Heavy Seas - Bourbon Barrel Aged Siren Noire Imperial Chocolate Stout - Heavy Seas Beer

ONUMello

Ohio

4.43/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle poured into a pint glass
A: Pitch black with a one-finger mocha colored head that slowly settles
S: Chocolate, vanilla, roasted malt, bourbon. Very complex and smells great
T: Matches the smell. Like liquid chocolate with hints of vanilla and bourbon. Nice roasted malt, a bit of burnt caramel & just a kiss of hops. Very comples & tasty
M: Medium to full-bodied, smooth
O: This is a very well made, tasty beer; I wish I had more than one bottle

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2013 22:08:34 | More by ONUMello

bluejacket74

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 ounce bottle. Served in a snifter, the beer pours dark brown/black with about a half inch tan head. Head retention and lacing were both decent enough. Aroma is nice, the brew smells like chocolate, bourbon, vanilla, roasted malt, and some caramel. It tastes like milk and bittersweet chocolate, roasted and burnt/charred malt, bourbon, vanilla, and a bit of coffee. Taste is a little more bitter in comparison to the aroma which I thought was sweeter. The bourbon isn't overpowering at all, but still noticeable. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's a bit creamy and slick with good carbonation. I liked this brew, it's definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2013 21:51:17 | More by bluejacket74

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.04/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Heavy Seas : Bourbon Barrel aged Siren Noire Chocolate Stout

LOOK: Pours a oil slick black with a dark brown cap. Appears like an imperial stout with some strength and deeply roasted malt behind it.

SMELL: Opens up softly with chocolate and oak induced vanilla. A bit of smoke comes out as well as some dry wood.

TASTE: Roasted malts and some cocoa upfront. Oaky with a pleasant mild smokey bourbon. Cocoa and char, bittersweet flavor with a barrel aged dryness. Hops are faint and earthy. diggin the finish of oak, bourbon, coffee, vanilla and of course chocolates. Pretty decent!

FEEL: Medium bodied, well carbonated, oaky and semi-dry. Not a bad feel but surprisingly light, given the strength.

OVERALL: I dug this beer. I kind of figured I would because who doesn't like imperial stouts, bourbon and chocolate? I would have this again sometime, along with a chocolate dessert.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 23:35:52 | More by Stinkypuss

wmickdds32

Ohio

2.68/5  rDev -35.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Poured from a bomber into a 7 oz. beer fest glass.
Coal black and inky with a dark tan head, quickly dissapating in to lacing that lasted down the glass.
With a chocolate stout--bourbon barrell aged--I expected a great deal of chocolate, coffee and booze...I got nuttin' but stout....no chocolate....no coffee....no booze....I was seriously disappointed.
The taste was pretty much like the smell...decent imperial stout...but my expectations of a chocolate imperial bourbon barrell aged stout are high
In my mouth...nothing spectacular

Overall...Meh!
I won't buy again....too many good chocolate stouts out there to waste my dollars, time, and experience. Think Southern Tier Choklat Stout and Dragon's Breath!

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 03:59:00 | More by wmickdds32

JayReq

North Carolina

4.84/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

I will admit that I like my beers dark and heavy ("like my women," my grandfather used to say), and if there is a beer that hits that button, Siren Noire Imperial Chocolate Stout from Heavy Seas mashes it hard. I have not a such an enjoyable imperial-anything in a long time, so it is a pleasure to leave a review for this awesome (but rare at this point) brew,

Serving it from a bottle kept in a dark cabinet, I drank this beauty from a small tasting cup.

Appearance: Pouring it out, it is a beautiful pitch black with a small hint of molasses in the light. Dark brown head, very light and foamy, with enough body to it that it leaves behind a bit of a lattice.

Smell: Strangely enough the bourbon barreling has yield only the vanilla and the chocolate, as I don't smell the charcoal that usually pervades bourbon-barreled brews. Nice hint of brown sugar behind the vanilla and the chocolate. It smells just like the bottles says it should taste, which leads me to...

Taste: Basically the same thing, but this time you get the small bite of the bourbon right on the bed of the tongue after the chocolate and vanilla work their magic. Very strong and very sugary, it definitely reminds me of old molasses.

