Nectar Ales Black Xantus

Brewed by Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Style: Imperial Stout
Paso Robles, California USA

bottle, thanks to wavers1! Pours thick black with a tall light brown head. Toast, roasted barley, and coffee round out the aroma, but there are notes of wood all over the place, and it’s so nice, I keep smelling different things. Nice roasty flavors of coffee, sweet chocolate, and barley, but the finish is where it’s at. Bourbon and oak with the creamiest mouth ever. It’s like a bourbon and chocolate milkshake with coffee thrown in for good measure. I love it.

Bottle shared by boltz777. Aroma was sweet and some coffee. Black body with tan head. Didn’t get the richness of this beer in my sample just some dry coco, coffee and good dose of sweetener. Thanks Jason

Sampled from 22-oz bomber and shared by MatSciGuy. Pours an opaque dark brown, nearly black, colored brew with an average sized beige head that leaves behind a film top. Aroma of toasted dark malt, a touch of soy, chocolate and vanilla. Taste is full bodied, with flavors of imperial stout chocolate, coffee and a hint of vanilla. Finish is malty with a hint of tart berry bitterness and a lingering vanilla aftertaste.

On tap at PP Strong Ale Fest 2009. Thin and blandish. Have my taste bugs been dulled. A bit of barrel aroma. Pretty good.

Rich stout complemented by strong barrel and coffee flavors. Excellent mouthfeel. This stout is the best barrel-aged example in my opinion, because it isn’t overpowered by bourbon. The wood comes through in just the right places. Perfect.

Pours a deep dark black that is opaque with only the slightest of mahogany edges and a frothy light beige head that slowly settles into a lasting ring that leaves subtle sporadic lacing. Roasted coffee aroma with chocolate malt, caramel, oatmeal, slightly nut and subtle bourbon notes that are accompanied by oak and vanilla. Heavily carbonated up front with a strong blast of bourbon heat that lingers throughout, overpowering the other flavors a bit. Caramel and chocolate malts with a bit of coffee flavor that is not overly roasty. ABV is not very well masked making this beer really hot and the bourbon flavor doesn’t help in this regard. The alcohol warmth is very prominent up front and it slowly mellows toward the end but it’s a bit much. Otherwise the subtle coffee intertwined with the smooth malty body was pretty nice.

22 ounce bottle thanks to Eric. Pours out a pure black color with a medium tan head. The aroma is heavy bourbon, woody, almost sour, roasted burnt malts. The flavor is great; pure bourbon/woody goodness, sweet vanilla, very drinkable. Roasted malts. Light fruit and pretty warm. A nice brew.

FoBAB 09. Pours black. Aroma and flavor of bourbon, vanilla, coffee, and chocolate. Slightly bitter, well done.