Avery Mephistopheles Stout

Brewed by Avery Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Boulder, Colorado USA

Poured dark black; syrupy. MInimal head. Aroma was strong and unique; vinous, kark fruit, chocolate, some wood and of course just a hint of alcohol. Oily and thick; coating; good palate. Definitely was a sipper for me. Flavor had a strong sweetness; chocolate and grape flavors; some dark fruit and a little hop bittering. Alcohol caused some throat warming. Would definitely have again, but probably split it with some one.

12 oz bottle from adrian910ss. Thanks Adrian! -- Bottled in JAN 2006, Batch 1. O.G. 1.142, 15.1% ABV. I decided to drink this one on this frigid, windy night to commemorate the first lasting snowfall of the season... Avery Mephistopheles’ Stout pours an opaque, dark chocolate brown color (not quite all the way black). It initially has a dark brown head that receeds to a thin, oily veil. The aroma is very reminiscent of port with a hint of vanilla and smoke. The flavor is extremely rich and complex, dominated by very sweet liquorice, vanilla, and molasses, with a nice smoke and charred wood character throughout the finish. Hints of various other flavors can be detected with each sip. The alcohol is superbly hidden and well integrated into the flavor. No hops or other sort of bitterness, but this beer doesn’t really need it. I would have never guessed that there was 15.1% ABV just by tasting it! This beer is full bodied, thick like syrup, and super smooth and creamy. At times it almost seems a bit too sweet. Regardless, this is a great beer to sit back and enjoy for hours and was perfect for a cold night like tonight.

Bottle. A dark black color with a smooth creamy brown head. It pours thick and oily. An intense dark fruit (cherry and grape) aroma with chocolate and an earthy wood character. The molasses, light smoke and earthy elements come through in the second wave. A true tour de force in flavor with a strong grape or cherry flavor, well hidden alcohol but quickly warming, rum, malty but with a cofee like finish. There is an underlying vinous candy or carmaelized fruit base that lasts throughout. Thanks to Phillymonksman for sending this back from Philadelphia! I owe you one!

0.35 l bottle at Konttori, Tampere. Black color with creamy head. Thick sweet, roasty and smoky aroma with coffee, licorice, vanilla and port wine. Rich sweet, roasty and warming flavor with coffee, chocolate, licorice. raisins and menthol. Very warming with some alcohol sharpness. Nice complexity and port wine character but this is too sweet and sharp.

Appearance, black as sin itself, with a fine roasted espresso cap. Aroma spills out into the atmosphere, booze blended with coffee and motor oil. Let’s add a messy mix of plums, raisins, rusted molasses, treacle, anise underneath, snips of chocolate. Quite a ferrago indeed. Taste is thick and slick and slightly bitter, huge, sinful, decadent, rich beyond all recognition...enormous mouthfeel...molasses up the wazoo...fantastic stuff, immense ...unbelievable...unique...nothing like it. and then, boom! boom! comes the alcohol! This is the imperial stout pushed beyond all limits. Wonder why it’s not as beloved as Dark Lord? Not as thick? Not as rare? Too strong? No parties in the parking lot? A succulent dish, despite the price, not to be missed.

Batch 1. Easily the best of the Demons series. Pitch black, slight but creamy tan head fades almost completely away. Lush aroma of liquor, coffee, chocolate, and dark fruit. Liquor flavor, chocolate essence, black cherry, faint pepsin, a hint of wood, kahlua, and Meyer’s black rum. Maybe even some ruby port. The alcohol provides a pleasant heat to the whole thing. A very nice sipper, I think this one might actually be good for aging. Enjoyed this more than the numbers indicate.

12 oz botte. #1300 rating. Beautiful roasted chocolate, nutty aroma. Vinous hints are also present...I smell cherries here as well. Some sweet chocolate is also present as well as some booziness in the nose as well. The initial aroma is nice, but I find it becomes boozier the more I smell. Nonetheless, it is stil pleasant. Thick, viscous, opaque dark brown/black color with a disappointing quickly dissipating brown head. There is nice lacing, though. Sweet, almost fruity cherry-like start turning a little bit harsh and boozy. Almost candy-like cloying sweetness again hits you, followed by a very robust, warming, and very pleasant dark chocolate and espresso flavor at the end. The flavors coat the mouth beautifully and the aftertaste goes on for several minutes. There are some woodsy oak-like notes in the finish as well. This is extremely complex and very well-done. Enjoyable. I wanted to crush the hype surrounding this beer, but there are virtually no flaws other than the quickly dissipating head and a touch of booziness in the aroma. I would love to see Avery replace the Czar with this as their Imperial Stout offering...(8/4/10/5/19/4.6)--&# #3-------- this is really boozy, bitter, roasted. Crazy boozy, excessively unbalanced, and undrinkable. A $9 drainpour. A shame, cause batch #1 was sublime. Rating reflects current product.

03.12.06 12oz bottle, HW OH. Gorgeous, thick, black, more head than you’d expect for a 15% brew. Aromas are wild, full of licorice, char, band-aid, Twix, prune, cig ash. Up front, I’m enjoying the aromas, but also let down from what were lofty expectations. The first sip washes that all away. Massive on the palate, it’s syrupy, thick, sweet, and utterly decadent. The feel exceeds expectation, invites another sip. It’s thick, sweet, yet lovely with coffee, cocoa, caramel, toffee, cherry, dark chocolate, bitter roast. Outstanding balance, especially for such a massive brew. Finishes soft and silky, not the least bit cloying of overly rich, not too hot, either. Tons of tobacco and char fill a long and pleasant finish. Great beer.