Mouthfeel: Starts off gentle with the vanilla under the robust dark chocolate. Not flat at all, which is a risk any time you barrel a beer. Maybe there was some secondary fermentation? Couldn't find any esters at the bottom of the bottle. Right in the middle of the tongue you get that small bite of whiskey, as previously mentioned, and it finished with a tiny bit of smoke, a very nice finish coupled with one last smattering of burnt sugar.

Overall I am regretting I did not buy more of these bottles. A great Imperial Stout with wonderful chocolate and bourbon expressions. This is how a beer in this style is supposed to be done.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 01:30:20 | More by JayReq

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

4.11/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75

Very glad to pick this up for just 9 bucks at the giant eagle on RT 8. ALSO my 1,600th review!

A - Head has now a thick lace ring but I did get a solid inch of deep mocha head upon pouring Color is a pitch black brown with no light even escaping at the base of my pub glass.
S - I could tell the bourbon aging has greatly crippled the intense chocolate smells of the base of the beer but the bourbon is faint which is appreciated since these guys can somewhat overdo the bourbon aspect. Caramel and toffee sweetness with a distinct vanilla character is noted along side of just faint cocoa nibs.
T - Just enough barrel to make an impact and it really does cut the edge of the fudgey chocolate sweetness the base beer had. Not sure if I liked this better but it's balanced enough to taste oak, vanilla, and some caramel flavors from the barrel. Has enough roast to keep it in balance, A pretty tasty stout.
M - Has a medium to heavy body not too bozzy to inhibit sipping so this is a very easy going stout.

Overall I do love a good balanced beer and appreciate the work that went into this but I think I prefer the sweeter chocolate imperial stout base beer for intense cocoa nib flavor.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 03:57:44 | More by DrDemento456

Rast

Maryland

4.54/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bomber as the Michigan Wolverines assert themselves against No. 1 Louisville in the 75th NCAA men's basketball championship.

Let's begin with the description on the bottle: "Imperial Stout Brewed with Chocolate and aged in Bourbon Barrels." Questionable capitalization, but certainly a description tailor-made for the tastes and standards of the average Beer Advocate reviewer, among whom I'm counted. No disappointment here: pours a deep, tootsie-roll brown with a thick head and lovely lacing. Nose is chocolate love and roasty stout coffee yum. Tastes wonderful, not overwhelmingly chocolate like some stouts I've sipped. Rich, rich, rich malt blends well with the chocolate roastiness. Smooth rich mouthfeel.

As inviting as the "sirens" who used to invite us over to their haus after men's Bible study in college. Heavy Seas may have found their niche in the outstanding stout universe.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2013 01:54:24 | More by Rast

Meerkey

Virginia

3.45/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

A: Thin, beige head. Very dark umber/black. Nice.

S: Delicious -- coffee and chocolate and smooth vanilla. Roasted malts. Little hint of bourbon. Very velvety smell.

T: Tasty, though not super interesting. A lot of coffee and chocolate notes. Taste echoes the smell pretty well. Hint of bitterness in aftertaste.

M: Nice, though a tad lackluster. Smooth, some carbonation, but doesn't pack a punch.

O: Based on appearance and smell I thought this would be better. It's good, but there's definitely something missing in the taste and mouthfeel to really make it stand out. Very smooth, but kind of boring. I'm not sure if I'd buy another.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 23:53:26 | More by Meerkey

schoolboy

Ohio

4.19/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

This came highly recommended by Sammi at Saveon. It lives up to the expectation - a beer that is like an aperitif. This beer has a lot of good going on.

It opens with a bit of aroma and a dark color that yields not enough head. It sits there though and continues to produce a few very fine bubbles.

The taste is immediately big. It is sweet and very chocolaty. Under that is a bunch of bitter too, so it is like dark chocolate.

The aftertaste is very pleasant. Again, sweet chocolate is up front. The boozy taste comes a little after, but it is extremely well disguised.

