Mikkeller Black Hole

Jet black in color with essentially zero visibility. Short lived head of chocolate milk bubbly head. Aroma starts with chocolate-covered espresso beans are my first thought. Bittersweet dark chocolate paired with a Kona like roasted coffee. There’s a touch of vinous acidity to it as well. Very assertive flavor that takes awhile to get a hold on as there is a lot going on. Big roasted coffee bitterness and fusel alcoho, almost lighter fluid like. A dry, char, almost smoky wood huskiness. Very dry, astringent finish Thinner than expected with assertive carbonation that is slightly caustic. Overall, its got a nice aroma and some positive flavor elements, but I found the alcohol to dominate and not in a good way.

Bottle on 1/31/2008. Black with mahogany highlights and a durable, medium, light brown head that leaves nice lace. Espresso aroma with definite alcohol overtones, some bittersweet chocolate, and a hint of dark fruit. Full body, light carbonation, and a resinous, oily mouthfeel. Bitterness prevails, both dark malt bitterness and some spicy hop bitterness, all over a background of burnt molasses and treacle. Long, bitter finish that is more like a French roast black coffee bitterness than a hop derived bitterness.

The bottle is the size of a split bottle of champagne, interesting presentation for a beer of this caliber. The title gives you a hint of what to expect, pours a deep, oily, opaque black with a delicate, slim, white head. Smells of roasted malt, alcohol and chocolate. Flavor is heavy on the chocolate, dark fruit, nuts, and coffee. The finish has plenty of heat from the alcohol and is thick on the tongue and in the throat with a lasting coffee bitterness. Very complex Imperial Stout that is a rare symbiotic blend of flavor and heavy alcohol.

Pours black as night with no light coming through. Even the aroma hits you with the bitterness of the malts. Not much hop evidence to speak of. The head is cola colored, but dissipates relatively quickly. The flavor is massively bitter. Like coffee that’s been on the burner for too long and then stuck in the fridge. There is a great acidity and tanicity to the body of the roasty malts. On the end, there’s a mild note of bittersweet baking chocolate. Despite the assault on th palate, there is something quite pleasing about the taste. It’s not easy to drink, but it is interesting. Lots in there...

Black pour, tan head, moderate lacing and retention. Aroma is roast, coffee, lesser chocolate and moderate hops. Somewhat vinous with hints of darker fruits. In the end, the coffee flavor dominates. Full bodied, lightly sweet. Alcohol hidden really well. Solid, best beer I’ve had from them so far.

Inky black body with only the slightest brown hues around the edges when put up to bright light. Cascading bubbles form a dark tan head of just over a finger. It reduces to an amorphous cap, leaving fine sheets of lacing. Aroma is surprisingly hoppy, with an odd charred pineapple quality. Some tar, dark fruits, and chocolate are also detectable. Taste is again a bit odd for the style. There’s a nice RIS profile of roasted coffee, dark chocolate, and boozy dark fruits, but there’s also a big dose of citrusy hops in the middle of the palate. It’s like part double stout and part double IPA. It’s interesting and it works pretty well. Points for uniqueness here. Carbonation is appropriately modest. Body isn’t all that full, but it’s still pretty velvety. Finish is exquisitely dry from all that roastiness. Booze is not apparent in the flavor but it really warms the whole body. A pleasant brew for winter nights.

Pours a dark dark brown with a good sized head. Aroma of coffee, chocolate, and alcohol. Nice creamy texture, nice sweetness. The alcohol is just a little too overpowering to fully enjoy this however.

Bottle courtesy of fonefan: Poured a pitch-black color stout with a medium foamy dark brown color head with average retention and some lacing. Aroma is vinous with some raisins and sweet malt. Taste is quite intensely sweet with notes of raisins and alcohol notes are also discernable. Full body with some medium carbonation with an oily texture. While I think I understand the intent of the brewer I found that this beer was way too sweet and too much alcohol was apparent.