Pike XXXXX Stout

Thanks to jimbowood for sending this treat my way. Pours very dark brown, close to black, with a good sized dark orange head. The aroma has dark roasted malt with smooth heavy cream, milk chocolate, light licorice and slight veggie. Medium / thick body that is smooth and lush with minor carbonation. The flavor starts with roasted malt that is lightly harsh in a good way. There is also some coffee, hop bitterness, some spice and light cream. Thankfully there is no veggie traits on the taste. The finish has spicy and lightly wood hops added to the mix. A very nice stout.

Poured a dark black some red edges good head and good lacing. Aroma was very chocolate. Flavor was milk chocolate but still had a nice bitterness to it. Mouthfeel was dry. SOlid beer. thanks eagle

Pours an opaque black with a couple fingers of slow dying chocolate milk head that laces sheets as it dissapears. Smells of coffee grinds, dark chocolate and licorice. Taste is the same as the smell. Finishes with a bitter hop bite. Medium in the mouth with a nice tickle of carbonation. Drinks like a champ but is a treat not a session. Well done.

From a 22-oz. bottle. A wonderful looking thick black body with shades of red. Rocky brown-grey head. Flavors of roasty chocolate and mildly bitter dark fruits. Smooth silken texture that is easy drinking and quite mellow.

22oz from SamuraiArtist - thanks, Ezra! A simply beautiful beer, in looks, smell, and taste. Thick and black, with hints of ruby peeking through - maybe not quite as viscous as I like but quite fine. And certainly the thick, almost oily mouthfeel is pleasing in the extreme, with subtle (!!) roasts emerging from the smooth chocolates. Slight bitterness in there (from wood or dark choc?), and just a hint of dark fruit. Man, I need more of this stuff.

12/10/2007: Pike Stout XXXXX Extra Stout is near black to black. The pour results in about 90% dense, rocky brown foam (that never fully disappears) and 10% silky black liquid. There is a lot of lacing on the glass. A large amount of semi-sweet chocolate along with some roasted malt and hints of smoke/char and coffee. The flavor is very robust and contains lots of roasted malt, semi-sweet chocolate, and some dark, bitter chocolate toward the finish. It is also somewhat dry with a coffee and mocha-flavored finish. This beer has a medium-full body and is super smooth with a silky texture. This beer goes down amazingly easy despite the full flavor and body. Overall this is an excellent stout.

1 pint 6 fl. oz bottle (6.6% Alc./Vol., IBU 65, OG 1.073) from trade with bitbucket in November 2006. Thanks again Bob. I appreciate it! Rating #205 for this beer...

bomber from SamuraiArtist. viscous black colored pour with reddish edges and a thin woody brown head. the aroma is a mix of milk chocolate and dry ashy roasted malts. flavor is robust...dark ashy malt, lots of chocolate, wood and some lacto sweetness that is kept in check with a dry bitter finish and lingering coffee notes. full bodied creamy texture is cut nicely with more bitterness. smooth and dangerously easy drinking

Bomber. Pours ultra-black with some amber hues at the edges and an interesting two-layered head-- the bottom half was a darker brown, the top half a khaki tan, with a definite line between them. The aroma is coffee, chocolate, brown sugar, and red wine- a more sophisticated nose than I had expected. The flavor is coffee, bitter chocolate, mildly acidic raspberry, and toasted wood at first. It then gets some brown sugar and rum notes, but the roastiness intensifies to keep the sweetness at bay. The finish is somewhat piney, and also a little bit vinous. It leaves an ashy, but tasty, aftertaste. Basically a session-strength imperial stout, I could seriously put a few of these away.