 rajendra82 (703), Alpharetta, Georgia, USA
| 4.4 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 9/10 | 4/5 | 9/10 | 4/5 | 18/20 |
Aug 9, 2009 The black pour, opaque body, and khaki head were prototypical of the style. The head was small and very short lived, which I am sure was the result of the high ABV. The smell was like molter chocolate and very intoxicating. The taste was like dried berries soaked in coffee. There was a up front hint of sourness which gave way to roasted grain astringency. The beer felt simple at first, but after realizing the amount of alcohol hidden under there, I became of the opinion that the seeming simplicity was actually due to the extremely elegant balance that felt so natural. Glided off the tongue after each sip, leaving a chocolate aftertaste. Simply amazing.
hallinghansen (266), Odense SV, Denmark
| 4 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 3/5 | 17/20 |
Aug 7, 2009 Bottle. Black body, with a large brown head. Aroma is chocolate, caramel and notes of alcohol. Flavor is bitter chocolate, liquorice and alcohol.
Rastacouere (5553), Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| 3.5 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 3/5 | 7/10 | 3/5 | 15/20 |
Aug 5, 2009 The enormous light brown head makes this beer hard to pour. Underneath this mattress, a fully sedimented almost black liquid. Its aroma strikes as immediately vinous, fruity and sugary with its molasses, anise, vanilla and sharp alcohol tones. So, fruity and vinous as we mentionned which means that rich raisin flavours are to be found, over which blackberries and dates nuances can also be appreciated. While there’s a fair dose of hops, they mostly serve a balancing purpose, never really becoming major in the global character. Instead, its dark malts impart a powdery chocolate feel that reminds of mocha. Its vinous side includes a fair bit of acidity, but the roastiness remains restrained enough for any clash to be encountered. A complex, very sweet, medium-full bodied, heady offering that is a sipper indeed, but to me not quite a top offering even among Struise’s product line.
bblack99 (202), Kansas City, Missouri, USA
| 4 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 3/5 | 9/10 | 3/5 | 17/20 |
Aug 5, 2009 NUMBER 100! I did my best to fill out my first 100 with only the finest beers or local specialties from my travels, and I’ve really made a dent in the current top 50 by doing so.
Purchased at Gomer’s in Lee’s Summit, 11.2oz bottle. Pours a deep thick black with a thin tan head, much less awe-inspiring than the description (perhaps due to long shelf life from export?).
Strong aroma of black coffee (double-strength), toffee, plums, vanilla, and dark malt. Flavor is very interesting and approaches the throat in distinct waves: sweet from the sugar, then bitter/sour from a chocolate, hops, alcohol, and fruit combination, finishing with a vibrant punch of coffee. Crazy complexity that is difficult to describe!
Medium body, low carbonation, and the high ABV is mostly masked. Could score higher if I ever find this on tap or recently bottled.
41cubs (137), , New Jersey, USA
| 4.4 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 9/10 | 4/5 | 9/10 | 4/5 | 18/20 |
Aug 5, 2009 This beer is the epitome of a gentle giant. I am in utter disbelieve that the bottle harbors 13%. Smooth, smooth, smooth hints of impy aggression paired with dark yeast components that balance this to near perfection for the aroma. The flavor is more of the same with a long finish of burnt turbanado sugar and raisin sweetness. An absolute gem. If it were cheaper, it would be a staple. Thank You DE Struise. 2009 11.2 oz.
lemasney (398), Trenton, New Jersey, USA
| 4.7 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 5/5 | 10/10 | 5/5 | 19/20 |
Aug 3, 2009 Aroma is chocolate, coffee, and syrup. roasted malted barley, wood, and sweetness. Completely opaque, dark with a tan long lasting head. Crisp, very sour, syrup, striking flavor. Interesting and wonderful, very different. Alcohol is exquisitely hidden. Long sour finish, with a generally crisp and active palate. A very special brew.
alexsdad06 (1081), Ohio, USA
| 3.9 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 3/5 | 16/20 |
Aug 3, 2009 11.2 oz. bottle. Pours black with a medium sized fluffy tan head. The aroma was roasted malt with dark Belgian chocolate, dark fruits like prunes, black coffee, and some earthy hops. The flavor had an interesting blend of roasted malts, candi sugar, dark chocolate, dried dark fruits, and a vinous character. Medium bodied, which was a little disappointing, but it is a different take on the big Imperial stouts. I would have loved to try the original batch at the pub. My thought is it became a different beer in the bottle.
alagnak (340), Littleton, Colorado, USA
| 3.9 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 7/10 | 4/5 | 16/20 |
Aug 3, 2009 Deep black and oliy, thin tan head, really nice popping carbonation in the head. First taste was close to perfect - lots of vanilla and chocolate, a cherry coke flavor pervading with a nice lingering bitterness to finish. Champagne-like carbonation spreads the flavors out nicely, very little outward evidence of 13% abv. A 4+ beer for the first half the bottle. However, as I got further through it, the sweetness and tanginess (plums or prunes) in the front flavors becomes a little overwhelming and dominates the flavors. Still a really, really good beer.
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