Haandbryggeriet Dark Force

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

Poured black with good size brown head. Aroma of sweet malt and chocolate. Chocolate, sweet malt, coffee, and bread flavors present and finished rather harsh.

500 ml. bottle from 2007. This poured out a solid black with a massive mocha brown head that had good durability and left a thick, but spotty, lace. Rather unique aroma with notes of burnt coffee, chocolate, vanilla, and pepper. Bitter malt flavors predominate, and very little sweetness is noted, and the bitterness lingers, although not objectionably. The medium/full body and carbonation match well with the aroma and flavor, and there is a certain chewiness in the bitter, and mildly astringent, finish. Other that the huge head, I’m not sure what the wheat malt brings to the table here. I think the usual wheat flavors and aromas are just overshadowed by all of the dark malt. Still, it’s an enjoyable beer.

Bottle courtesy of Jerc and Mabel, shared with them. Nice aroma - strong roast, rich chocolate. Pitch black, great looking small brown bubbly head. Neat carbonated mouthfeel (for the style). Neat roasted sweet taste. Some alcohol present. Good stuff.

500ml bottle batch #73 brewed april 07. Pours dark brown/black with a huge foamy light brown head. Aroma is dark fruits, citrus, tingly, banana some subtle dark malts underneath. A hint of chocolate. The fruity aspect really dominates the aroma. Nice dark chocolate taste. Bitter. Not nearly as fruity or citrusy in the taste as it is in the smell. Medium bodied. Strong. Noticeable hops. Very bitter. Long finish. Nice.

Dark in color with a small head. Aroma very mild or lacking. Soft chocolate and bitterness. Taste hoppy and bit foody. Rich body but not too heavy. Thought I would have more to say abou this oddball but it was not all that complex.

Dark dark dark brown black with a dense light brown head. Roast coffee. Barely a sign of esters. A bit sweet. Some smal dark fruit. Soft carbonation. Decent body. Low carbonation, a bit viscous. Dark coffee roast. Charcoal. A bit of alcohol over some esters. Some prunes. A dry boozy finish.

Bottled. Aroma has coffee, some dark fruits and coffee. Black coloured with a medium brown head. Taste is sweet, chocolate bitter, some dark fruits, some roast, some vanilla. Creamy texture. Nice balance. Decent imperial stout.

Bottle: The aroma consists of dusty fruit with some faint chocolate, alcohol, and faint roasted malt. It pours a dark brown with no transparency and a moderate brown head with decent retention. The flavor starts with lots of chocolate and roasted malt. The finish has sort of a brunt grain flavor with some light piney bitterness.