Hibernal Vinifera Stout - Ska Brewing Co.

blakelive784

Colorado

3.35/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5

12 fl oz can served in a Pilsner glass, reviewed live:

A - pours a non translucent midnight black color with four fingers of light tan, bubbly head. Retentions is awful, but somewhat excusable given the high ABV. Appealing but generic.

S - Roasted malt is the star. Artificial grape and light bitter chocolates. Strangely, it works well. Seems sweet. Cream and light caramel are buried in there. Mild in strength. I'm curious....

T - The grape is surprisingly restrained. It's a little welch's like, but it counters the bold roasted malts and coffee. The malt overshadows the grape throughout. Bitter near the finish. Really well balanced . I like it. It'd work better, though, if it had red wine notes instead of artificial juice. No alcohol comes through.

M - Too thin and over carbonated for the style. Missing the full body and creamy mouthfeel.

D -Hides its ABV well and is built well. I'm surprised at this one. With some work, it could be great.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 00:57:44 | More by blakelive784

mactrail

California

3.94/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Handsome near-black beer with a glint of red. The ample head is even a darker beige than many stouts.

Big and bold dark roasted malt flavors with an engaging sweetness. An intriguing swirl of flavors-- part wine, chocolate, burnt sugar, mellow malt, and a touch of hops. Somewhat bitter, in balance with the richness. Thoroughly drinkable and a nice change from the usual sweet and bitter insane RIS monsters.

I think this is a more interesting approach to the "beers of the future." The flavoring is appropriate and the brew has a distinctly beery character. But it's a little different on the creative side. I just had a DFH Noble Rot, so it's from the white wine to the red.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 05:23:34 | More by mactrail

zeff80

Missouri

3.98/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured out a jet-black color with a one-finger, light brown head of foam. It left thin rings of lace on the glass.

S - It smelled of chocolate, roasted malt and grapes.

T - Tasted of chocolate, roasted malt, toffee and raisins. Rich and decadent.

M - Crisp, sharp and smooth. A medium bodied ale with dry, finish.

O - This is a really tasty stout. I really like this series of stouts from Ska.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 02:35:31 | More by zeff80

LXIXME

New Mexico

4.19/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Medium to big light brown head settles into a nice lacing above a clear super dark brown to black colored beer.

Heavy dark roasted malts with black licorice and light dark chocolates aroma with a very light dark fruits, such as apricots, coming through as well.

Very dark chocolates, light black licorice, heavily roasted dark malts almost entirely drowned out the dark fruits in the taste of this stout.

A dry aftertaste with some of the heavy roasted taste lingering with this full bodied beer.

A dryish tasting, rich and worthy drink.

Serving type: can

04-15-2013 22:38:13 | More by LXIXME

facundoCNB

New Jersey

4.01/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

a thick black pour with 3 fingers of frothy brown head leaving behind ridiculous amounts of lacing. head dissipated slowly. smells of red wine, vanilla, oak, toasted grains, cocoa. the flavor is pretty much exactly like the smell. a nice bitter on the finish. medium body, silky smooth mouthfeel like that of a dry irish stout, moderate carbonation.

a nice stout, better fresh than with a few months age on it. got more wine out of the first few cans. can't wait for the next ska seasonal stout!

Serving type: can

04-11-2013 01:27:58 | More by facundoCNB

MrKennedy

Australia

4.03/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to dbol for this 12oz can. Into a Delirium snifter.

Matt black look to it with a nice mocha head of foam that has a nice creamy appearance after swirling. A little bit of lacing as it sits at a level just above film.

Roast aroma, backed with plenty of caramel and it takes a while for the malbec influence to come through, but the vinous smell does late and then it is the sole aroma.

Little bit of licorice, caramel and then the malbec juice comes into it. Interesting mix, especially when the oak influence makes its presence. Complex.

Lower and softer carbonation. Nice warming vinous influence later on. ABV though is pretty well hidden.

Impressive stout. Plenty going on, plenty that could go wrong, fortunately it doesn't. Really interesting beer and worth trying. Thanks Dan for the opportunity.

Serving type: can

04-01-2013 09:07:46 | More by MrKennedy

Jparker37

Wisconsin

4.39/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

12oz can poured into a nonic pint glass.

S - Coffee, cocoa powder, little fruitiness, mild sweetness.

A - Opaque black. Medium sized brown head holds a nice cap of tight foam. Nice bit of lacing.

T - Tons of complex caramel and chocolate maltiness, smooth/velvety texture. Vinous/ Special B red fruit on the later half. Finishes with a delicious roastiness. Little bit of bitterness near the end. The aftertaste has a lingering sweetness along with all those big caramel malts.