I would consider this again, but it is pretty darn sweet.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 23:22:10 | More by schoolboy

Chrysostom

Ohio

3.94/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

As always, I review (mostly) to style (ala BJCP), modified (a bit, not too much) by personal taste (contra BJCP), or else certain beers, which are excellent exemplars of styles I do not prefer, would receive consistently lower marks than beers which are poor exemplars of my favourite styles.

I know nothing about the company that brewed this. I've never heard of them before. I know nothing about the beer. I thought it was a stout, didn't know it was chocolate.

As always, this beer is reviewed live, and not from notes.

Without further ado, a review.

Presentation: 22 fl oz crown capped bottle, vintage 2013, poured in to a Samuel Adams' nonic imperial pint glass with some tulip characteristics. Price was something like $8 or $9, the bottle didn't have a label on it (I got it straight from a case after a beer tasting). Poured at 45ºF. I got distracted: it's at least 60ºF now that I'm drinking it and reviewing it.

A: Pitch black engine oil without even the hint of highlights. Dark even for an Imperial Stout. Three-finger head, fluffy and slightly rocky, which recedes pretty slowly to leave a cap upon the face of the beer, leaving a trail of thick, heavy lacing in its wake (not as much as Young's Double Chocolate, but lots of lace nevertheless).

S: Roast coffee beans, chocolate and vanilla, some alcohol and bourbon, which gives some odd dark-fruit smells which are weirdly reminiscent of a Trappist or Belgian Strong Dark. The bourbon, chocolate, and roast aromas pull together well, and achieve a very nice balance. Good smell for the Imperial Chocolate Stout style, a bit sweet-smelling for Imperial Stout.

T: Heavy roasted flavours, quite sweet, with a notable note of powdered bitter baker's chocolate/cocoa (which is definitely present, especially on the finish, but not overpowering, like the chocolate is in Rogue's Chocolate and Double Chocolate stouts). This still savours of beer, and not of alcoholic chocolate drink like Rogue's beverages. As the beer achieves room temperature, the is a very noticeable but subdued flavour of bourbon present from front-palate to the finish. Strong malt backbone, some bitter roasted and hop character is asserted in the finish along with the baker's chocolate. No alcohol, or very little alcohol, is present upon the palate.

M: Medium-bodied, which is surprising. It pours, tastes, and smells thicker than it is. Low carbonation, which, again, is surprising, given the large head on my initial pour. Quite creamy, as is to be expected from a low-carbonation imperial stout.

D: Low, for me. Too sweet and chocolaty.

O: A good beer which is an excellent example of the Imperial Chocolate Stout. If you like Chocolate Stouts, try this - you'll think of it more highly than I did. It's still good, but, as mentioned above, too sweet for my tastes - I'm not a fan of beers brewed with chocolate/coffee (I absolutely refuse to drink coffee, ever, in any situation, like a twelve-stepper avoids alcohol, and don't eat chocolate outside of Reese Peanut Butter Cup candies) - but some are. If you are, you're in for a treat.

To Imperial Stout style: 72/100

To Imperial Chocolate Stout style: 96/100

To taste: 59/100.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 08:01:38 | More by Chrysostom

deadonhisfeet

Kentucky

3.78/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

2013 vintage. Poured from a bottle into a Founders snifter. The pour is very dark, not too viscous, has low carbonation, and produces a thin tan head. The nose is quite faint. I get some chocolate, some roasty notes, and a bit of vanilla.

The beer has a full body and the flavor is nicely balanced between sweet and roasty, though the feel is a bit thin. Flavors of brown bread and toffee up front with hints of baker's chocolate. Drinks like a nice porter. Creamy, nutty, and vanilla-like at mid-palate with some distinct alcohols arriving at the finish along with some oak, molasses, and sarsaparilla. Goes down sweet, smooth, woody, and warming. Easy drinking and not overly complex. The flavors here all seem to work well together. Nothing clashes.

I tried this beer at a beer tasting recently and decided to pick up a bottle and spend a bit more time with it. I'm glad I did, though I'm not as fond of it as I remember being at the tasting. Still, an enjoyable beer on an unseasonably cold spring afternoon. Good value at under $9 per bomber.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 18:32:56 | More by deadonhisfeet

EgadBananas

Louisiana

4.03/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Near black pour, tan head of a finger. Nice lace.

