 BBB63 (3810), La Porte, Indiana, USA
Mar 4, 2005
rating #1700, Bottle provided by Matt, many thanks buddy! : Opaque black with a huge foamy tan head and excellent lace. Nose of ripe prune, fig, grapefruit, orange zest, spruce tips, aromatic pipe tobacco, espresso, mocha, vanilla, sublime oak and dusty esters. Huge and complex and what I would want in a top-notch impy! The taste closely mirrored much of the aroma. A lot of complex malt characteristics upfront with a wonderful balance of ripened fruits and bitters holding it all together. Strange undertone of scotch (salty and peaty) and french oak barrel add some unique complexity and makes me believe this is a beer than can age for many years and gain even more depth. The feel is is my only problem, the massive carbonation does take away for the potential lush and oily chaacter to make this an ultimate world-class stout. Overall it is a rare brew that the barrel version is far better than the basic offering. Just a step below my all-time favorite, but that is just a small ster. Kudos to GD for this brew!
BarliTruebeard (17), Greeley, Colorado, USA
Oct 3, 2008 This has got to be one of my most favorite imperial stouts of all time. Rich thick head, excellent lacing. Aroma of chocolate, toffee, vanilla, wood. Extra creamy smooth taste. The alcohol bite is covered well by the wood chips. One of the best I’ve had. I highly recommend pairing this with vanilla icecream. Oh so good. Better than Old Rasputin and Stone IRS and Ten Fidy.
Rune (1811), Tromsø, Norway
Oct 3, 2008 Completely black body with a dark brownish, bubbly head. Great glass-lacing. Succulent aromas of cocoa and hops together with a peaty touch behind it all. Well blended taste of chocolate, caramel and roasted malts backed by hops and gentle liquorice acidity. Even bitter coffee notes can be spotted. Smooth and velvet in the mouth. Harmonious and amazingly balanced. Nothing less than a masterpiece (500ml from tap shared with larsga and reakt at Plan B, Copenhagen 15.09.2008, and 250ml on tap - guest brew - at Nørrebro Bryghus, Copenhagen 20.09.2008).
mwelsh13 (190), Maryland, USA
Oct 2, 2008 2005 bomber. Very little pop when I opened the bottle. Poured a jet black with a medium oil consistency. Deep aromas of raisin, fig, molasses, currants, and some wood. Very smooth. No hop bitterness or roast dryness. A lot of chocolate with some vanilla/butterscotch flavors. Aged nicely.
RasterMaster (8), , Oklahoma, USA
does not count  Sep 29, 2008 Updated: Sep 30, 2008Thick dark black pour (almost molasses) from 22-ounce bottle forming into a dark brown head which eventually settles into heavy traces of lacing on the glass. Creamy head lingers giving a strong aroma of burnt oak and roasted cofee with chocolate malts. Strong, heavily charred smoked oak finish with light vanilla flavor, touch of bourbon-laden hoppy bite leaving a pleasingly sweet duration.
Haslinger (552), Syracuse, New York, USA
Sep 29, 2008 22 ounce bottle courtesy of Zinister. Aroma is chocolate coffee. Pours pitch black with a dark head into a snifter. Leaves some nice lacing. Taste is a delicious mixture of roasted coffee, chocolate and definite bourbon. The oak is subtle yet thick. There is a lot of hops in the aftertaste that you don’t notice at first because it’s overpowered by the intensely rich bourbon taste. Great brew.
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