M - Medium to medium-full bodied, ultra smooth, light to medium-light carbonation, semi-sweet.

O - Quite a delicious brew. All the qualities of a good stout with an added wine-like flavor/feel twist. Very skillfully employed. Smell really popped and flavor had many dimensions.

Serving type: can

03-26-2013 00:24:39 | More by Jparker37

CharlatanSin

Connecticut

3.94/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to boatshoes for sending this can my way!

A: Pours dark cola brown, with a one-finger tan head. Looks fizzy.

S: Chocolate is the main event, with dark caramel malt. Not picking up anything in the way of oak or grape on the nose.

T/M: Chocolate. There is some dark fruit here, though I can't say whether it's from malt or actual grapes. It's sweet, but there's some acidic tartness to keep it interesting. Quite a good combination. Mouthfeel is velvety smooth, creamy and thick. That's the beer's best quality.

O: A solid stout with a nice little tart kick. Glad to have tried it.

Serving type: can

03-10-2013 14:00:36 | More by CharlatanSin

IPA1978

Missouri

3.85/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A- Black with a good brown head, good lacing

S- Roasted malt and a slight red wine or champagne aroma.

T- Roasted malt, cocoa, acidic sweetness, raisins, bitter coffee. I don't get the wine coming through through like it did in the aroma. The Stout flavors dominate.

M- Medium body, fine carbonation.

O- The smell of this got me excited but the taste was like a strong stout, good just not what I expected.

Serving type: can

03-08-2013 23:43:56 | More by IPA1978

Beaver13

Colorado

3.38/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

12 oz can, best by 4/13/13. Pours dark brown black with a medium creamy light brown head that goes to a thin film and leaves some lacing.

The aroma is roasted chocolate malts and some vinous dark fruit.

The flavor is acidic roasted grains, some sweet dark fruits and chocolate, a little oak, and some vinous alcohol leading to a bitter roast finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and a little thin and watery.

Overall, an interesting fruity roasty foreign export stout.

Serving type: can

03-07-2013 00:45:05 | More by Beaver13

Tone

Missouri

3.74/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Pours a black color. Good retention and great lacing. 1/4 inch head of a tan color. Smells of roasted malt, slight sweet malt, grape, slight coffee, and a hint of hop. Fits the style of a Foreign / Export Stout. Mouth feel is smooth and clean, with an average carbonation level. There is also a slight dryness and an associated thickness. Tastes of roasted malt, sweet malt, slight grape, hint of coffee, and slight hop. Overall, good appearance, and decent aroma, body, and feel.

Serving type: on-tap

02-28-2013 15:45:13 | More by Tone

JEdmund

Kansas

3.73/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Forms a really nice, tan head—lots of those small bubbles that form a tight head, much like an Old Rapsutin.

Good cocoa scent. A bit oaky. Maybe some grape, but it’s hard to tell.

Smooth and easy drinking. Was expecting a harsher roast quality, but that oak aging must have smoothed out its edges. Somewhat light in the beginning, but it finishes strong with roasted malts, oak, and a tannic bitterness that must be the grape juice. It’s a nice flavor overall, though a bit small compared to what I’m used to (though to be fair it is only 8%). Not really getting a strong grape flavor, though some in the aftertaste. If I didn’t know they were in here, I never would have guessed. Body is just a tad thin.

Enjoyable, easy-drinking, though it wasn’t quite as interesting as I had hoped given the addition of grapes. Glad I just picked up a single. Worth a try though.

Serving type: can

02-20-2013 02:37:40 | More by JEdmund

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.73/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

I guess I just about missed this, only single cans left in mixed sixer section at Macadoodles in Joplin..

Pours an effervescent ebony with 2 fingers of mocha colored head. Stellar lacing, decent head retention

S: Woody hops, figs, a bit of molasses

T: Follows the nose, dryness, black currant & carob up front. Black currant, woody & leafy hops as this warms, some charred grain notes & a whisper of white pepper & vanilla. Finishes dry, with dark fruit presence, a touch of of chocolate, & with a smidge grape juice acidity & white pepper

MF: Semi-chewy, smooth carbonation

A solid export stout, the grape juice brings some dryness/acidity to the party & that's about it from what I can see. ABV is fairly well hidden, drinks fairly easy

Serving type: can

02-13-2013 04:11:34 | More by russpowell

AlexFields

Tennessee

3.3/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Smell is sweet, mildly roast chocolate malt, smells somewhat of lactose though I don't know if there's actually any lactose here. Not really noticing the grapes.

