 acrdz (4302), Boulder, Colorado, USA
Jul 12, 2005 Updated: Apr 26, 2008
Nitro/CO2 mixture on draft
Consumed at at Dieu du Ciel in July 2004
This is US batch #2, released in September 2005, but on tap for RateBeer in July 2005.
Poured with a huge fluffy head of light tan color, ice-cream texture and standing very tall. At first after the pour it’s a cascading gradient from the deep brown body of the beer to the light tan head at the top, but then it settles into a solid cake-like layer about 1/3 tall relative to the glass. The nose is intense sweet chocolate and espresso beans, creamy dark roast coffee abounding and just satisfying the senses perfectly. Unbelievable texture - frothy, thick, and extremely smooth, to the point that I can’t believe what I’m drinking. At times it reminds me exactly of warmed, melted ice cream with chocolate syrup. An amazingly complex bourbon and dark chocolate coating in the finish just sends this beer over the top. There is nothing about this beer that I could improve or want differently. It’s a different beast than others that I score very highly, such as Alesmith Speedway or Rogue Imperial Stout, but it’s no less perfect. Praise to the DDC brewer, this is one of the best stouts in the world.
Arayaga2 (756), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Sep 6, 2008 Inky black with a thin brown head.Chalky chocolatey brandy nose with a hint of tannic grapeskin. Tastes almost exactly as it smells, but drier, with more coffee and noticeable alcohol in finish. Biting middle of tongue bitterness, with nice subtle carbonation. $6/11.5oz
sbroome (8), Burnsville, Minnesota, USA
does not count  Sep 6, 2008 Thanks to Four Firkins, I was able to try this rare Canadian gem. $6.50 per 11.5 oz. bottle. Pours jet black with a creamy tan head. Nose is aggressive, only slight hints of coffee along with roasted malts, a hint of chocolate and iodine. Mouth feel is heavy and brash, smooth & oily and very acidic. Definately taste the high alcohol from the get go. Coffee flavor is a bit washed out by the roastiness. This is definately in the running for the best coffee-beer. Only thing holding this back is the limited availability and high price.
mcox90 (344), Wilton, New Hampshire, USA
Sep 6, 2008 11.5 oz bottle purchased at Julio’s in Massachusetts. Pours a pitch black with a dark brown head. Nose is coffee, malt & chocolate. Thick, oily palate with low carbonation. Intense coffee flavor, maybe a little to much so. Secondary flavor of unsweetened chocolate. 9.5 % abv is well hidden behind all the coffee and chocolate.
cgreb (34), Marburg, Germany
Sep 4, 2008 bottle (thank’s Alex!!!) - black (really black) beer with a brownish head. Very clear coffee aroma. The strong alcohol (9.5%) is hiding behind the intense coffee flavour. Never had something comparable. Highly viscous beer.
Mr_Stitch (138), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Sep 4, 2008 Bottle. Thanks to Linus_Stick for sharing this one. Pours a thick oily extremely dark brown, with a thin as velum tan head. Aroma is thick... filled with roasted coffee beans, 75% dark chocolate, cream, and roasted malt. Taste is sticky and bitter up front, then fades into a sweeter malt and choclatety flavor. Mouthfeel is smooth and soft with a light sticky residue left behind. An excellent beer that should be tasted by all.
|
