Freeminer Deep Shaft Stout

No Bottle Date; Sampled May 2008
A vigorous pour only summons forth a frothy, one-finger thick, cocoa stained, dark tan colored head in my 25cl tulip glass. The beer is a pitch black color that doesn’t allow any light through its depths. The aroma has quite a Port-wine character to it. Dark chocolate aromas, burnt molasses, black coffee and a bit toasted bread crust note interweave with the Port character.

Very dry and quite a bit lighter in heft than I was expecting from the rich aroma. The beer finishes with a dry, burnt prune like tartness that is constructed from the roast malt character. Dusty cocoa flavors up front lead into a dry, black espresso note that in addition to its roast flavors also contributes a light bitterness in the finish. A touch of light, yet burnt Sherry towards the finish adds a bit of complexity. This is dominated by roast grain notes, but it seems that it could really use some complex malt sweetness, which is entirely lacking here.

This beer has quite a soft signature despite being so massively dark; somehow it just doesn’t seem right that the flavors and aroma are so muted for something this dark. Not a bad beer, just seems a bit flat and thin, even considering that this probably has some age to it. Put another way, it seems to have the aroma and flavor I want, but just seems to lack a little boost in richness that would make this a fantastic tipple.

Bottle via trade with some one relatively recently, I believe. Bottled on 3/18/03. Pours black with a 1 finger tan head. Nose is really nice and sweet big on chocolate and malty and chewy and oatty. Taste is sweet, chocolatey and coffee ridden. This is a big yummy and sweet stout. Very very good.

500ml bottle, via Dickinsonbeer. Pours a completely black body, that’s one inky black looking mofo. Nice dense, small, creamy espresso brown head. Heavy sediment noted in bottle. The nose is heavy roast and chocolate with a great earthy yeastiness. Some coffee, plummy fruitiness, chalk, and English hops. The flavor is dark roasted coffee, roasted barley, and a nice earthy oat maltiness. Full of flavor and subtleties with a nice dark fruit finish that wraps up with a nice hop kick. Mouthfeel is great as well, clearly showing its bottle conditioned treatment. Full bodied and creamy with perfect soft gentle carbonation. This beer is really great! So much flavor and complexity. I have never seen this on the shelf, but if I do I will be buying a lot of it.

Bottle from artusory. Dated March 03. Poured an inky black color with a thin tan head. Aroma of roasted malts, coffee, licorice, and dark fruits. Great, rich taste. Velvety smooth entry leads into a great roasted malt hit with chocolate and light coffee notes. Much better than I anticipated. Thanks a lot Ryan.

Date: 03/27/2004
Mode: Bottle Conditioned
Source: Whole Foods Market, DC

pours like oil, solid black with no highlights, thin dark tan head, light roasted aroma, big body, rich roasted flavor, lingering bitter coffee finish, bitterness would normally be overpowering but somehow works well in this big brew
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Date: 11/05/2004

big big bitter, some malt bitterness, sweet character hidden behind the bitterness, too much bitterness but balanced by the rich malt
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Date: 06/14/2006

bitterness fading in the aroma allowing nice sweetness to come through, creamy body, rich chocolate flavor with just a bit of the prior bitterness in the finish, age has helped termendously

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 8/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 8/10; Overall: 15/20
Rating: 3.7/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: **4

A black beer. Aroma has a surprising smokiness. Thick on the palate. Light hops, roasted malt and some bread and grain.

Viscous black pour, Very small and fully diminishing light brown head. The aroma is of coffee, chocolate, roasted grains, scorched sugars, prunes, tar, smoke, licorice and cherries. The flavor has moderate bitterness, moderate sweetness, light smoke and fruit, coffee and roast. Light acidity from just a hint of hops. Finishes quite bitter with lingering roast and chocolate. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, smooth and delicate. Carbonation is low and roaming. Very good, very easy to drink.

Sampled at the RBSG 07 Grand Tasting. Dark brown body with no head. Malty nose with a roasted malt body. Another dry stout for the evening.