Taste is a little more subdued, I get the lactose flavor again, grapes are present here but only a little, typical range of stout flavors, nothing extraodrinary.

Carbonation is good but the feel is a little thin, fine but not great.

Pretty good beer, nothing special, not as unique as I hoped given the fruit addition.

6.6/10

Serving type: can

02-12-2013 04:57:02 | More by AlexFields

homebrew311

Illinois

4.06/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Another intriguing canned stout from Ska... lets give it a try. Poured into snifter. Pour is black, medium visual weight with a collar of tan head. Moderate amount of lacing left behind The nose has that nice roasty foreign stout character that emphasizes roasted barley and black patent. The malbec grape character integrates nicely with the sweet malt components of the aroma. A bit of oak is present as well which gives off a somewhat dry aroma. The taste starts with grape sweetness that presents itself delicately. I was concerned that this brew would be a sweet mess given the ingredients. The grape lends nicely to the sturdy roast of the base, very nice balance. Notes of chocolate, coffee, and oak come through with hints of white grape juice throughout. The grape quality makes one last appearance on the finish. mouthfeel is somewhat thin with moderate carbonation. Overall, this beer is very unique and well executed. At 10.99 a six pack, it also offers a good value. Worth a try!

Serving type: can

02-10-2013 08:36:23 | More by homebrew311

katan

Colorado

4.21/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

12 oz into a pint

A - Dark black, like night. Mocha colored head. Well retained.

S - Light nose, mostly a roasted barley scent. Some hints of chocolate.

T - Smooth and easy in the start, lightly sweet, some hints of roast but not overbearing. Mid-stream gets a little more balanced, but hopping is nowhere to be found. Finishes clean, lightly chocolately. Not sure the malbec grapes make an appearance.

M - Smooth, creamy - velvety. It has almost a nitro approach to it. Hardly any afteraffects.

O/D - A nice and easy drinking stout. I can't argue about the taste, although I'm not sure how much it incorporates the uniqueness they were aiming for. Worth a try.

Serving type: can

02-09-2013 20:06:35 | More by katan

Efay

Illinois

3.96/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Black body, with a hue of dark coffee brown on the edges of the glass. A thick head of foam, but with lots of air in it. Not much head retention but there was lacing.

S- Very earthy. A nose of charred malt, with lots of oak coming through. Lastly there is some fruity acidity, probably from grapes, but its not distinguishable from other acidic fruits.

T- Initial hoppy bitterness that is stressed due to the bitterness of the charred malt. Tastes of toffee is apparent, with some coffee flavor also. Grapes aren't distinguishable but the beer has that acidity to it.

M- Light for a stout, and moderate carbonation.

O- Overall a good beer, but it would have been better if the grape was more outstanding so it could compliment the bitterness from the hops and malt.

Serving type: can

02-08-2013 02:25:23 | More by Efay

beergoot

Colorado

4.19/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Chunky, foamy head sits atop a deep, dark brown (almost black) body. Roasted, charred grains with hints of chocolate and cocoa nibs; coffee. Very rich, smooth mouthfeel that contains delicious dark grain flavors; bitter chocolate; excellent hop bitterness to tame the sweetness of the malts.

I find this to be an exquisite little foreign export stout. It's packed with flavor and character all wrapped up in a deliciously sweet and heavy body. I'm not sure what the malbec grapes added to this little beauty, but but all the other ingredients sure come together wonderfully. If a big, roast-y "meal-in-a-can" stout is what you're after, this one easily fits the bill.

Serving type: can

02-08-2013 01:04:13 | More by beergoot

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

Drinkin' a beer with Malbec grapes, watching a documentary that mentions Baalbek. Nice. Anyway, this stuff pours a murky black-brown topped by a finger of sandstone foam. The nose comprises roasted malts, dusty cocoa powder, light oak, and a vague sense of flavored alcohol, as though I sniffed a Solo cup left over from some random college party where they were drinking who-knows what in these cheap-ass vessels. The taste rings with a sharp red wine grape covered in cocoa and mild coffee. Hints of vanilla bean and oak dart in and out at various points. Though a bit of booziness pervades, it doesn't wholly interfere with things, rather opting to occasionally create a sense of cough syrup every now and again. Somehow, this jumble works. The body is a lithe medium, with a light moderate (verging on moderate) carbonation and a sorta/kinda drying finish. Overall, a nice stout, one that blends the wine grapes well with the roasty surroundings.

