Brooklyn Black Ops

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

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)

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!

750 mL bottle purchased from Chucks Liquor in Bowling Green, KY. Shared with a group at the inaugural Barrios’ tasting. Poured a dark brown/almost black with a two finger brown head. The aroma was bourbon and vanilla with an alcohol note. The flavor was vanilla and bourbon, with smoked meat present, and a serious lack of roasted malt. The palate was above average, with a creamy mouthfeel, soft carbonation and a full body. This was an above average beer. I am glad I was able to share this with a good group.

22oz bottle. Pours deep black, slight red highlights and a compact small dark tan head. Aroma is some definite whiskey, caramel and slight chocolate. I must say this tastes very little like the Black Chocolate Stout it once was. The barrel aging has smoothed out all the rough edges and added an amazing depth and complexity to what was already a very solid stout. The bourbon is just there enough to smooth out this beer and add some caramel and smoke notes. Chocolate and light coffee from the original Black Chocolate remain but have been depened by time in the barrel. Really exceptional and worth the money.

Well, since the beer is in the database, I might as well rate it. The bourbon is so subtle it tastes more like a light oak. The roasted malts adds a really nice chocolate flavor to it, in fact it’s more chocolaty than the BCS. It doesn’t have the thick mouthfeel like some of the top 50 but it’s just as good. If this beer were available, it would sell very well.

This was a SAMPLE "NOT FOR SALE" bottle from a sales rep. It’s a bourbon barrel aged (woodford reserve), 100% bottle refermented black stout. A lot like the chocolate stout but very little chocolate. A bit more malty and hearty. Very black! The smell made my mouth water!

Finally a substitute for my beloved East End Homewood Reserve. The champagne yeast gives this one a different quality than any other beer I have had before. I have heard the complaint that this is too bourbony but its just right for me. It figures that this is ultra expensive and difficult to obtain, but at least I have come close to that goodness from the Homewood again.

750 ml. bottle. Wow, quite possibly the greatest beer I have ever had. It is almost like Black Chocolate Stout was put on oak steroids. It is midnight dark in color with a deep cocoa colored head. The aroma is bourbon oak, sweet cocoa, and espresso. Flavor is sweet, with notes of vanilla, creamy caramel, oak, and sweet chocolate. The body is full, and one should take care to not rush this beer. Sit back, relax, sip, and enjoy.