 Indra (1828), Prairie Village, Kansas, USA
Oct 23, 2007
12oz. bottle, July 2006 vintage. Luscious aroma of rich dark chocolate, bittersweet cocoa powder, creamy milk chocolate, sweet vanilla, roasty espresso, plum, toffee, aged, burnt sugars and bourbon-soaked wood. A tempting prelude to what lies ahead. Thickly opaque ebony color with a light brown head forming a ring around the walls of the snifter. Flavor is satisfyingly powerful and robust, with layers of rich chocolate, dark caramel sweetness and maple sugar blended with unfathomable depths of roasty malt, dried fruits, and, towards the incredibly long finish, a brief glimpse of spicy hop bitterness and lingering cola and earthy bourbon barrel accents. Warming, exceedingly smooth, enveloping mouthfeel, body is vast and full. Nicely complex, almost luxurious in nature. Very impressive indeed.
msante79 (227), Illinois, USA
Aug 28, 2008 2007 12oz bottle. Pours black with very thin dark tan head. Aroma is big with bourbon, booze, oak, coffee, chocolate and vanilla. Flavor is smooth and creamy with suprised me based on the aroma. Big flavors of caramel, vanilla and bourbon with notes of chocolate and coffee. This is a beautiful beer. Mouthfeel is very silky. Hides 13 % ABV very well. Could have several glasses of this. Flavors really open up as it warms. Will make sure I pick up a 4 pack of the 2008.
fschouten (2), Manteno, Illinois, USA
does not count  Aug 24, 2008 This stout is best enjoyed at the Goose Island Brewery restaurant on North Clybourn in Chicago. Of course, it’s probably also best to park on the south side and take the Red Line there. That gives you a chance to ride public transit back to your car and let your body work through of some of the effect of this potent stout!
BrotherGrendel (135), San Diego (La Jolla), California, USA
Aug 23, 2008 12oz bottle procured from NYC Whole Foods on Bowery, poured into a Stone OG tulip glass, 2007 edition bottled 1/20/07.
Appearance is pitch black hue with tinges of brown on the periphery, head is minimal, a mere thin ring of brown bubbles, moderate lacing.
Smell is amazing, big notes of molasses, dark fruits, bourbon alcohol, and woody oak, some dark bitter chocolate and coffee tones, vanilla and roasty malts as well.
Taste is also quite spectacular initially characterized by bittersweet chocolate malts, whisky, and dark fruits, transitions slowly to coffee and roast malts, vanilla, and a touch of earthy hops, finishes syrupy sweet with alcohol warming.
Mouthfeel is full-bodied, thick viscous texture coats the mouth like motor oil, carbonation is ample.
Drinkability is moderate at 11%, you can definitely feel the alcohol but it is not overwhelming, great mix of malts, dark fruits, hops, the bourbon barrel accents are a great accent that does not hijack the flavor profile, this is deserving of high ratings and I would love to try try again after a few years of cellaring, yum!
joekinty (177), rockledge, Florida, USA
Aug 23, 2008 thanks mcbackus what a great stout great barrell notes in this dark dark beer chocolate and woods dominate flavor is great taste and aroma match perfectly not much better than this
DTM (365), Winters, California, USA
Aug 20, 2008 Bottle aquired in a trade with StFun. Poured black with absolutely no head. Smelled of a mint chocolate and bourbon. Tasted of chocolate and the tasted lingered at the back of my throat. I was very impressed. This beer would be great on a cold winter night. I was very surprised that the ABV was 13%!!
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