Serving type: can

01-31-2013 23:26:08 | More by TMoney2591

MasterSki

Illinois

4.06/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Fizz. Served in a snifter.

A - Tan foam settles to a thin cap, thicker collar, and stray lacing. Near-black body, with brownish tinges at the edge.

S - Roasty, with some oak presence. Dark chocolate, some caramel, and molasses. Light notes of dark fruit and perhaps a touch of vinous grape; I'm guessing most of it fermented out though. The oak presence increases significantly as the beer warms up.

T - The taste has a lot more grape presence, with light notes of roasted malts, oak, vanilla, and dark chocolate. Nice balance and integration of flavors and well-hidden alcohol.

M - Medium body, with some light alcohol warmth by the end of the snifter. Chewy texture, with fairly minimal oak; lightly sticky in the finish.

D - I liked this quite a bit and I'd be willing to pick up a 4-pack to see how it compares out of the can. Interesting and unique beer; I dug their Merlot stout and this was in a similar vein. I can imagine this might be a bit polarizing, but it worked for my palate. Happily consumed 12oz and could drink a couple in an evening.

Serving type: on-tap

01-30-2013 07:30:39 | More by MasterSki

WoodBrew

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

The Hiberdal Vinifera Stout is good. The stout poured an opaque dark in my sniffer. There is a thin tan head which is leaving some lace. The scent is bolstered by espresso with touches subtle hints of red wine. The taste is starts with a typical stout, roasts, earthy, espresso, etc. Then the finish has a dark fruit/black cherry tones. The Malbec presence becomes more pronounced as the beer warms. The mouthfeel is full bodied with smooth carbonation. Overall it is a very interesting stout and a perfect winter warmer.

Serving type: can

01-30-2013 03:34:29 | More by WoodBrew

JuicesFlowing

Kansas

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured into a New Belgium globe.

The beer is espresso bean black with a mocha head. The head recedes to a thick film and leaves moderate lacing initially.

The beer smells very aromatic and wine-like. Grape juice and oak come through.

The beer starts out rich and sweet. Almost a sugary, lactose creaminess holds up the body, while a drier, oak and alcoholic burn come out in the finish. As the beer warms, a lot of rich, dark chocolate can be found.

The mouthfeel is thick and almost sticky.

Overall, this is a sipper for sure, and I don't think I'll be getting through the sixer anytime soon. Almost like a wine.

Serving type: can

01-19-2013 15:05:14 | More by JuicesFlowing

chugalug06

Colorado

4.61/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Small one-finger straw colored foamy head rises from the deep black brew. Lacing is inconsistent.

Oaky grapes, both are buried in chocolate and molasses.. Roasty, fresh, crisp, sweet, lactic...

Awesome milky smoothness, sweetness is subtle and dry. Grape notes are very light and slightly tart, but complement the body brew greatly.. Oaky, milky, smooth, crisp, dry, and earthy notes are great too. Carbonation is light, as it should be. Nice balance and complexity.

A great brew. For those that say it's boring and undefined, compare it side-by-side to SKA's Milk Stout, you'll see. This brew is a Home Run!! A must try. Well done, SKA..

Serving type: can

01-16-2013 03:46:01 | More by chugalug06

wlevando

Colorado

3.98/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Drunk from a highball glass filled from a can.

Color: Black, with red tinge near top and bottom when held up to the light

Aroma: Vanilla and cocoa with a Ponderosa or Sequoia somethin something

Taste: Sweet vanilla with fruity-biscuity conveyance

Mouthfeel: A little limp and dry for something with this much going on

Linger: Dry to the point of mildly bitter. Vinous, but not thick

My take: A meal in a can kind of beer. Somewhat complex, with a thick drip-down-the-esophagus feel attendant to the style, and a lingering mouth presence, it should not be sessioned or taken with dinner. I might grab some sharp cheddar for my next gulp.

Serving type: can

01-16-2013 01:49:50 | More by wlevando

Mebuzzard

Colorado

3.66/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

an interesting take on a stout.
Pours dark grape juice, dark purple. Nice looking head on it, rocky, foamy, good lacing.

Aroma is a touch odd. Some oak and vanilla. Vinous. Hints of cocoa and caramel. Dark plum

Flavor is thin for an export stout. The malbec juice shows the fruitiness of the beer. Dark plum is there, without much sweetness. Oak a bit. Chocolate a bit. Some toffee. Booze is well hidden.

Feels a bit dry, but also smooth. This is an easy drinking stout.

Serving type: can

01-11-2013 06:59:01 | More by Mebuzzard