle and delicious vanilla notes. As you sip it, you get the sense that this would be exceptionally quaffable. It's not as rich as a lot of imperial stouts.

Feel is good, but a bit thin and slightly watery. It's well carbonated.

Overall, a really tasty beer. I'll keep my eye out for it and would like to have more.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2011 20:58:02 | More by readbaron

KickInTheChalice

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a snifter. Thanks to bauermj for opening this up.

Appearance: My pour has a molasses brown hue with slightly lighter transparent edges and a wispy off-white head.

Smell: The aroma is full and robust. Dark, unsweetened chocolate, roast coffee, roasted malt, some light tobacco and smoke.

Taste: The flavor is full of roasted and bitter notes. Roasted malt borders on burnt, with some smokey notes as well. Dark chocolate and roast coffee are noticeable as well. The bitterness lingers throughout the taste and finish. At the finish there is a light woody oak that contributes the only barrel character I get from this beer.

Mouthfeel: This is a little light body for the style, although I understand it is only 7.5% ABV. The carbonation is a little fuller than medium and there is a light stickiness as well.

Overall: Even though this is a little bit light, it packs some nice flavor and has a great aroma.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2011 22:22:48 | More by KickInTheChalice

CruisaC

Ohio

3.78/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Received as an extra in a recent trade with nwu008; thanks Erin.

A fairly wimpy dark khaki head forms with a fairly vigorous pour into my Rodenbach snifter.

Smells a little weak. I get some coffee and chocolate but I find I have to take in a pretty big drag to pick much up. Maybe a hint of bourbon on the end.

Taste is better: tons of chocolate-flavored iced coffee. A bit of bourbon on the back end but I had to let it warm (as I probably should have from the get-to) to get much of this. pleasant overall.

Medium body, good carbonation. Would prefer just a touch thicker but I'm reaching here.

Overall lots of potential here that seemed to just slightly miss the mark. Still pretty tasty and I'm glad to have tried it.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2011 00:51:16 | More by CruisaC

jale

Michigan

4.03/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Big thanks to my great friend Eric(turdfurgison) for this treat.

A: Pours a deep dark brown with slight brown head.

S: Beautiful roasted coffee followed by cocoa bourbon and a hint of vanilla.

T: Sweet upfront moving into mild bitter roasted coffee and mild bitter cocoa. The cocoa and coffee are nicely done with just the right amount of bitterness. Small amounts of bourbon add to this versus overpowering. Just a hint of hop bitterness in the finish and vanilla in the late. Alcohol is well hidden.

M: Heavy body that is smooth and creamy with good carbonation.

O: A nice beer that could be a tiny bit less sweet.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2011 23:01:26 | More by jale

sholland119

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to maximum12 for sending this one. Thanks, Corey.

A-Pours a cedary dark brown with almost no head.

S-Sweet vanilla, toasted marshmallow with some understated chocolate notes, and just a hint of bourbon.

T-Starts off with sweet vanilla and toasted marshmallow, chocolate and mocha. Great start. Some heat from the bourbon in the finish, not too hot but nice use of bourbon. Very much in balance.

M-A bit thin, appropriate to the ABV but still a bit thin.

O-Quite delicious. It's been too long since I had a Brewer's Gone Wild series beer.

HV

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2011 02:04:10 | More by sholland119

Klym

California

4.45/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Massive gratitude to Klikger for this wonderful in an excessively generous trade on his part. Poured into a darkness snifter, also compliments of Klikger!!

A: Pours black with the darkest of brown on the edges. A nice creamy 1cm leather brown head sits on top and leaves killer lacing. Great look!

S: Bourbon barrel spicyness peppers a coffee tinged, very heavy chocolate smell with vanilla bean smoothness rounding it out. Love to get so much intensity from all of the smells.

T: Much like the smell, heavy chocolate with a nice vanilla bean smoothness to it, and a tad of coffee and wood bite. Much more wood comes through from the barrel than bourbon character in my opinion, but it has that nice slight spicy burn that makes sense out of the bourbon character. For the abv this is down right super delicous.

M: Medium bodied but the creaminess of the carbonation makes up for a lot. Again, for the ABV I think it's as good as it gets.

O: I really enjoyed this. It's no record setter in any particular aspect but for a relatively low abv double stout, it's delicious, packed with smell and flavor, drinkable, and gives you a taste of all of its ingredients.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2011 00:09:12 | More by Klym

wnh

Missouri

4.08/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle poured into a goblet. Consumed 12.10.2010.

Pours an opaque brown-black with the slightest mahogany highlights, topped by a small and fleeting tan head.

Aromas of dark chocolate, coffee (decidedly not just coffee beans), charred oak, vanilla. Maybe a touch of earthy hops in the background. The chocolate note has a bit of a chocolate syrup edge to it, lending some sweetness. Smells delicious.

