Gypsy19 (603), California, USA Aug 3, 2009 Pours an opaque near-black with a nice medium-brown head that gets a little smaller, then just sticks around. Aroma is of sweet dark malts, a little coffee/chocolate, and a little bit of hops. Actually a slightly better and bolder aroma on this one than the Oak Aged version. Flavor has a lot of burnt malt and sweet, delicious chocolate. A pinch of floral flavors, and just a little bitter hops in the finish. Reminds me a lot of Old Rasputin, though not exactly identical, and perhaps a little hotter than Old Razz. Yes, a little hot for only being 9 1/2 percent. But still very drinkable. Full palate, burnt malt/tarry aftertaste. Very enjoyable. I like this one a little more than the Oak Aged. Overall, excellent plus. drowland (1360), Tallahassee, Florida, USA Aug 3, 2009 12oz bottle into a snifter
Pours rather black with a very dark brown almost milk chocolate head that is large and lingering. The aroma is big esters and dark fruits and the flavor is sweet at first with a smooth transition to roasted malts, chocolates, and coffees, which leads to a crisp dry American finish. Pretty good stuff! GAManiac (1123), Atlanta, Georgia, USA Aug 1, 2009 Well, it’s taken me long enough to get around to this one. I’ve tried the Oak Aged, Espresso and even the Barrel Aged, but never cracked a bottle of the base beer.
Pours just like the others - pitch black with no light coming through, with a smallish tan head that leaves a heavy ring and a swirl along the top. Lacing is minimal but it shows some legs after each sip.
The aroma is massive, with an initial (surprising) citrus hop kick giving way to the huge roasted malts, dark chocolate and tons of brown sugar and molasses.
The taste is just a bigger, darker version of the nose. The hops are there up front but just get washed away by the waves of dark, burnt malts and bakers chocolate. There are some dark fruits in there and a bit of the molasses, but the toasted character really dominates the taste...and I like it.
The mouthfeel is full bodied and thick on the palate with enough carbonation to keep it from getting syrupy.
Well, I figured I might enjoy this one, given how much I’ve enjoyed the other iterations, and I was not surprised at all. It’s one of the better impy stouts out there and, given it’s wide distribution, should be a go-to stout for most folks out there. Big, dark and damn tasty. beernovice39 (241), South Carolina, USA Jul 29, 2009 Oh this was a good beer! The commercial description is accurate and this brew lives up to the hype. Hated splitting this with my wife..... JoeTheYounger (219), California, USA Jul 29, 2009 Pours a dark luscious black with brown bubbly sexy head. Aroma of sweet chocolate and hops. Taste of toffee, sweet malts, fresh hops, chocolate, and caramel. Very well balanced. This stuff was so good. I want some more! reverendj (34), Brunswick, Georgia, USA Jul 27, 2009 Pours a prune juice color and consistency with a dense tan cap that leaves beige lacing on the glass. Wonderfully malty nose with chocolate, burnt toffee, prunes, and soy sauce (it’s a first for me). Smooth, satiny feel with dark chocolate, espresso, malted dark caramel, and a nice hop tingle. Truly the real Dark Knight! jredmond (1015), New Jersey, USA Jul 26, 2009 Bottle. Pours a dark almost blakc body with tan head that vanishes quickly. Aroma is tasty hops. The flavor is smooth with great hop flavor.
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