Heavy chocolate aroma with roast, light coffee, distant vanilla and bourbon.

Taste was heavy on the chocolate to. Distant as well of the barrel notes, and a nice roasted woody flavor.

Felt nice and creamy, full bodied.

Not heavy on the bourbon barrel, but its definitely a nice chocolate stout.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 12:36:42 | More by EgadBananas

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.19/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Received as an extra in a trade. Poured into my Duvel tulip.

A - Pours a nice deep dark brown almost black with a nice one finger mocha head that fades to leave a light blanket and thin halo.

S - Nice aromas of caramel, coffee, vanilla, chocolate, and faint bourbon. Alcohol is hidden nicely, light chocolate malt too.

T - Like the nose nice caramel and vanilla notes here. Good barrel as well. Bourbon is faint but clear and distinct. Well rounded chocolate as well, not too sweet. Very tasty.

M - A bit on the thinner side. Only weakness of this beer is the lack of a full, thick, chewy mouthfeel.

O - Overall though this is a damn fine barrel aged stout. I've seen this on the shelves locally and at $9 or so bucks for the bomber its a damn good purchase. Very well executed.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 16:28:32 | More by rudzud

inlimbo77

Delaware

4.14/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

22oz, 2013 vintage
The Bruery tulip

A: Pours pitch black in color. Only about a collar of head, light tan head. Thought I would see more carbonation as it's not that high in ABV. Some alcohol feet. No lacing bits. Still a pretty beer for the style.

S: Nice nose on this one. Caramel and vanilla. Chocolate notes. Touch of coffee. Really getting in there some tobacco notes as well. Predominately chocolate forward as you would expect.

T: Dark chocolate bitterness on the tip of the tongue. Then you get that nice meshing with the barrel character, adding some vanilla and caramel/toffee flavors into the fold. Turns it into almost a chocolate cake like flavor. Nice long finish here. Don't taste the booze, but you start to feel it during the sip.

M: Full bodied. Almost creamy and thinner than I planned.

For the $7.99 bomber price in my area, you can't beat a BA stout for that. Especially with these flavors. Good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 14:15:39 | More by inlimbo77

argock

Virginia

3.64/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 22 oz brown bomber into a clear glass snifter. 2013 printed on label. Purchased at Wine Warehouse (Charlottesville, VA) for $7.49.

A: Black with short 1/2-1 finger beige head with good height but average retention and pretty skimpy lacing.

S: Strong chocolate syrup aroma with a hint of bourbon and some fig/date fruitiness.

T: The flavor is not bad, but the chocolate flavor component is very strong and almost chemical-like in its intensity and character. The chocolate has a super-charged cocoa character but it lasts way too long and fades to a chalky finish. The dark malt fruitiness is balanced pretty well with the roast components. The bourbon barrel treatment is barely perceptible.

M: Pretty smooth except for the artificial chemical nature of the chocolate which lends a thinner quality to the body. The alcohol is definitely there but blends in pretty well. Medium body and the carbonation is on target.

O: A beer that is too chocolatey to the point of seemingly artificially bolstered. Maybe I am sensitive to this because my wife loved this beer. The base beer could use more character, and a touch more roast. All in all, not bad but sounds better than it is.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 03:40:24 | More by argock

oberon

North Carolina

4.13/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Poured nearly jet black except for a tinge reddish brown at the bottom of the glass when held to the light,a thin deep tan head atop.Chocolate stands out most in the nose along with dark roast coffee,the bourbon is much more low key and is not ove rbearing like way to many barrel aged stouts.Smooth with light carbonation in the mouth,it's way to easy and smooth going down.Chocolate and dark roast coffee start out the flavor profile,a nice drying earthiness stands out as well,the bourbon again is only one component that stands out instead of a dominating flavor presence.This is a nice barrel aged imperial stout,smooth and just enough flavor,nice job.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 22:28:03 | More by oberon

DavoleBomb

Ohio

3.89/5  rDev -6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured inot a perfect pint. $7.99 for a bourbon barrel aged brew is one hell of a deal, especially given the $10 non-barrel stout I had a few hours ago. 2013 vintage.

