Flossmoor Station Imperial Eclipse Stout

Draft, Dec 31, 2004 at Flossmoor This is the same batch mentioned below but with another year of barrel aging, and dang it, I’m rating this higher than my previous 4.7. It’s just as smooth as drinking Jack Daniels in silk chiffon. Deep brown -black color with a thin brown head that only remains in the glass through surface tension. Smooth as vellum bristol board, but then a nice warming alcohol note. Smell is a big heady whiskey mash. Deep tones of raisins, currant and plums from mellow roast malt. Excellent all around.

Draft. The 2003 edition is Todd’s last as brewmaster, and new guy Matt VanWyk gave it another month to mellow out, serving it Christmas time from a jockey box. It’s freakin’ incredible. Pours dark, dark brown, not black, with a tan head that hangs around, then leaves more of a coating than a lace. Even sipping on the head is a revelation!. The extra month of aging really mellowed it out, none of the alcohol harshness of other Russian Imperials. Taste just swims with cognac, plums, toffee and vanilla. Texture is silky, but makes you think of an old stuffed leather chair. Just wonderful, I tells ya!

Quite possibly one of the very best beers I've ever had. Had this NOV '03. On tap at brewery. Pours Black. Aroma is of plums, cognac, toffee and chocolate. Silky, oily texture with dark fruit and deep malt flavor. Alcohol flavor blended well. 1-derful BEER!!!

One of the great beers of the world,Titantic stout so well balanced you really cant tell how strong it is.Funny it comes from the south side of Chicago hehe!

9/30/04. GABF 2004 muthafuckazzz 9/30/04. This beer was called "Java Jack’s Imperial Eclipse Stout" at the festival, but whether it’s a different beer or not I will leave up to the RateBeer Gods to discern. What I’ve already discerned is that this beer is fucking great. Dark, opaque black-brown with a dense, fluffy dark tan head that lingers nicely. Big nose of vanilla, whiskey, and coffee. But this coffee is like jamoca almond fudge ice cream, not the typical dark, burnt, roasty kind. Huge rich flavor with more of the jamoca notes. A ton of dark malts and a stern (but not offensively sharp) wood/alcohol sting. Where many coffee stouts have a stale coffee acidity, this one tastes fresher and more luxurious than any cup of coffee I've ever had. Silky and dry finish, somehow a perfect complement to the awesome sweet aroma absolute one-of-a-kind flavor. The only reason I didn't give this higher marks in aroma and flavor are because it lacked the rich roasty and burnt charcoals of some of the best imperial stouts. The flavor and aroma are delectable, but somehow not quite befitting of the style. It's a different kind of beer, and an absolutely astounding one at that.

Draft: Coffee-edged raisin. Creamy, tan foam halo. Chewy dark chocolate and caramel-drenched raisin aroma. Light notes of espresso, ink, whisky cask, molasses, licorice, and tar. Soft and oh so silky on the tongue. Lush and creamy. Rich vanilla and tingly whisky notes collide with coconut cream and gooey fudge flavors with creamed caramel and spicy licorice undertones. Boatloads of rich vanilla and heavy cream squelch the alcohol burn as the whisky flavors deter the subtle hop presence. Lovely sherry twang plays right off the complex malt profile. Finishes notably dry with a captivating conglomeration of whisky tannins, black chocolate, spicy licorice, alcohol, and scorched malts. Toasty whisky and burnt malt remnants. Near-flawless renditon and an experience to cherish for a lifetime.