DaSilky1 (1970), San Diego, California, USA
| 4.2 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 9/10 | 4/5 | 9/10 | 4/5 | 16/20 | Jul 16, 2009 Updated: Jul 17, 2009Pours an oily brown with thin whispy swirls on top. Roasty, nutty nose with a slight tart touch, with added hints of dried fruits and chocolate. Smooth yet sufficiently hoppy mouthfeel, with waves of chocolate, nuts, dried fruits, vanilla, bourbon, chocolate mousse, Super smooth oily flavorful concoction here...quite impressed. The alcohol is pleasantly warming.. .this shit is off the hook relaxing, need to drink one with a cigar next time.
second bottle was different than first...huge dry coffee flavors, hoppy, ans extremely boozy...decreases on flavor and palate. yemenmocha (354), Glendale, Arizona, USA
| 4.1 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 5/5 | 8/10 | 5/5 | 16/20 | Jul 15, 2009 Exceptional appearance with rather thick tan head that almost fools you into thinking it is a nitro head. It retains very well and leaves thin lace.
Nose is a sexy beast of coffee, roasted malt, and very dark chocolate.
On the palate the alcohol is masked fairly well even though my bottle is quite young, and the medium to full bodied ale pulls through a very masculine roasted coffee flavor with big malt, and only a slight tang of flavor from the bourbon barrel influence.
Amazing beer and surprisingly drinkable. leems (147), Portland, Oregon, USA
| 3.9 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 16/20 | Jul 14, 2009 XXI on tap @ Vincente’s, pours an nice coal black with a tiny little brown head that fades quickly, lacing is minimal. The aroma is caramel and coffee. Flavor is coffee, chocolate, caramel, roasted malts, oak bite. A nice bitter balance from the roasted malt and some hops, the oak bite helps balance the sweetness too. A big beer that could age very well. I’m glad I have two bottles laying down in the basement. bgburdman9 (823), Columbus, Ohio, USA
| 4.1 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 17/20 | Jul 12, 2009 Bottle I acquired in a trade. XX version. Aroma was very roasty chocolate and alcohol. Some bourbon present but very light overall. Very sweet and rich on the palate overall. Very nice stuff with well hidden alcohol. gracefullypunk (301), Washington, USA
| 4.4 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 9/10 | 5/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 18/20 | Jul 11, 2009 Black, cappuccino head and lots of lacing. Smells of coffee, chocolate, and caramel. Tastes of malts, chocolate, coffee and bourbon. Very creamy. It’s Black Butte--which is already a wonderful standard--but with every taste amplified. It’s a damn good beer. JaBier (1212), Capital City, Ohio, USA
| 4.5 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 9/10 | 4/5 | 9/10 | 5/5 | 18/20 | Jul 11, 2009 Growler sample from a traveling friend. Black pour with a huge tan head. Malty aroma with lots of chocolate and coffee. Vanilla and chocolate flavor up front giving way to coffee and a bit of oaky bourbon in the finish. The barrel-aging is well executed as are the coffee and cocoa nib additions. Sublime. beerbastard (98), Mesa, Arizona, USA
| 4.2 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 18/20 | Jul 10, 2009 Pours as black as I have seen, nice fine tan head. Kind of a burnt bread or malt nose. Coffee and bitter sweet chocolate. Would not have quessed the bourbon oak barrel part. Big flavor almost hides the alcohol. Silky smooth and full mouthfeel. Bitterness from the coffee? or from roasted malts. I like more hop in the flavor. This a damn good beer. This stacks up to any Imperial Stout. I can’t tell the difference.
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