Mikkeller Black Hole

I was rather impressed with this beer - it’s big and there’s a lot in there. At first, when it wsa cold, I thought this beer was simple, but once it warmed it revealed a lot of different elements in both smel and flavor. Appearance was a dark opaque black, with very little tan head. Aroma started off as just being a bit roasty with some very mild sourness, but as it warmed other aromas began to emerge. I got more roastiness, some chocolate, some brown sugar, and some liquorice. Flavor was also rather roasty, and I got a lot of molasses and a good helping of liquorice. Mouthfeel was pretty thick. SurlySober and I compared this beer to Big Eddy RIS, but I thought it less roasty, less coffee-like, and far more molasses-like. However, they are both "big" and very good beers. Mouthfeel was pretty thick...also somewhat molasses-like. I would highly recommend this beer. A big thanks to SurlySober for sharing the bottle he received from LiquidSolutions.

From the bottle this pours a thick-as-oil dark brown that turns black in the glass, capped but briefly by a slender brown head. The roasty aroma has some dark chocolate, licorice root, bitter coffee, a light caramel sweetness, and a slight touch of floral hops. Very smooth in the mouth, and it’s here that the warmth of alcohol first reveals itself. All merges artfully in the flavor, the hop bitterness perhaps being more assertive, and a peppery sensation from the alcohol coats the tongue. The finish is bitter and dry with a solid alcohol burn. Not as complex as I had expected, but in an odd way that adds to the enjoyability of the ale.

<font size=-4><a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp?PlaceID=7469>West Lakeview Liquors, Chicago, IL<font size=-1>

Tasted with 5 other imperial stouts. Pours deep black with a small brown head. The aroma is sweet with caramel, chocolate and some mild coffee. The taste has all those plus a bit of wood and a definate alcohol presence. The aftertaste lingers with a bit of bitterness. First tried in a small american style pint glass. This got better poured in to a Duvel glass. The only thing keeping this from being perfect was the fact I had already had 5 strong stouts. I am going to try this on its own for a final rating. Definately on of the best beers I have ever had.

This was a crowd favorite tonight. Personally, I’ve had better, and I am in the infantile stages of rating! Deep earthy tones with a slight hop linger. I was expecting more.

Bottle.

Maybe I’m just not man enough, but this beer doesn’t quite live up to my expectations. Too hot, too sourly vinous (I love sour, but not necessarily in a coffee imperial stout), too over-the-top to be truly great.

Pours extremely dark and heavily viscous with a vinous aroma, charred wood, a bit of robutussin (alcohol, cherry, sugars, medicinal). And very vinous flavors, sourness competing with the roasts, again that cherry cough syrup especially toward the close. Cold, acidic black coffee. Cough syrup mouthfeel; no, this one isn’t coming together for me at all. Maybe with a ton of age on it, but for now I’m pretty unexcited.

Black with a oily, tan head. Creamy lace. Nose of roasted bitterness with some coffee. Vinous and a bit of alcohol. The coffee comes out with a vengeance. Strong roast malts and bitter hops. Oil thick body that coats the mouth heavily. Finishes off a bit hot and malty.

[1033-20080108] 12.7floz (w/ jerc, DuctTape, others). Faint roasted malt aroma has a bit of nail polish fruit. Black brown body with a medium-lasting foamy tan head. Boozy roasted plywood flavour. Medium-full body is grainy. Surprisingly disappointing, would like to re-rate in future.

Suprising nose of noble hops dominate the roast and cold coffee. Interesting. Mouthfeel is rich and oily that just borders glycerin. Palate entry reminds me of a late-harvest Zinfandel, as crazy as that sounds. And thats the way it seems to finish, albeit an earthy (by way of malt) and spicy hop finish. The alcohol is held well in check but could stand to intergrate in the cellar. Damn this was pricey, but worth tasting at least once. Worked well with the currant and hazelnut bittersweet chocolate.