 duff (5405), Sydney, Australia, Surrey, England
Aug 21, 2007
Bottle. Very big and powerful, and tht 16%ABV is quite well hidden, feels like its more around the 9% mark. This showed lots of roasted malt and mocha characters. Some things like licorice and dark fruit, and some warming alcohol in the finish. Quite sweet and also shows some light acidity in the finish, which is also slightly sharp, but light. The mouthfeel is quite smooth for such a big strong beer. Some berry fruit also noticed, which was probably a contributing factor to the acidity noticed. Lots of flavour, but didn’t quite have the balance to make it exceptional, this is very tasty stuff though.
LilBeerDoctor (509), East Setauket, New York, USA
Sep 4, 2008 500th rating!!! Bottle #022390. Pours a dark inky black with a small quickly disappearing dark tan head. Aroma of alcohol, sweet roasted malt, chocolate, caramel, vanilla. Flavor of the same as above, lots of caramel, sweet roasted malt, vanilla, apple skins, with an alcohol burn in the finish. Very smooth mouthfeel. Sweet but not overly cloying. For a 16% beer, this is remarkable. Very nice.
fredandboboflo (508), East Setauket, New York, USA
Sep 4, 2008 Rating #500! Whoo! Bottle #02239, thanks to sprinkle, aka Da Man. Aroma of sweet alcohol, roasted malt, coffee, raisins, alcoholic prunes, earth, vinousness, vanilla, more stuff that is probably more interesting but which I can’t put my finger on, super complex, super good. Flavor rich in the roasted malt department, and the alcohol department as well, oh my, very warming, a very nice warming alcohol. Sweet fruits slowly wend their way in, and right behind them is a smooth coating of bitterness, both in bitter coffee and bitter fruit form. Mmm, growing bitterness to complement all the sweet flavors, growing, growing, growing. Rich, viscous, creamy mouthfeel. Last few sips. *tear*
ketchepillar (257), Des Moines, Iowa, USA
Aug 29, 2008 Rating #250. Bottle no. Not much head, oily. Aroma is good, very sugary, alcohol, chocolate, and a bit smoky. Very velvety but alcohol is a bit harsh. Taste is more vinous than the aroma, but not all that much.
hillfiiiiire (171), Atoka, Tennessee, USA
Aug 29, 2008 Thanks to BOLTZ7555 for this one! Pours pitch black with a tan finger head. Aroma is chocolate, licorice, and a touch of coffee and by far the best quality of the beer for me. Flavor is like a mellowed shot of espresso with licorice notes. The alcohol is really a kick in the mouth for me though a detracts from the overall experience of the beer. It is nice and smooth on the palate though. Quite delicious.
crowderm (161), St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
Aug 29, 2008 Pours a gooey pitch black with a dark tan head. Very hardy, but balanced aroma - toffee, brown sugar, rum, chocolate, coffee and a hint of dark fruit blend together very nicely. Similarly, the flavor is very bold, but superbly balanced. A big brown sugar sweetness hits the tongue first, followed by a slightly vinous bitterness that fades quickly into very satisfying chocolate/coffee finish. As the flavor continues to fade the rum-like alcohol notes take over, but never to an overwhelming degree. I will say however, that if you wait too long between sips, the flavor in ones mouth turns to straight alcohol - drink slowly, but not too slowly I guess. Despite that gripe at the end, this is an awesome beer.
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