 hopscotch (4477), Vero Beach, Florida, USA
May 6, 2008 Draft... DLD’08... Pitch black ale with a small, fat-bubbled, khaki-colored head. Good retention. Lots of vanilla along with notes of coconut, sourmash, berries and chocolate establish an eclectic, enjoyable aroma. Medium to full-bodied with a 2%-milk mouthfeel and fizzy carbonation. Well-balanced. Burnt bitterness with bourbon and dark berries. A touch acidic with very little residual sweetness. Warm alcohol soothes, but doesn’t overwhelm. Crisp, lightly tart, dry finish.
Walt (2268), Chicago, Illinois, USA
Apr 15, 2008 Pour is black with a ring of a brown head...smell is rich and roasty with hints of raspberry...the taste: wow...faint chocolate roastiness with STRONG raspberry flavor...almost medicinal...too sweet and medicinal...I would love the fruit free version I am sure, but this was just hitting you over the head with fruit...a worthy effort though...
Cornfield (4261), Oak Forest, Illinois, USA
Apr 11, 2008 Psst! I think we’re looking at a new Master of the Barrel in the Chicago area here....Poured into a snifter ( I can’t imagine how Drnk_McDermott rates a goblet!), this has a black body with a firm yellowish tan head that leaves swirls of "lace" in its wake. It smells like chocolate dipped raspberries accompanied by scents of oak and vanilla. Very smooth and soothing on the tongue. The flavor is full of dark malt supported by bittersweet chocolate, vanilla, oak, and a fruity taste that I’ve tentatively identified as raspberry. Very satisfying brew. If I was a fan of Stouts or Fruit Beers, I probably would’ve given this a good rating. Nice work, braumeister Tim. <font size=-4><a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp?PlaceID=6780> Rock Bottom Yorktown, Lombard, IL<font size=-1>
drewbeerme (1790), Chicago, Illinois, USA
Apr 4, 2008 on tap at RB yorktown. pours black with small soapy white barely something you might call a head. chocolate, raspberry, and bourbon in the aroma. a nice raspberry presence but this clearly a bourbon stout with a chooclately, vanilla, bourbon, and oak profile. the raspberry notes compliment it very well. really nice balance in the flavors. the mouth feel is pretty thin initially but it coats the palate sufficiently. another winner from RBY.
Drnk_McDermott (1545), Downers Grove, Illinois, USA
Apr 4, 2008 Draft goblet. Okay, I call this stout instead of "fruit beer" to differentiate between beer aged on fruit from beer fermented with fruit. Are you with me? Good.
Heady chocolate raspberry smell from the goblet as I’m taking my notes. Poured black with a ring of brownish foam on the edge. The oatmeal stout is apparent in a very smooth beer taste. Raspberry is very complementary, not overdone. Bourbon and the described oak and vanilla come up, too. Any advertised chocolate would be coming from the malt roast, but that’s been very well mellowed by barreling and the oatmeal. Very smooth, like a light raspberry liqueur, silky bubbles. Yeah, I’m probably rating it too high for its own good, but let’s open the floor on this beer to discussion, starting… now!
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