Brooklyn Black Ops

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

Bottled. A pitch black beer with a lazing dark brown head. The aroma is sweet malty with notes of roasted malt and chocolate, as well as lighter notes of alcohol and soy sauce. The flavor is sweet malty combined with notes of roasted malt and alcohol, as well as lighter notes of over ripe fruits, wood, vanilla, and bourbon, leading to a dry and hard roasted finish.

Bottle 75 cl. Courtesy of MaltOMeal. Pours black and opaque with a light brown head. Aroma of hard roasted malt, bourbon and a whiff of metal. Medium body, hard roasted malt, a little ashes and fruit with the bourbon shining through. The finish has warming alcohol and distinct burned malt. 290509

75 cL bottle, courtesy of Garret Oliver. Pours black with no head,chocolate brown head. Aroma is smooth fruity and with distinct bourbon barrel notes. Smooth bourbon flavoured. Distinct roasted malt with dark chocolate. Smooth malty flavoured into the finish mixed with a light bourbon accent.

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]

Bottle, 10.7% at KØ09. Good distinct vanilla/cigarbox aroma. Black colour. Small brown head. The flavour is not as good as the aroma. Roasted with a little vanilla and some whisky notes.

Bottle #16 at Papsø’s blindtasting. Pitch black coloured with a medium sized beige head. Sweet and roasted aroma of oak, vanilla and dried fruits with notes of chocolate. Sweet and roasted flavour of oak, vanilla and alcohol. Roasted and warming alcoholic finish.

Date: November 29, 2007
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting
Appearance: black, wispy tan head
Aroma: huge sweet dark chocolate and bourbon aroma
Body: creamy body
Flavor: rich dark chocolate flavor, lots of bourbon and sweet creamy vanilla, light oaky bitterness for balance

Date: November 21, 2009
Mode: bottle
Source: cellar tasting
drying out

Aroma: 8/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 8/10; Overall: 16/20
Rating: 4/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: *** /4

Date: February 20, 2009
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting
Vintage: 2008
Appearance: black, wispy tan head, streaks of lace
Aroma: big roasted aroma with lots of vanilla sweetness, bourbon comes on strong in a second wave, light oak
Flavor: rich dark chocolate flavor, lots of vanilla and caramel sweetness, well intregrated bourbon, light roasted coffee character, touch of sweet alcohol

Aroma: 8/10; Appearance: 8/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 17/20
Rating: 4.1/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: ***+ /4

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.