Mayfield Iconoclast Nocturna

Brewed by Mayfield Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Belmont, California USA

Bottle courtesy of mfielden. Took a while to open, but when we were able to pour, the beer poured a dark cola brown to black with thin tan head. Aroma is sweet and malty with some light bourbon notes, port, husky oak, smoke, some ripe dark fruit, light notes of caramel. Flavor is sweet and malty with a slight initial sourness and notes of chocolate, ripe dark fruit, some hints of port. Generally medium to full body with a malty finish.

Thanks to kiefdog for the share on this one. This one was waxed to high heaven. When you open it, bring an acetylene torch; it would probably be easier. Pours dark brown with a tan head. Nose is whiskey, vanilla, some roast, slight sourness, and slight bitterness. Flavor reveals itself in sourness/ vinegar, chocolate, dark fruit, oak, tartness, and tart fruit. Nicely complex beer with a light body and very polite in introducing itself.

Big thanks to kiefdog for bringing this wallet crushing beer. Wow, I’ve never seen so much effort put into opening a beer. What the hell are they doing with this packing? The thing was waxed three feet thick over the cap (ok, a bit less than three feet) then a cork under all that to boot! Damn! It pours deep dark with brown edges and tan head. The aroma is bold searing oak and fresh cut oak sawdust to go along with lesser notes of black licorice, chocolate and a bit of heat at the end of the draw. The flavor is much the same with bold dusty yet freshly cut oak, dirty gravel road, mild cherry and sweet cranberry esters. It ends with dark fruit skin tannin tartness and some more dark fruity esters. I was expecting something a bit more substantial like rich thick decadent goodness. But those qualities are not found here. Pretty tasty though. Now knowing what it tastes like I would never buy one of these.

Pours black very low carb. Sweet port, fresh cut wood, caramel sweetness, slight sour funk. Sweet nutty flavor, roasted malt, fig and prune, souring dark fruits, slight cocoa an sour cherries. Medium body. I really enjoyed this beer, but its a it pricey.

Sour fruity nose, flavors continuing the sour theme with an undercurrent of maltiness. Significant complexity. Smooth, silky. Bottle shared at RBSG 2009 grand tasting.

Sample from a bottle at the RBSG Grand Tasting at Drakes. Nose of oak, vanilla, chocolate, and a notes of raisins. Black with a small tan head. Flavor of oak, berries, and chocolate.

Bottle #12 of 216 shared with hophead22 and JoeTheYounger provided by BA’s Mikeandi.. The opening: I think I got more enjoyment out of watching Tim trying to get the thing open rather than the beer itself..Took like 5 minutes to get the cap off because of the wax..After that the cork almost split and fell into the beer . I like the thought put into the packaging but it just didn’t work out. The Beer: Pours black with a thin head... Aroma is dark fruits and that coffee dryness..Taste is very tart and tangy for an imperial stout. Some slight coffee dryness and chocolate but the tangyness just kills this beer for me.. Body is way to thin. Bottom Line: SHENANIGANS. I just seen that Healthy Spirits in San Fran has it for $50... Trust me buy yourself 5 bottles of Speedway, you’ll be much happier.

Bottle 12 of 216 from Hophead22 beer tasting.First off this beer was a bitch to open up. I don’t think I have ever seen anyone have such issues with opening a beer. It had a cork plus bottle cap and wax over that. Dark fruity sweet smell. Had a very tangy aftertaste. Very thin for an imperial stout. Hints of chocolate and coffee. The bottle and the price was definitely not work the $43. Stick to something else. It was cool trying this though. Thanks Mike and Di.