General Lafayette Double Thunder

Vintage 2003, sampled July 2006. A pitch black beer with a lazing brown head. The aroma contains lots of chocolate, madeira, and over ripe fruits, as well as light notes of oxidation and licorice. The flavor is sweet with a strong malt presence and notes of over ripe fruits alcohol, madeira, raisins, and chocolate as well as a light oxidation.

Dark brown pour, light brown ring. I tried both the cask and draft version and they were quite different. The cask felt a bit dull, soy saucy and kind of like a dark malts soup. On the other hand, the keg offered a more interesting cakey sweetness with certainly a beany aspect, but it was more vanilla-ish than vegetal this time. The mouthfeel was quite oily with that low carbonation, full and fatiguing. Rather complex flavours with good supporting hops and roastiness hinting at cocoa and herbs. Still, more integration and roundness would have been welcome and the usual fruitiness forgot the meeting.

On tap at the GLI. Poured a dark black with an averaged sized brownish head. Aromas and tastes of chocolates, roasted malts, and some dark fruits lurking in the back ground. Starts of lightly sweet and ends in a nice coffee bitter finish. I didn’t get any alcohol in the aromas and tastes - I wouldn’t have guessed it was 9.4%. Lacing left on the glass.

The Lure:
Subtle grapiness escapes the chocolatey sweet malt pond. A straightforward dessert must ensue. The cask version has much more vanilla, and is sweeter and bolder.

The Festivities:
Roasted malt flavor and bitterness lathers the cocoa powder and smooth vinosity. Hot alcohol laces on the dark chocolate bar and warns of its warming effect. The cask version showcases more alcohol, a flatter feel, and a disparate amalgamation of flavors. The regular tap serves it much better, no doubt.

Transcendence:
Those ice cream bars do their job very well.

Thanks to axilla for sharing. I had no idea this beer existed. Extremely dark black body with a medium dark brown head but I was drinking this in the twilight so of course it looked black as death. Moderately boozy rich dark chocolate, chocolate syrup and moderately strong roast, the mouthfeel is a bit syrupy, but in a really nice smooth way, while the alcohol (tasted like bourbon!) was a little high or too apparent but didn’t take anything away. In fact it hit the spot. Complex, rich chocolate and charred fruit flavors, even some dark roast coffee in there as well. An awesome Baltic Porter, and one I was happy I got a chance to try.

Had this at the Manayunk fest and it got lost in my notes. Poured deep black/mahogany with a big tan head. Nice coffee/chocolate aroma, with a roasty malt flavor followed up by coffee, more chocolate, and a slightly dry, creamy, smooth finish. Very good.

Soy, sugar and liquorice notes to the roasted malt aroma with some light fruitiness. Opaque dark brown body with a low tan head that recedes slowly but completely. Chocolate flavour has some nice fruitiness and a pleasantly roasty finish. Medium body with low carbonation and some alcohol warming. Sampled on tap at the brewpub with beerbuzzmontreal, MartinT, Rastacouere and Yowie.

Poured a dark brown and red color with a tan head which left nice lacing. Roasted malt, chocolate, light coffee and some dark fruit in the aroma. Chocolate, smoke, anise and alcohol in the taste. This had a rather oily mouthfeel.