Holy Mackerel Mack in Black

Brewed by Florida Beer Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Melbourne, Florida USA

Draft. Pours pretty pitch black, with a medium light brown head. Smells of some roasty dark malts, and little bit of dark fruit, although the aroma wasnt very big and bold, but more subtle. The flavor was definitely roasty, with a bit of chocolate malt, and got a touch of pomegranate, although it wasnt prominent in the flavor, but more there for moral support pretty much. Pretty nice palate on it, went down pretty smooth with not much trace of alcohol at all. Definitely better than their first offering, but still didnt blow me away. Very solid though.

12oz bottle, 2008 vintage, from daknole--thanks Dakine! Deep mahogany with ruby highlights and a small tan head, fading to a ring and thin film rather quickly. Dominant aroma is Hershey’s Chocolate syrup--the kind you use to make chocolate milk or put on ice cream--with some light roast and some nondescript fruitiness that I can’t place as pomegranate. The flavor does get a little bit roastier but still the Hershey’s dominates, and plenty of sweetness to be had (not cloying, though). There was also a little bit of vanilla. Still couldn’t pick out any Belgian yeast, or which fruit I tasted. The finish was fairly ashy, unfortunately. Light prickly carbonation with a medium full body. Pretty sweet impy--not a so much roast, if that’s your thing.

2008 12oz Bottle. An imperial stout fermented with Belgian yeast and made with Pomegranate juice from Florida, eh? A filtered pour produces a dark black-brown oil, with a bright ruby corner and swirling head in chestnut heartwood. Noses tends classically to a standard Imperial Stout malt profile, touched with a kiss of red fruit. A touch of cigar and some salt. Flavor is surprisingly well-integrated and un-confused. I’m surprised at how well the juice works. It weaves in with the tannic grain qualities and some of the natural malt sugar tanginess. Balance this with a good roast character and a well-integrated alcohol level and this isn’t a bad beer, really. Certainly straying from the typical form, but maintaining quality and character. Finishes on a wooden dryness over a bit of aril pith. Nice. Thanks Dave!

bottle courtesy of daknole. black pour with a small espresso head. very sour scent along with a small amount of roasted malts. thick roasted malt flavor that finished with a sour/funkness due to the pomegranate i’m guessing. this brew does overall get better as it warms.

12 oz. Opaque with a small, creamy head that lasts. Aroma is espresso with cream and dark chocolate. Flavor is dark chocolate, espresso, wood, bitterish raisin and prune, and slight tart cherry. Medium-heavy body is tingly and dry.

2008 bottle. Deep brown color with a tan head. Big dark pit fruit aromas plum, prune juice, tobacco with some vanilla. Smooth medium body. Good dark pit fruit flavors again of plum dark raisons black licorice spice with some drying dark malts to finish. Cloying watered down cough syrup taste to finish. Thanks Juice for this bottle.

Thin light tan head of fine bubbles. Recedes quickly. Rich malty aroma with lots of licorice, smoked grains, molasses and sweet caramel. Quite inticing aroma. Very dark brown in color. Sweet and roasty flavor. Some vinuous notes and a bit of zip in the flavor. Bit of smoke, molasses and fruit. Must be the strange addition of the pomegranite juice that gives it that zip. Bit of bitterness also. Finishes oily and roasty. A pretty good "imperial black ale".

Thanks Santa. Black body, thin tan head. Nose is lots of rasty malt, some cocoa, an odd slightly plasticy (fruity) aspect. Flavor is sweet berry, lots of roast, a strange burnt aspect. Just odd from the pomegranate. Its overly bitter.. Strange stuff.