Shows decidedly more roast on the palate. Flavors of bitter chocolate, nearly-burnt coffee, evergreen needles, vanilla and coconut, and a bit of char. Quite heavy and still. Sweet chocolate syrup flavor emerges slowly, but is thankfully complementary and doesn't become cloying. Finishes dry and a touch woody.

Full bodied and firm. A bit rough around the edges, which lessens my opinion of it. Seems like it would be a good foil for certain foods, but exactly what I can't say. I didn't really get any bourbon notes until it warmed up a fair bit, but with time I'm getting butterscotch and perhaps leather, among others, in both the nose and the palate; this seems to take a bit of the roughness off.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2011 21:55:19 | More by wnh

robwestcott

Indiana

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

cold from the tap at macniven's pitch black to a 17.5oz goblet with a full finger, long lasting, foamy mocha head

aroma of dark chocolate and espresso roast.

chocolate up front, bourbon close behind, vanilla, toasted almonds(?).

medium bodied, smooth and creamy, low carbonation, sweet and hints of heat.

overall, very nice, enjoyable, great dessert beer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-25-2011 23:48:28 | More by robwestcott

Phelps

Arizona

3.73/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a snifter. This one’s an imperial stout brewed with cocoa nibs, then aged in bourbon barrels also filled with cocoa nibs and vanilla beans.

Pours from the bottle a syrupy jet black that looks thick as heavy creamy. There’s almost nothing in the way of head — an ephemeral layer of bubbles appears after a time but disappears right away.

The aroma begins with sharp burnt toast and bittersweet chocolate. The bourbon is very subtle, with some graham crackers and soft vanilla behind more layers of chocolate.

In the flavor, burnt toast and cocoa nibs give way to mild vanilla. It’s a bit acrid at first, but sweetness steps up after the swallow to smooth things out. The bourbon is incredibly subtle, but it does lend a bit of boozy heat.

The body’s a nicely velvety medium, with a whipped feeling on the tongue. Bitterness is fairly hefty. Very soft, electric carbonation. Alcohol is apparent in the form of ethanol fumes and some heat in the throat.

A nice showing from an off-the-shelf BA stout. The flavors are smooth, but I could use more bourbon presence.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2011 06:11:09 | More by Phelps

nataku00

California

3.63/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle poured into a tulip glass. Beer pours a very dark brown, just a shade under black with barely a half a finger of light brown soapy head that dissipated immediately to a few bubbles around the edge of the glass. A little light lacing when you swirl it around, mainly a few spots of head here and there.

Smells decent, dark and bitter roasted malt, milk chocolate, vanilla, toasted coconut, coffee. A touch of the bourbon barrel woody smell comes through as it warms.

Taking a sip, chocolate and roasted malt, a bit of coffee, middle of the tongue, some light vanilla mixing with some light bourbon, caramel, and coconut. Finish is dry and short, just a touch of roasted malt bitterness and some bourbon warmth.

Light to maybe medium bodied if I was feeling generous with a few scattered sensations of carbonation here and there. A bit thinner than I would expect from an imperial stout. Alcohol is only felt on the back of the throat, which is surprising for 7.5% abv beer as it should be easier to hide. Flavors are decent, though not as bold as I would have expected from barrel aging and the added ingredients.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2011 02:10:58 | More by nataku00

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

4.22/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Cheers to Goblinmunkey7 for half of this beer

Review adapted from notes taken 4/2/11

Appearance: Black, with some brown around the edges - the tan head starts off nice, but it fades quickly - lacing is good

Smell: Very interesting to say the least - tons of chocolate, both chocolate malts and bitter cocoa - lots of coffee, lots of vanilla, too - these aromas are so intense that the malts are kind of masked, as is the bourbon

Taste: Ridiculous, but good - lots of burnt flavors - burnt malts, espresso, chocolate, chocolate malts, roasted malts, vanilla - the bourbon is on the subtle side, which is good - some wood, too

Mouthfeel: Considering the intensity of the flavors, it feels a little thin - regardless, it's very smooth, medium-bodied

Overall: Maybe it's overkill, but it's definitely tasty

Something about this beer strikes me as a "kitchen sink" approach to making a stout. This beer involves cocoa nibs, vanilla beans, and barrel-aging... I guess this fits the "Brewers Gone Wild" concept, but it seems a little over-the-top. I guess I can't argue with the results, though, for this was tasty.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2011 19:35:59 | More by angrybabboon

Siggy125

California

4.65/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle. Deep dark cocoa brown, close to black. Khaki colored head with moderate carbonation. Nice lacing.

Smells of coffee and earthy cocoa. Whiffs of burnt toast, dark baking chocolate and roasted malt.

The taste is fantastio with no bitterness at all. Sweet dark chocolates, toffee, vanilla and coconut. Warming sensation with the bourbon barrel aging but no abv sting. Subtle hints of coffee as it warms.

