 DocLock (4170), Lower Pottsgrove, Pennsylvania, USA
Feb 18, 2005
Big thanks to beer handy for this. This is #1,450 for me, and I hope to have 50 solid beers leading up to 1,500. This one pours dark as the night, with minimal tan head. Aroma of malt, big prunes, dark fruit, chocoff, molasses, scotch, oak, bourbon, berries, vanilla. Higher intensity aroma than Heresy. Tastes wonderfully malty, with an oatmeal, blackberry, graham cracker, molasses, chocolate syrup, prune, licorice flavor. Yes, this is a bit cloying due to its amazing thickness, and the alcohol appears as it warms, yet it remains smooth. Up there with the DFH Worldwide Stout as far as thickness and intensity of flavor goes (although not as thick or alcoholic). Gets a bit heavy toward the end, but damn! this is a good beer. Lightweights, or non-stout fans need not apply. Beers like this make me proud to be a ratebeerian. Major props to Goose Island! JPDIPSO, I agree with your marinade idea. I may save a few ounces of this to marinate some steak or pork with. I’ll bet it would kick major ass! Not as smooth as the CWBBS or Speedway, not as complex as Dark Lord (but just as thick), yet amazing in its own right. The bourbon doesn’t overpower the beer, it just accentuates it. Stouts like this don’t come along very often. I’m a hardened, 16 year-veteran beer drinker, and as my last beer of the night this one is intimidating even me! Bravo, Goose Island.
KnutAlbert (2333), Oslo, Norway
Oct 13, 2008 Bottle from New Beer Distibutors, NYC.
Pitch black beer.
Lovely bourbon/vanilla aroma. Smooth stout base. Well composed, well balanced, well executed.
CaptBier (256), Birmingham, Alabama, USA
Oct 9, 2008 Bottle. Ill start by saying that I think my bottle had gone flat since Goose Island insists on using screw top caps for some reason. Nonetheless, the aroma and taste were very sweet and balanced. Strong flavor of alcohol as well. I really enjoyed it.
CanIHave4Beers (216), Des Moines, Iowa, USA
Oct 8, 2008 I was presented with the opportunity to try this one on tap last evening at El Bait Shop in Des Moines. I had a bottle of this a couple years ago, and I jumped at the opportunity to try it on tap. I was particularly surprised at how tasty this was considering how not long ago I thought it was a little bit "overdone".
This beer pours a jet black and has a big tan head that settles to a swirl on the top of the beer and leaves some lace. The aromas are of vanilla, oak, whisky and alcohol. The flavor is remarkable it starts off fairly intensely of roasted, almost burnt malt, which gives way to what can only be described as a strong mocha character displaying plenty of the chocolate and vanilla malt sweetness balanced very nicely with nutty flavors of oak and whisky. This is indeed best when sipped slowly, but there is virtually no alcohol burn, and this is remarkably smooth for all of its character. The only complaint I have is that everything tastes like water after drinking this one.
flatmatt (99), Northville, Michigan, USA
Oct 7, 2008 12 oz bottle, 2007 vintage. Opened it up for the second presidential debate. Pours black with no head. First aroma is alcohol, but after that there are deep sweet aromas of dark chocolate, bourbon, dark fruits and cherries. Flavor is sweet chocolate with some roasty coffee, vanilla, bourbon, smoke. The alcohol is there as well, but it’s mostly a pleasant backup to the other flavors. Syrupy palate. This is a great beer with huge flavor.
Two_Dudes (29), Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Oct 7, 2008 Bottle dated 7/3/06 - Pours black as night with a motor oil type body. NO carbonation. Nose is all alcohol and some candied fruit. Palate is dominated by alcohol and some bourbon...still!!! Good, but had to share a 12 oz bottle with the wife. Couldn’t have had much more than that.
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