ManvsCity (98), Redmond, Washington, USA
| 4.2 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 9/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 17/20 | Oct 23, 2009 Razor thin dark brown head rings the pitch black pour from 22 oz bottle. Thick and sticky with aromas of dark fruits, oak, bourbon, cherries, leather, and toasted sugars. Flavors intensify as the glass warms: dark chocolate, molasses, stone fruits, caramel, dark toasted malts, and spiciness in the finish. Some carbonation spontaneously appears on the tongue through to the chewy hot end. And the glass is stained brown top to bottom. A really impressive Imperial stout.
alagnak (356), Littleton, Colorado, USA
| 3.9 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 16/20 | Dec 3, 2009 Bottle from bvc that was a nice "celebrator glass" in an Eastern Colorado pheasant field. Deep dark woodiness in the nose, also bourbon and plums, just a light bitterness. Taste is earthy bittersweet molasses to start, with a roasted meat and black pepper jerky thing (in a good way) as it warms a bit. Great toasty bitterness to finish and scary drinkable for nearly 13% abv. Thanks, Brandon. Really nice one. BrewDad (2370), Olympia, Washington, USA
| 4 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 16/20 | Dec 1, 2009 22oz Bomber – Gravity Beer Market – Olympia WA
Aroma: Super huge dark roasty malt aroma.
Appearance: Dark black in color, clear with a thin head.
Flavor: Big flavors with malt, chocolate and coffee.
Palate: Dry finish with a Super Mouthfeel.
Overall: One huge beer with super flavors this was a fantastic beer.
luttonm (307), Belgrade, Serbia
| 4.1 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 17/20 | Nov 30, 2009 Courtesy Trevor211. Tasty, upper limit thickness. Darkest pour with bubbly thick head. Creamy chocolate, cream, lactic. Milkshake like up front. Ends stiff, light coffee. No bourbon at all. Molasses, rich but not entirely lux. well rounded for a big beer. SuzyGreenberg (1368), Seattle, Washington, USA
| 4 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 5/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 15/20 | Nov 27, 2009 bomber - 2008 vintage; jet black with thin brown head; tons of coffee and sweet chocolate; killer smooth, creamy texture with bone dry finish; sweet fruit, chocolate syrup and dank fruit; very solid across the board but not up to the standards they set with sloth; need to revisit with a fresh bottle of the 2009 batch riversideAK (2731), Shoreline, Washington, USA
| 4.1 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 9/10 | 4/5 | 16/20 | Nov 26, 2009 Dark fruit, figs, bourbon, cacao, red wine barrel notes on the nose. Black, creamy, and oily appearance. Dark brown head. Figs, dark fruit, chocolate, molasses, bourbon, and light red wine notes make up the flavor profile. Extremely complex and giant beer. Vanilla and brown sugar show up as well. Soft but sharp carbonation. Lingering dry roasted bitterness and a hint of barrel and alcohol in the finish. Solid. MrBendo (1043), Swedesboro, New Jersey, USA
| 4.1 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 17/20 | Nov 17, 2009 Pours near black with a small head. Aroma of molasses, roasted malt, chocolate, dark fruits, licorice and wood. Syrupy sweet and somewhat boozy. But it’s complex and roasty and oh so good as a sipper. brewolf (46), Washington, USA
| 4.9 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 10/10 | 5/5 | 10/10 | 4/5 | 20/20 | Nov 12, 2009 Midnight pour topped by a thin, sanguine-brown layer of ultra-fine foam. Nose reveals sweet gingerbread molasses, alderwood smoke, buttered hearth-bread, tanned leather, and ’roasted bison’. Flavor reflects the nose, then adds bourbon-soaked cherries, earthy tannins, and a hint of oak. Mouthfeel is moderately viscous (I was actually expecting it to be a bit thicker) and makes for a nice, rich finish. The alcohol is certainly noticeable, but melds extremely well with the amalgam of complex flavors, making it dangerously drinkable.
One of the aspects that I enjoy most is that the roasted nuances come across more like charred fire-wood and smoked meats rather than the typical coffee-like flavors we are often bombarded with.
I am also impressed with how the richness stems from unique elements rather than the syrupy sweetness that other imperial stouts tend towards. This is a fantastic brew, and in my opinion, one of the slightly overlooked gems of the style. Even if it isn’t quite from Scandinavian soil, this brew from the far north is surely worthy of Hadding! CheersMate1 (794), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| 5 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 10/10 | 5/5 | 10/10 | 5/5 | 20/20 | Nov 11, 2009 22 oz. bottle thanks to Scrizzz. Holy shit, thank you so much for sending this. Wow, that is a chocolate head. There is not much of it, but this thing pours like oil...big time. I mean people say, "Oh this poured just like oil." This really did pour like oil. Very viscous beer. Wood, roast, coffee, and a slight chocolate aroma. Wow, a very deep complex aroma. Nice subtle bourbon aroma that is coming out more as this thing warms up. Pretty damn nice aroma I must say. Love the bourbon. Ah the wood a liquor aroma. I have to say that subtle bourbon, wood, chocolate, coffee, and roast aroma are just so complex. So smooth, and easy to drink. I mean this thing has a nice bourbon sour flavor as well. This thing is so smooth and too delicious. My favorite beer. Again, thank you Scrizzz.
|