3.5 A: Black color. One and a half fingers of frothy/creamy light brown head. Retention is about average for the ABV and a moderate amount of lacing is left.

4.5 S: The bourbon isn't very strong in this one, but it's no problem. In fact, it's wonderful the way it is. Plentiful cocoa nibs and vanilla run the show. I'm really surprised at how much vanilla came out of the barrels. I read the bottle text to discover that no vanilla beans were used. There's a light leathery bourbon underneath which cannot be considered anything but complementary. Mild supple roastiness with a faint booziness, caramel, and coffee.

3.75 T: Taste is like the nose, but it isn't as vibrant. Still, it's a damn tasty beer. Chocolate and vanilla are out front again. Coffee, caramel, roast come next. Lightly boozy with leathery bourbon.

3.75 M: Heavier medium body. Good moderate caronation. Lightly creamy and supremely smooth.

3.75 D: Good beer that is cheap enough to buy many times.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 03:06:09 | More by DavoleBomb

davey101

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

2013 batch. 22 oz bomber purchased for an extremely reasonable $5.49. Poured into a DFH signature glass.

A - Pours a deep dark black body with three fingers worth of dense light tan foam. Fades away gradually but leaves behind excellent lacing with some seriously long retention. Looks great!

S - Milk chocolate, vanilla, and cocoa powder. Not getting any bourbon notes but it does smell like a nice chocolate stout.

T - Smooth milk chocolate, slightly robust malts, and a lingering sweet vanilla. Like the nose this has little to no bourbon presence...really just a faint nod towards oak on the finish. It is quite tasty though.

M - Light to medium bodied, just a tad below being creamy. Carbonation is about spot on.

O - "...aged in bourbon barrels" is the killer here. I'm getting so little bourbon presence that I'd swear its just the base beer. However this is a damn tasty and affordable stout albeit its a bit on the thin side.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2013 23:20:20 | More by davey101

57md

Pennsylvania

3.69/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Appearance is a dark chocolate brown with a very thin layer of head. There is not much of a nose to this at all. The taste is definitely bourbon forward with hints of roast and chocolate. I definitely did not get the overly-chocolate notes that are described in other reviews. There is sweetness along with a touch of alcohol bite on the finish.

A good effort, but not even close to being great.

Serving type: on-tap

03-02-2013 20:46:37 | More by 57md

Maltmaiden

Alabama

4.74/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

A: very dark brown. Thin head that keeps a ring til the end.

S: Lots of chocolate right off the bat. Warm burbon coming through, not too much though. Roasted malt. light fig. light alcohol.

T: Really big milk chocolate. The bourbon just rounds out the sweetness and deepens the flavor. Very well balanced. Delicious. Like chocolate milk with bourbon...or bailey's. Very round taste.

M: It looked deceptively when I poured it because it definitely has a creamy body. Velvety.

O: Holy shit this is delicious. I will buy more of this for sure and will definitely look for it on tap. Must have!

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 04:20:06 | More by Maltmaiden

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2013 Siren Noire. Poured into snifters.

Pours black with no other color. The head formed about 1/3". Foam is dark tan in color. Sputtered away in less than a minute. Looked nice coming out of the bottle.

Dark chocolate notes are liquory and semi-sweet. A sweeter bourbon note penetrates right after. Light corn whiskey with hints of butterscotch. Malts are pretty roasty, but I'm not picking up on any real imposing bitterness or char just yet. Light coffee aromas, too.

In the taste, the cocoa is sweeter and decadent and the whiskey is drier and woodier. A lot of oak pouring through on the palate with dark chocolate bar, vanilla extract, and roast bitterness. The char is here, too, and implies a very light smokiness just beneath the surface. Slight surge of alcohol spice emerges, and then falls gently. It's a humble reminder that I'm drinking a big stout. In the vain of bourbon barrel-aged stouts, it's a tad attenuated. Still very delicious with milky notes that an imperial milk stout would reveal. Not super complex, but the subtleness and lightly smoky quality of the whiskey impresses. A semi-woody and very "black chocolate" imperial stout without the staunchness of dark grain or breadiness or estery fruits. Just a dose of warming oomph, decadent chocolate, light bourbon, vanilla, and sweeter American oakiness.

