Haandbryggeriet Dark Force

Brewed by Haandbryggeriet (Norway)
Style: Imperial Stout
Drammen, Norway

Bottle courtesy of Dragonstout. Pours a blackish brown with a huge tan head. I was a little sloppy with my pour and had to walk away for a few minutes. The usual Impy Stout flavors here. Roasted malt, molasses, caramel & dry bakers chocolate. Didn’t notice any difference in being a wheat stout. Mouthfeel was a little dry for an Impy.

[731-20071001] 1pt0.9floz (w/ jerc, Radek Kliber, tupalev). Alcoholic dark roasted raisin malt aroma with a very light chocolate background. Thick black brown body with a long-lasting creamy light tan head. Roasted coffee malt flavour has light bandaid wheat notes. Medium-full body has a bitter almost sour finish. Strange sour qualities ruins the finish.

From a 500mL Bottle. Dark black, opaque pour with a huge head of fizzy tan. Grassy hop aroma with notes of dark chocolate and some faint, leathery tobacco notes. Medium bodied, shimmering carbonation with a soft mouthfeel. Lots of grassy hops and mild coffee up front on the palate, accompanied by a milky wheat creaminess. The flavor intensity builds linearly to the finish, transitioning cleanly from the vanilla nougat wheat characters into a lingering roasty, bitter hop finish. An interesting idea that should be repeated.

This stuff is out of control, and not necessarily in a good way. Boozy and wheaty and gnarly.

Another thanks to oh6gdx for this one. Unfortunately, it really wasn’t up to par and someone who I was sharing this with had suggested a possible infection. Perhaps. Overall it wasn’t very good. Nose was lacticy sour, a touch ashy, raisins and sweet malts. Appearance was beautiful, with a huge eruptive dark tan head underneath a solid black body. Flavors had a helping of malt astringency, ashes, dark fruits and a touch metallic.

Hugely dark, black body with a light freckling of a frothy tan head (poured rather carefully). Expressive nose, the wheat components come across unexpectedly forcefully. Great combination of spices, fruits, dark roast and chocolate. I’m thinking: chocolate covered bananas, coffee and clove cigarettes. Underneath, caramel and toast--some black cherries too. Not as overly sweet as some imperial stouts get; it has a pleasant light dryness that keeps it almost, dare I say, refreshing? The chocolate aromas and flavours really step up with some warmth. Tangy acidity throughout like expected from a wheat beer. In a way, I’m reminded of Fantôme Chocolat and that wonderful spicy/sweet combination. Some hops start to stand out as the beer comes to room temperature--earthy and spicy. Medium to full bodied with a soft, velvety texture all lightened by lively carbonation. Interesting, fun, different...thanks J. 50cl bottle, goblet, brewed sep. 07.

Pours deep black with two fingers of creamy tan head. Aroma of dark chocolate, sweet molasses, coffee, astringent, anise, slight dark fruit notes. Flavor has strong caramel notes with hints of dark chocolate, slight caramel, and a nice bit of grain present. The wheat is a nice addition and makes this an above-average imperial stout, but doesn’t carry with it that ’wow’ factor that one looks for.

Bottle. Dark brown/black pour with a tan head. Aroma of roasted malt, light chocolate, a bit of wheat and coffee. Flavors of roasted malt, light dark chocolate, a tinge of smoke. Medium body, roasty with a roasty/bitter finish.