 JoeM500 (1877), Chicago (little italy), Illinois, USA
Oct 6, 2007
Enjoyed several cases and many pints, including a few that were were from a barrel aged batch. Another beer that I fully intended to keep a case of, but couldn’t stop myself from drinking them! Oily black with the tiniest hint of red at the edges. THICK and trademark nose of the other big Kalamazoo Stouts with the main difference being more dark fruits and toffee evident. Better from the bottle, i thought, for some reason the nose was bigger and the flavors seemed more balanced. Tapped pints were quite alcoholic, especially the barrel aged, obvioulsy. Dryness left on the roof of my mouth was a bit too harsh fresh from the tap (both at Bells, Kalamazoo and Bone Dry, Highland, Indiana). The dark fruits in the taste reminded me a lot of the strange flavors in the big Trappist Ales, raison, plum, blackberry. Chalky in the middle with nice hints of toffee, slight espresso, mustiness. I know I weighed a lot less before I finished about 14 six packs of this stuff.
thickfreakness (104), Austin, Texas, USA
Oct 5, 2008 5/14/08. This was my end of the Spring semester celebratory beer. I can’t think of a better time to open this beer. An aggressive pour into my Duvel tulip leaves a nice lasting dark brown head. The smell is off the charts. Definitely a lot of oxidation (soy sauceish?) in there but it blends really well with the dark chocolate and roasted malt smells also get plenty of molasses. I could smell this all day. The taste is really similar to the smell and there is quite a bit of apparent alcohol still here. Tons of chocolate and roastiness as well as a pleasant lingering bitterness. This just absolutely coated my mouth and slicked over my tongue. Exceptional mouthfeel. This is a great double stout but I can’t picture ever having more than one or two but I don’t think I will have that problem as this is my only one! Enjoyed this to the very last drop.
SuzyGreenberg (1044), Seattle, Washington, USA
Oct 2, 2008 12 oz. bottle - thanks to drewbeerme for the trade; jet black with thin chocolate head; resinous aromas of coffee, alcohol, roasted malts; sweet and strong; a little on the hot side and a sipper, but a killer one at that; very similar to my most recent bottle of expedition; sweet and creamy, delish
colemgm8 (386), Alpharetta, Georgia, USA
Sep 30, 2008 bottle, thanks to The Beer Sommelier. pours a thick dark black with a one finger tan head. the head disappears after a bit and does not leave any lacing. wonderful strong aromas of dark fruits, chocolate and coffee. extremely smooth over the tongue with a huge soft body. somewhat bitter up front... lots of dark fruit on top and creamy on the sides. dark espresso and chocolate come through as well along with some oatmeal. nice finish - strong and sweet. wonderful beer.
daknole (856), Plantation, Florida, USA
Sep 26, 2008 Bottles from iowaherkeye and brigadier..many thanks. Black pour with a small wispy brown head. Aroma is molasses, prunes, chocolate and some coffee. Flavor is coffee, chocolate, and a really nice hop profile that seems to me to indicate a nice dry hopping in the beer. Great beer and I feel lucky to have had it.
ironchefscott (246), long beach, California, USA
Sep 23, 2008 a good beer...but it seems a bit funky....I wonder if it was just not handled well....seemed really too ashy for its own good.....sad....and a fair amount of vegetable notes
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