Black Fang
Haines Brewing Company

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From:
Haines Brewing Company
 
Alaska, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
ABV:
8.2%
Score:
91
Avg:
4.16 | pDev: 9.62%
Reviews:
8
Ratings:
16
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 07, 2018
Added:
Apr 28, 2002
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  0
An imperial stout, Fang is rich in chocolate & coffee flavors, with a hint of licorice on the finish. This seasonal usually runs out in the summer and traditionally reappears in the tap lineup on Halloween. 40 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4.14 by unclekeith from Alaska

Dec 07, 2018
 
Rated: 2.99 by Trentt2 from Alaska

Jul 23, 2017
Photo of Lone_Freighter
Reviewed by Lone_Freighter from Vermont

4.16/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On tap at Hangar on the Wharf. This was poured into a pint glass. The appearance was a black color with a thin quarter finger tan foamy head. Light stringy lacing sticks nicely around the glass. The smell had a nice deep blend of dark chocolate and milk chocolate. A light dark licorice came through as it warmed. The taste was mainly the same as the smell was a long sweet dry aftertaste and finish. On the palate, this one sat about a medium to heavy on the body with a good sipping quality about it. Overall, what a wonderful RIS that Haines sent down here, so glad to have finally been able to try this and would definitely have again.
Jun 10, 2017
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Rated by DucksFan16 from Tennessee

4.27/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On tap, 01/12/2017.
Jan 13, 2017
Photo of Back_in_the_Saddle
Reviewed by Back_in_the_Saddle from Vermont

4.07/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
On tap at Island Pub in Douglas and Hangar on the Wharf in Juneau.
In a pint glass both times.
The appearance was a black color.
The smell was what killed it! Big sweet roasty milk chocolate, warm and inviting, almost like smelling a chocolate milk shake just a bit.
The taste was like drinking a chocolate milk shake yet still the booziness is somewhat there. Sweet milk chocolate aftertaste.
The mouthfeel was about a medium body. Light carbonation. Roasty to sweet tones hit the tongue nicely.
Overall, awesome Russian Imperial Stout. To have had this on tap was pure bliss.
Nov 23, 2015
 
Rated: 4.06 by GTJayG from Georgia

Nov 11, 2015
 
Rated: 4.36 by juneauscott from Alaska

Jun 28, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by blackcloud from Alaska

Nov 23, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by Patdonahue0719 from Colorado

Aug 28, 2013
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Reviewed by plaid75 from New York

3.89/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured a deep black hue with a one finger frothy tan head. There was good retention and lacing.

The smell featured charcoal, dry coffee and cocoa.

The flavor was a bit subdued with muted roasted notes and some smokiness.

The mouthfeel was toward the lighter side of the style.

Overall a tasty and user friendly RIS.
Jun 25, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by Reswald from Alaska

Jun 11, 2012
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Reviewed by TCHopCraver from Michigan

4.42/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
So, this beer is brewed in a tiny little subset of Haines, AK called Dalton City. It's a little street made of the old set buildings of the early '90s move White Fang, which was filmed in Haines. The brewery is in one of these set buildings. Thus, the name of the beer, Black Fang. The a.b.v. is somewhere between 8 and 9 %. I'll double check that if I go back to the brewery before I leave AK.

Black Fang comes out of the growler sporting a dark brown, just slightly short of black, color. A slow pour into a pint glass doesn't leave much of a head, but what is there is a medium-khaki/light brown color. I definitely cannot see through the brew. The lacing on my pint glass is really pretty, like characters of an old, long-lost language.

The aroma is of decadent dark chocolate, molasses, anise, and just a slight roasted/nutty smell. It's definitely a syrupy, malty, big aroma and makes me very excited to take a big tug on the Fang. Rich double chocolate cake comes to mind when I inhale this beer.

Mmm, double chocolate cake also comes to mind when I drink this beer. Coupling with the chocolate taste is a huge presence of caramel. Along with that, acidic flavors of coffee and anise grip the sides of my tongue and cheeks. The finish goes through a progression of a big, syrupy taste to an actually pretty dry, roasty, slightly hoppy dryness. This is a really fun, tasty beer to drink.

The mouthfeel, compared to other RIS's that I've had, is a little bit on the lighter side. I'd say it's medium-bodied for the style, but this really doesn't distract from the overall character of the beer. Actually, it makes it more impressive that there is so much flavor contained within. Good carbonation for the style and the finish is really nicely drying for how coating the middle of the sip is.

I am very impressed by this brew and I think it's the best that I've had from Paul's fleet. It's very complex in smell, flavor, and feel and it demonstrates many different characteristics from right out of the fridge to the last sip after it has warmed up. Perfect for a cold, snowy night in Haines.
Nov 14, 2011
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Reviewed by sprucetip from Alaska

3.8/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
From notes. Though I live close to where it is made, it isn't distributed outside of Haines, and I don't get over there much in the fall and winter when it is available (released around Halloween I believe). So I was stoked to have a growler gifted on me recently.

Pretty much black, with a little light around the edges. The thin tan head fades and leaves patchy lacing. I can see a red spot where the sun shines through.

Smells of caramel and chocolate maltyness, fruity, and vaguely boozy. There is also some faint floral hoppiness. It is rich, smooth and inviting.

Caramel malty sweetness, chocolaty, fruity and with a bit of booze. Smooth and balanced. Not especially complex, but quite tasty.

Not very carbonated (maybe the age of the growler and the ferry ride from Haines affected this?) and thinner than expected. Medium body, slight warming, and a clean finish.

Easier drinking than expected, and than an imperial stout ought to be, perhaps? Glad to have finally tried it. It seems a bit thin for the style, but yet is very tasty and satisfying.
May 15, 2010
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Reviewed by shivtim from Georgia

3.98/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
My favorite from Haines Brewing.
Tried a pint of this right at the brewery in early June, 2009.

It's a rich, opaque black brew, with a thick, small brown head. Looks very nice and substantial.

Nose is very sweet, with strong malts.

Taste is creamy, deep dark malts. Toasty. Alcohol bite on finish.

Mouthfeel is not bad, better than some other Haines brews, but still a tad thin. Good drinkability despite what I imagine is probably a fairly high ABV (didn't see it listed anywhere).
Jul 11, 2009
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Reviewed by nahthan from California

4.15/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
From growler filled right at the brewery 11/2007. Nice woody/mapley flavors. A tasty amount of residual sugars left from the London Ale yeast, but not too much. Low hop flavor/aroma. A bit of fruity esters, no noticeable diacetyl. Excellent roasted barley flavors coming through, nice clean finish. It tasted more like a homebrew; less refined than most imperial stouts, in all the best unfiltered ways. If I had a way to transport it back to the lower 48, I would like to save this one for a year before drinking it again. That said, it was extremely drinkable while on the young side. Changed my life. Thanks Paul.
Dec 02, 2007
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Reviewed by beernut7 from Massachusetts

4.74/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3 | overall: 5
I had this brew at the Great Alaskan Beer and Barleywine Festival this past winter. It was listed as an imperial stout, but had a relatively light body for such a labeling. That is the only off point about this beer. The taste was reminiscent of a robust porter; nice vanilla undertones. This is a great taste, but it is currently only available in Haines according to the brewer. Crying shame that is.
Apr 28, 2002
Black Fang from Haines Brewing Company
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 16 ratings