Creamy oatmeal-like mouthfeel. Very, very drinkable. I quite enjoyed this. Hope to acquire more.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2011 04:36:18 | More by Siggy125

Dreadnaught33

District of Columbia

4.1/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

From 6/25/11 notes. Thanks to Dan, mfdb79, for this one.

A: Dark brown without a ton of lacing and just a ring of head. Some legs though.

S: Smell is very nice with plenty of cocoa shining through, and sort of dominating to me. Coffee, some tempered bourbon and oak, some vanilla graham clusters in there as well, lots of cereal and raw chocolate ingredient notes.

T: Taste is very nice with a more balanced attack of roasted malt, chocolate covered espresso beans with plenty of other cocoa flavors, vanilla, and just the slightest undertone of whiskey and oak. Nice fresh roast and cocoa.

M: Medium to light feel, a little too thin for me.

O: An overall good beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2011 19:02:43 | More by Dreadnaught33

AgentZero

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Dark brown color with a little bit of an off white head. No real lace on the sides.

S - The bourbon is pretty subtle on this one. Nice smells of chocolate, vanilla, slightly roasted and caramel malts, and a little bit of wood. This really does have what it promises, and it melds together rather nicely.

T - Taste is right about in line with the nose. Bourbon is pretty muted, and the chocolate, vanilla, wood, and coffee blend together well. Nothing overpowering, and pretty easy to get down.

M - Smooth, lower carbonation, almost full bodied.

O - Really enjoyable beer, and offers everything it says on the label. Something that I'd like to have again and will definitely pick up if I see it around.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2011 03:38:29 | More by AgentZero

MasterSki

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I've had this beer a few times, but always neglected to take any notes on it, assuming I'd have it again. Then it disappeared from Chicago and Milwaukee. Thankfully Mike (AgentZero) had an additional bottle he could share. Served in a Russian River tulip.

A - A small tan foam settles to some wisps and a thin ring of bubbles. Dark, dark, brown body that is reddish at the fringes. No lace.

S - Dark chocolate, oak, vanilla, molasses, and heavy on cocoa nibs. Bourbon flavor is light, but I've never found Tyranena offerings to be very whiskey heavy.

T - Heavy chocolate, but more of the milk chocolate or Whoppers variety here, along with some vanilla, caramel, light oak, and faint bourbon.

M - Smooth, lower carbonation, no alcohol, very creamy, and easy to drink. Very milkshake-like in some ways.

D - I hope they make this one again, as it was one of the best Brewers Gone Wild beers in recent memory. An enjoyable beer that isn't mind-blowing but is thoroughly enjoyable. I appreciate the mid-level ABV as well, as I would definitely want more than one of these.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2011 00:37:40 | More by MasterSki

mdfb79

New York

4.47/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From 06/25/11 notes. Huge thanks to nmann08 for bringing this one; thanks Nate! One of the better beers I had that day. Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into my Bruery tulip.

a - Pours a murky dark brown color with one to two inches of off white head and moderate carbonation evident. Spotty lacing left on the glass.

s - Smells of bourbon, vanilla, oak, caramel malts, chocolate, and roasted malts. The nose is very complex and you get an equal amount of all of these smells; nothing really dominates, which is great. An amazing nose.

t - Tastes of vanilla, oak, bourbon, chocolate, caramel malts, roasted malts, and toffee. Again, very complex and balanced, with the bourbon taking a slightly smaller role than in the nose. Again, wonderful.

m - Medium body and light carbonation. Very smooth and creamy body, and VERY easy to drink. Great mouthfeel.

o - Wow, what a great beer. I didn't really know much about this beer but I loved it; might have to try and trade for some bottles. Just a very balanced and complex barrel aged stout, but it's still very easy to drink. Just goes to show you that you can bourbon barrel age a stout and keep it under 10% and have it be just as good as the big beers, and better than most.

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2011 14:43:32 | More by mdfb79

Gtreid

Florida

4.47/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. bottle, picked up at discount in Milwaukee last Christmas. Poured into my CCB tulip.

A: Very dark brown, almost black, but not quite. A small half finger of wet sand colored head appears, than fades to a thin rim. Not much lace, but expected from a BA brew.

A: Milk and dark chocolate abound in the nose. Big time vanilla and some slight roast as well. The barrel is not as pronounced as I would have thought. But it is not in a bad way, I think the barrel just accentuates the vanilla and carmel notes.

T: Again, big chocolate up front, followed by the sweet character of the barrel. Some slight roast, and notes of char, vanilla, caramel, and wood. The beer finishes slightly dry and sweet, with a small alcohol heat.

M: Creamy and smooth. Fulll body. Carbonation is dialed down, but again expected from a BA brew.

O: I am really diggin this brew. The chocolate is huge, but complements the vanilla and the barrel. This is by far the best I've had from Tyranena, and one I would put up against the big boys. Skal.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2011 00:13:37 | More by Gtreid