 Ernest (4250), Boulder, Colorado, USA
Apr 19, 2005
2005 bottle (bomber).
Head is initially average sized, fizzy, dark brown, fully diminishing.
Body is opaque black (flashlight tested), bottle conditioned.
Aroma is moderately malty (roasted/burnt grain, coffee, dark chocolate), lightly hoppy (apricot), lightly yeasty (dough, earth), with a light note of vanilla.
Flavor is heavily sweet, moderately acidic, moderately bitter.
Finish is moderately sweet, moderately acidic, heavily bitter.
Medium to full body, watery/syrupy texture, lively/fizzy carbonation, moderately alcoholic.
Fairly nice, but fizzy, overly bitter, and has a pretty standard aroma. I love Phil’s brewing, but this one still needs some work. No idea how this got on the Top 50.
fonefan (4850), Ulfborg, Denmark
Sep 22, 2008 Bottle 75cl. [ Courtesy of cgarvieuk ]. Clear dark black color with a large, frothy, good lacing, mostly lasting, light brown head. Aroma is moderate to heavy malty, roasted, chocolate, licorice, tobaco. Flavor is heavy sweet and bitter with a long duration. Body is medium to full, texture is oily, carbonation is soft. (260708)
gunhaver (660), Tampa, Florida, USA
Sep 18, 2008 Bottle. Pours pitch black, with a thick tan head and sustaining creamy white lacing. Aroma is big on roasted coffee, chocolate, toasted malts, cereal. Flavor is more of the same, with chocolate in the forefront, coffee, and a bitter roasted finish. Alcohol is there, but it doesn’t make a huge impact. Good, but felt the flavors weren’t as strong as I’d like to see in big imperial stouts.
tupalev (2311), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Sep 11, 2008 Bottle shared with Blankboy, Jerc, Garthicus, GregClow, and Hogotwn Harry, courtesy of Harry, 2008 bottle. Very black, small choclate head. Roasty sweet aroma - nice. Great taste - roasty, bitter, full favored yet body is almost light and tingly (in a good unique way). Really good.
Beerlando (1344), Orlando, Florida, USA
Sep 10, 2008 2008 vintage, courtesy TheCheeseMan. Tasted alongside a 2008 Portsmouth Kate The Great. This looks beautiful in the glass. The body is nearly pitch black in color with just the faintest possible hint of mahogany showing when backlit. A well retained, thick, coffee colored head leaves thick flares and obtuse spots of sticky lace on the glass. Dark, roasty elements fill the nose, with baker’s chocolate and coffee dominating lesser notes of anise, licorice, and a hint of lactic cream. Flavors are just as roast-forward, chocolate and espresso calmed by smoothing molasses and vanilla. A surprisingly potent, earthy hop finish creeps into the picture. The body is medium-full and suffers from a very slight case of overly active carbonation. Alcohol is hardly noticeable, which is a major accomplishment in a beer of the magnitude. Excellent brew from start to finish. Beats the Kate The Great out by the slimmest of margins.
TheCheeseMan (513), Saint Cloud, Florida, USA
Sep 7, 2008 Pours a nearly opaque black. Tan head quickly subsides into a thin blanket across the surface. Aroma is deeply roasted with some pie spice notes, licorice, bittersweet coffee, molasses. Very nice. The flavor is as rich as you are led to believe, with no noticeable alcohol.
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