Haandbryggeriet Dark Force

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

Bottle 500ml, brewed 08/08 (#125). Pitch black colour, dark brown bubbly head. Dark and rich taste with roasted malts. Taste is creamy with wood, caramel, coffee and fruits . Finish is roasty and dry, with some alcohol.

Bottle from Briskeby Vinmonopolet, Oslo, batch 135. Engine oil pour, soy brown against the enamel of the hotel sink (spilt some). Collapsing filthy uneven chocolate mousse head subsiding to a rim, admittedly not in the ideal serving receptacle. Initially dank leaf matter and warm milk lactic aroma, giving way to herbal Jagermeister notes, ash, soy, liquorice and cocoa. Smells like an ashy BC English stout; too much yeast, fizz and...wheelie bin. A bit flimsy and prickling despite the glossy black opacity. Mouth has berry fruit and Jagermeister again; ash, leaves, high cocoa, yeasty apple peel acidity, Marmite heartburn, clinging burnt toast. No better than an average yeasty strong stout.

Rich black body. Creamy tan head. Notes of toffee and smoke. Roasty malts and a hint of gnarly alcohol heat. Sweet and robust at first, but finishes dry and has some nice complexities such as hints of nuts and dark berries.

50cl Bottle from De Bierkoning, ABV 9%. Pitch black colour, beige to brown head. Aroma of roasted malts, tar, brown sugar, a hint of earth, alcohol. Flavour is sweet, malty, dark fruits, deep roasted/burnt malts, coffee, tar, alcohol, liquorice, slightly earthy hoppy and coffee bitter finish that lingers with a tiny hint of sourness. Dry, oily mouthfeel, medium to fullbodied. I’m happy.

Bottle (9%) Tre Små Rum Gothenburg. Black colour with a very small brown head. The aroma is a bit on the light side with notes of lightly roasted malt, licorice, and some alcohol. The taste is much more straight forward with strong notes of roasted and burned malt, licorice, tar, asphalt, dark chocolate, and a bit of saltiness.

Big boozy beer. Very smooth with lots of burnt notes. A really heavy type of beer and not just in the ABV. Coffee, chocolate and fruits prevalent, with a smooth finish with the wheat. Thanks Chuwy!

1pt .9oz bottle. Pours a black body with a finger-width, creamy, dark brown head that dissipates slowly and leaves lots of heavy lacing. Aroma is moderately sweet with a good amount of burnt roasts. Some dark chocolate, sharper woody hops, and a hint of licorice. Flavor is similar. Lots of caramels with a consistent burnt roast from beginning to end. Some chocolate, wood, slightly salty licorice, and a bit of acidic/bitter coffee in the finish. Dry with a long duration of a moderate sweetness and light burnt chocolate. Full bodied and very smooth. Overall, a nice Imp Stout. Nothing extraordinary, but very solid with lots of flavor and a nice, lightly astringent bitter roast.

Bottled at Bishops Arms, Järntorget Pitch black. Medium, orange head. Vinous and burnt, salty aroma. Loads ocf coffee and chocolate in the flavour. Dry and light bitterness.