Brooklyn Black Ops

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

Have had this several times now and like it more each time. The bourbon is well integrated and not the usuall suspect bomb. Its in great harmony with the chocolatey body, the creamy mouthfeel and the balanced roasted finish. Very flavourfull yet balanced with a sexy looking dark brown head on top of a pitch black body.

Bottle, 75cl corked, served by the brewer, at Copenhagen Beerfestival. It pours a jet black body under a dense, tan head. Chocolate, coffee, some alcohol, licorice and a hint of vanilla in the aroma. The flavor goes the same way, with the vanilla maybe a bit more evident. Smooth as hell, dry and warming in the mouth. The finish is quite bitter, in the burnt way. An amazingly smooth beer, and just lovely. (090517)

Bottle 75cl. @ [ Tasting by cgarvieuk ]. [ Bottle #3178 ].
Clear dark black color with a large, frothy to creamy, good lacing, fully lasting, light brown head. Aroma is heavy malty, burnt, caramel, chocolate, vanilla, wood, bourbon notes, light alcoholic. Flavor is heavy sweet and bitter with a long duration, very rich and complex. Body is medium to full, texture is oily - syrupy - creamy, carbonation is soft, finish feel is light to moderate alcoholic. Very nice and easy to drink ;o)) [20090412]

Neck and neck with bourbon county falls the Black Ops. Had this one at the NYC cask ale fest and couldnt get enough. Oak, vanilla, coffee...goes down so smoth its dangerous!

A Mes rate. Bottle opened at the Rake, big thanks to our Hazza.
Glorious black body with a superb tight, mid brown head. Stunning start. Sadly the rest of it just isn’t quite so good. Big, boozy and creamy. Lots of barrel, slight seaweed and salt water, a ton of chocolate and just far too much raw alcohol. Spoils the awesome stuff underneath. A big boozy mess in all honesty. The coconut and vanilla are clearly top drawer but it’s all killed to death by boooooooze. Was hoping for so much more.

750 ml bottle shared with my girlfriend’s brother, his girlfriend, and my girlfriend’s sister’s boyfriend. Acquired from Beerlando via trade and finally cracked. Poured a pitch black pour, thick pour with big dark brown head, that dies to a small layer, laces well. Aromas are light bourbon and oak on the nose, sweet and roasted malts on the nose, different than usual. Sweet vanilla and caramel, sweeter than expected. Initial is thick, vanilla and coffee with roasted malts, a bit sweet overall, with bourbon and oak coming more n the finish. Sweet and syrupy towards the finish with a bit of dryness, oak. I think the champagne yeast changes the complexity of this, sweetened a bit much and a bit lively carbonation wise. Overall, decent oak and bourbon, but too sweet. Need more roast and a touch of smoke.

Appearance: Pours an appropriately black body with a smallish (though dense and lasting), tan-hued head. Smell: A heavily roasted, blackened maltiness throws up scents of dark chocolate, roasty coffee, oven-cooked almonds. Also notes of licorice and firm dark fruits. Far lesser, lighter hints of vanilla and oak. Taste: Roasted malts yielding tastes of bittersweet chocolate, dark Italian roast coffee, light caramel, black licorice, and almond sugar. Fruity hints of black cherry and black currants. At least for me, the barrel aging isn’t overly evident, only yielding light, subtle hints of oak and vanilla. However, there is a fairly warming alcohol presence. Earthy, roasty bitterness. Drying finish with about as much crispness possible from a full, heavy stout. Mouthfeel: Medium-full body. Medium-high carbonation; the added dose of Champagne yeast really makes for a delicate, airy effervescence to boost the overall drinkability and add a nice touch of elegance. Drinkability: A good, enjoyable stout as it stands now, though I feel some time carefully tucked away in the cellar would do nothing but benefit it.

Black pour with a nice tan head. LOTS of bourbon aroma with a strong dark roast coffee note, heavy charred oak, and faint vanilla. Lots more of the aroma in the flavor but with a pronounced bitter hop finish. Sticky medium-full body with lots of alcohol warming.