Haandbryggeriet Dark Force

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

The aroma was fruity with a strong estery presence through the huge brown head. As the head fell the aroma became chocolate and a bit of roast with a dark cherry presence. Caramel also shined through, but more lurked beneath the head, mainly some wheat and more dark chocolate. The beer poured clear and pitch black with a ruby highlight when held to light. The head was brown, large and in charge daring you to end up with a head moustache as a reward for your consumption efforts. The flavor was malty with a nice chocolate, dark chocolate, and caramel presence and a bit of espresso roast. The flavor was estery and fruity with a tropical fruit note of mango coupled with some citrus. The bittering was moderate and only enough to balance the malt. The finish was dry with cocoa and chocolate lasting into the aftertaste. The body was medium and the carbonation level was fairly high. Alcohol was not a factor at any point and did not show it’s ugly face. An interesting take on an RIS, but more of a porter than a stout. 16.9 ounce bottle. Batch number 74 Bottled May 07.

Bottle @ Internasjonalen, Oslo. Huge frothy lasting espresso head. Body is opaque black and well carbonatied. Pleasant aroma of chocolate, sweet licorice, blackcurrant, acidulous apples and grassy hops. Taste is semi-dry dark malts, roast, bitter chocolate, tar, acidic fruitiness and a good amount of bittering hops. Notes of mild spices and salt. Soft and creamy mouthfeel. Full-bodied. Lingering bitter finish. Yum!

this was damn freakin awesome. thick rich lots of dark blend coffee, dark chocolate, rich creamy milk chocolate, some oak smoke, marshmellow and cashew flavors. delicious.

Batch 60, courtesy after4ever. Pours opaque black with a thick, dense, light brown head. Aroma of brown sugar, chocolate, coffee. Creamy full body. Sweet taste of coffee, chocolate. Smoke, tar, resin and licorice in the finish.

Batch 75. Dark ruddy brown color with a tall sturdy malt chocolate colored head. Someone poured some gin in my stout! Scents of juniper dominate, while roasted and toasted malts lay in waiting. Hints of grapefruit, licorice, coffee and scorched wheat mingle about in the background. Interesting but doesn’t lead me to an imperial stout experience. Full feel with just enough light eff to keep it light. Sweet malt start middle is full and bursting with tar, coffee grounds, light smoke, dark chocolate, charred wheat and dark cherries. Enough roasted malts to add some bitterness along with detected lightly pine hops flavors. If you like them roasty this one is for you. The finish is quite dry and the alcohol is now detected by the mild burn in the stomach. This would hold the table with any smoked meat fare.

The beer pours from the 500ml bottle an onyx color, the head a magnificent crown of creamy chocolate brown, as it evaporates every so slowly, the lace forms a sticky thick sheet to cover the glass. Nose rich in sweet roasted malt, coffee, chocolate and a slight floral aroma also noticed, earthy and delightful to see and smell. Start has a pronounced malt presence, sweet and the hops and roasted grain add a nice bitter bite at the back, top is rich and full to the palate. Finish is merciful in its acidity, the hops sturdy in their spiciness; maybe a touch of alcohol bitterness, very dry and the aftertaste clings mightily to the palate, a fine addition to the style.

500ml - Brygget Mai 07 - Aroma is appealing with bakers chocolate, wheat, caramel and roasted malts. Pours black with a nice chewy brown head and great lacing. Flavor is heavy on the chocolate both up front and in the finish. Dry and powdery but in a good way. Roasted malts, alcohol and wheat mix themselves in there for an interesting brew. Palate is dry and sticky. I always like something different and this one comes through.

1 pint 0.9 oz. Bottle, 9%alc, label - Batch NR 74, pours very black with a big creamy dark tan head, the bubbles clung together pretty well as a team when moving on the sides of the glass, aroma of big chocolate, dark chocolate, some chocolate cake mix, roasted malt, faint cherry, berries, rum and raisin, a woodsy aroma, dark wheat, faint coffee and alcohol in the background, burnt molasses, faint yeast earthiness, some smokiness, great aromas, roasted malt, strong coffee bitterness, bitter chocolate, some malt sweetness, taste of dark fruit, berries and currants(?) that appear just before the finish, faint smoky chared wood flavor, has a berry bitterness at the finish that is different and distinguishes itself from the other impy stouts I have had, a medium hop bitterness at the finish, chocolate flavor rides with the berries from first sip to the last drop, hmm hmm good, lots of carbonation makes its light on the palate and not as thick on the palate as some other stouts, a little over carbonated, not as sweet as the typical Impy Stout it has more bitterness but has complex flavors to keep the palate interesting, I recommend it.