Mikkeller Black Hole

Rating #538 for this beer.
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12/05/2008: Black Hole is VERY dark brown in color (nearly black) with a thin, barely there ivory-colored bubbles on the top surface. The beer smells a bit like artificial chocolcate with some nail polish remover/acetone mixed in. The flavor is roasty with lots of coffee that then moves to ALCOHOL. This beer is very hot and alcoholic. It is also thin with no body. There isn’t very much coffee character overall and the alcohol is a bit numbing. This is not a very good beer!

12.7 fl. oz. bottle (13.1% Alc./Vol.).
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2/24/2009: Mikkeller Black Hole has a strong, hot aroma containing mocha (melded chocolate and coffee), vanilla, and some alcohol. It has a very deep brown color that is really just about black. The beer itself is opaque with very little to no carbonation and nothing at all on the surface (not even a bubble or two). The flavor is similar to semi-sweet chocolate at first as the heavily caramelized maltiness prevails, but then gives way to subtle coffee notes and a strong, very warming alcohol quality. This beer is walking a thin line between being tolerable and warming or being hot and burning. The flavor finishes with roasted malt mixed with some coffee grounds and a hint of tobacco. Despite the robust and earthy flavor, this beer is really only medium-light to medium-bodied due to the extremely high alcohol content. When colder this beer is actually pretty smooth, but let it warm up too much and it is like drinking liquid fire. Overall I am disappointed with this beer. It is over-priced, under-flavored, and does not seem to really be holding up well. Sometimes there can be too much alcohol to the point where the flavor and aroma are secondary. That is a problem and that is what happened with this beer. I don’t really recommend this beer.

12.7 fl. oz. corked and caged green punted bottle (13.1% ALC./VOL.; 14-08-11).

Bottle at Stogies and Stouts. Pitch black pour, creamy bubbly lacing and a nice head. Creamy chocolate nose, some chalky notes, licorice, and a nice overall spiciness. Flavor is very smooth chocolate, some alcohol, licorice, caramel, and a slight burning finish. Smooth, slightly unbalanced, but still nice.

Bottle. Pours black with beige head. Aroma is heavy on the chocolate and malt with a sweet undertone. Flavor is intense, very suprising for the mild aroma. Starts sweet, molasses, chocolate, and roasted malt, finishes with coffee and a bit of biterness, nicely balanced though. Alcohol is almost invisible, at 13% that is astonishing. Sticky thick mouthfeel. Excellent.

Bottle from Knightly spirits. Black pour with a really nice brown head. Aroma is chocolate, roasted malt, coffee and some faint hints of dark dried fruits. Flavor hits with more coffee than I would have expected and has plenty of chocolate. This is a stellar beer. Glad I have another to savor.

Pours black with a thick mocha head. Nose bursting of sweet chocolate malt and coffee. Amazing thick, rich taste with nice faint hop finish and some alcohol. Alcohol is hidden very well in this imperial stout.

Bottle. Pours a dark brown/black color with a foamy beige head. Nose is roasty, choclate, cocoa, with some very mild dark fruits. Head laces well. Palate is full and silky, but leaves a biting on the tongue and throat. a very light hint of alcohol in the nose. Flavor is solid chocolate with some light coffee, roasted malts, and deep raisiny notes.

12.7 oz. bottle - Poured dark brown almost black with tan head. Aroma - coffee, chocolate and vanilla. Flavor - Has this Hershies syrup mixed with coffee taste. Alcohol taste is evident at finish leaving slight burn in back of throat. Palate - Thick chocolatey syrup feel with below average carbonation. Finish is slightly bitter with coffee and chocolate aftertaste. Overall - Pretty good Stout but could be better for high $$$. Chocolate syrup taste is overdone.

Fantastic imperial stout. Roasted aromas of malt and coffee, blended with a lot of fresh hops, i’d say its cascade. This repeats itself in the palate, which unlike many imps is not sweet and cloying but just right and jam packed with flavour.