Brooklyn Black Ops

Brewed by Brooklyn Brewery
Style: Imperial Stout
Brooklyn, New York USA

Heard buzz about this last spring at the WBC, but didn’t get to try it. Glad I got the chance now, courtesy Brent @ Redlight. Very dark brew with thin brown head. Chocolate imperial stout with light bourbon aroma. The body is a bit thin. Light bourbon notes and a vague coffeeishness. It’s ok in terms of flavour development but the thinness really takes a lot away from this beer.

Bottle. Pours black with a large, off-white frothy head. Aromas of bourbon, chocolate, and a bit of molasses. Extremely smooth with a strong bourbon aftertaste. Tastes like Woodford Reserve which I love! Fantastic beer.

Bottle from Party Town. Poured dark brown with a moderate creamy light brown head that mostly lasted with excellent lacing. Heavy toasted chocolate, licorice and coffee malt with a small alcohol aroma. Full body with a creamy texture and flat carbonation. Heavy balanced toasted chocolate malt flavor with a heavy bittersweet finish of long duration. This is a standout beer.

black body with a brown head.typical imperial stout i hate to say it.nothing really barrel aged about it.not bad but nothing to write home about.

#800 Pours a thick, black color with a brown head. Nice aroma with plenty of oak, bourbon, roasted malts, chocolate, coffee, molasses, and dark fruits. Only a hint of alcohol on this one. Flavor starts off with the roasted malts, chocolate, and coffee. Finishes decently bitter with a nice bourbon flavor that warms in the back of your throat. Amazing brew that is not too over the top with the bourbon and oak.

Style and Glass: Imperial Stout; Snifter ABV, Volume & Calories: 10.7% in 25.4 fl oz. estimated at 400C Purchased at: Canal’s Lawrenceville, NJ for $23.00 Aroma: intense coffee and licorice aromas, alcohol is very present, inviting, enticing. Berries, grass, and wood. Oaking is evident. Roasted, burnt scents throughout. A bit acrid, and enjoyably so. Visuals: Packaging is engaging, classic, and perfectly done. The body is absolute pitch in color, viscosity, and heft. As deep black and opaque as anything I’ve ever seen. Head is tan, starting thick and fluffy, then dissipating, but not fully. A thin head remains. Lacing is exquisite. Taste: Crisp body gives way to sultry chocolates, coffee, and caramel. Luxurious. Surprisingly balanced for the style and treatment. I expected to be bowled over, but instead, I’m treated to a very drinkable (dangerously so) beer. Palate: Perhaps the best part of this beer is the set of sensations in the mouth and throat. Starts with a bubbly crisp effervescence, followed by a mild transfer to smoothness that carries those roasted flavors, then a sweet cream milkiness, then a bit of chalk, followed by a three part finish consisting of sweetness, roastiness, and hoppy bitter burn. Overall: This is a once in a lifetime beer, very well done, and I’m thrilled to have enjoyed it. I only wish I was celebrating something besides Saturday night, as this beer deserves a celebration. Source: Brooklyn Black Ops Oak Aged Imperial Stout « BeerCritic from http://beercritic.wordpress.com/2009/02/01/brookly on Sat Jan 31 2009 22:17:18 GMT-0500 (Eastern Standard Time)

Bottle, Cole’s Rare Beer Fest, Buffalo. One of my beers of the fest/ Black, thick rich off white head. Aroma of chocolate and dark malts, some alcohol, hint of vanilla. taste is heavenly - silky smooth chocolate, big dark malt body, alcohol present and well blended, no hint off bourbon or anything though. Thick rich body. A very very good imperial stout.

very smooth palate, chocolate and bourbon tones. alcohol blends well with flavors. very tastey. worth seeking out.