Drinks nearly full-bodied with some spicy afterburn accentuated by a medium sudsy carbonation. Certaintly, well-contained in strength, seemingly.

Not knock-out good, but damn fine in its own right. Probably the best beer I've tasted from Heavy Seas. I'm snagging another bottle upon next opportunity.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 04:43:48 | More by thecheapies

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

3.81/5  rDev -8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

22 oz bottle poured into a plastic cup. Yeah. Keep in mind I had this one JUST after sampling some BCBS.

A: Pours an ultra-dark brown color that isn't particularly thick looking. The head is a less-than-one finger khaki shade. Obviously the retention won't be particularly good, but it at least tries to leave nice lacing on the cup.

S: Whilst it's very good, it's not as gorgeously rich as I expected. There's some subtle chocolate, mocha, licorice, and vanilla. One has to REALLY concentrate to find the bourbon - but it's there...I suppose.

T: Quite sweet. I like the dark chocolate in the midtaste, before it becomes a combination of mocha and bittersweet vanilla. I didn't expect much depth, but there is a nice bit of subtle complexity to it.

M: This seems a bit thin to me. The aftertaste is a little less sweet than I expected (but, it's still dessert in a glass) and almost comes off like an imperial porter due to the lack of creamy and roasty qualities. It's carbonated finely.

O: It's a damn shame this had to follow BCBS, because this is still quite good as a dessert beer. I'd compare it favorably to Ballast Point's Victory at Sea - a sweet, vanilla-and-chocolate laden offering that fits the cold, nasty Maryland day to a tee. It could have really used more bourbon presence, though.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 20:04:13 | More by ThisWangsChung

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

4.15/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

11 ounce pour - Taco Mac in East Roswell, Georgia.

Appearance: Served up a near black body with a lasting half-inch of tan-hued foam.

Smell: Presents a nice scent of chocolate milk atop well-behaved roasted notes (and some underlying charry toast). Slight fruit hints. Decent bourbon barrel character adding to the festivities.

Taste: Dark, roasty malts presents a taste of black coffee dosed with a dollop of rich, melted semi-sweet chocolates and cocoa powder. Medium sweetness overall. A fruitiness, hinting at raspberry, slips in with a small sip of prune juice. The roastiness receives a noted bump midway and joins in with slight bitterness. Hint of alcohol warmth, then it’s off to the semi-dry, halfway chocolaty, halfway roasty finish, with that small dark fruitiness lingering into the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium-carbonation.

Overall: Fairly nice. I thought Siren Noire was one of their better beers, so, giving it a bourbon barrel edge to it was a welcome addition.

Serving type: on-tap

02-23-2013 17:34:13 | More by ChainGangGuy

CManuel

Colorado

4.14/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Pours a deep black with a minimal head, some ruby highlights present. Aroma is strong bourbon, chocolate and vanilla. Chocolate is the most present flavor to me, followed by bourbon and vanilla notes. Not a bad beer at all. It's not really all that complex, and I admire it for that. Solid!

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 02:47:34 | More by CManuel

rapidsequence

Virginia

3.63/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

22 oz bottle from Ned's.

Appearance: Its black, but pours a little thin, and has some ruby highlughts. The head and lacing are decent.

Smell: Lots of rich chocolate aroma and bourbony vanilla notes. Very sweet, with minimal roasty aromas. No detectable alcohol-- none.

Taste: Again, lots of chocolate and vanilla. There is a bit more roasty flavor than smell with some coffee-like flavors and a touch of bitterness near the end, which actually identifies this as a stout instead of a melted hot fudge sundae.

Mouthfeel: Very soft and smooth, but a bit on the thin side. It could use a bit more carbonation too.

Overall: This is OK. Its a really sweet, chocolatey beverage, but its not much like a beer, and very little like an imperial stout. Less chocolate, more roast, more bourbon please.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 02:13:15 | More by rapidsequence