 dirtymike (2019), Manchester, New Hampshire, USA
Dec 8, 2007
An amazing gesture made by Chris, publican at Ebeneezer’s Pub in Lovell ME on my maiden voyage there. This poured a very rich dark brown/black with some faint ruby highlights when held to the light, definately not opaque and not quite living up to the standards of Imperial Stout, but definately on par for a Belgian Strong Dark. The aroma was a wonderful collage of rich dark fruit esters, bready yeast, a hint of roasted coffee beans and the purest of cacao beans lingering across the surface. The flavor follows suit with the aroma, rich fruit,coffee,chocolate,yeast but also added is the very controlled alcoholic warmth adding a roundess to such a big beer but without being obtrusive or offensive.They claim this is 13% which makes me think one of two things, they’re either spinning yarns or this beer was produced under the careful watchful eye of someone who truely understands zymurgy, added to the fact that it has a touch of age and conditioning under its belt. The body was a bit disapointing due to the fact that they label this beer an Imperial Stout, so I was expecting something a little chewier and dense, but when I say disapointing that’s more of a subjective issue, objectively it was well in line with the rest of the beer. Overall this is a great beer, by what appears to be the next great artisinal brewery to come out of Belgium.Belgiium to me has always been more about great tasting and innovative beer rather than strict adherence to style guidelines,so why start now? This is a world class Belgian Strong Ale on par with the Westy 12’s,Rochefort 10’s ect....so why not just let it be,instead of trying to recreate a wheel that already spins fluently without any complications. Once again thanks Chris and thank you Struise, looking forward to many more great offerings from you in the future.
dkachur (881), Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
Oct 6, 2008 11.2 ounce bottle that shows why stefanje is one of the most generous and coolest guys on Ratebeer. Shared with Alraomon. Pours a deep, dark brown that appears opaque in the glass. Massive brown head. Aroma is toffee, tart cherry, caramel, hops,. fruity yeast esters, nuts and a definite Belgian character. The tartness comes across as almost bretty. Flavor is tart cherry, chocolate, toffee, some herbal notes with subtle hoppiness and subtle alcohol. Full bodied. Alcohol hidden very well.
finol (13), Nacka (Stockholm), Sweden
Oct 5, 2008 Bottle from Ölbutikken
Pours all black with a dark tan head.
Full body, thick feel.
Doppelganger (1197), Oxford, Oxfordshire, England
Oct 4, 2008 Had my first taste of this from Carlo, from the conditioning tank at the Deca brewery. It was really really nice, and I took a few notes, but ultimately decided it probably didn’t constitute a rate-able beer. I’ve been itching to try it since then, but not seen any bottles for sale! So then Fin gave me this bottle, and I am very pleased to finally be Tasting it Officially®. Thanks mate!
Very exciting start to this one—a moment after opening, a gusher of crude-oil-black bubbled out and over. (Have just seen "There Will Be Blood". Does it show?) Once in the glass, there is a nice fine layer of firm, lingering tan head. Immediately after the pour there is a bit of odd nettle and dandelion nose, but that dissipates very quickly. Dense raw chocolate aroma, cold asphalt, green grass, warm walnuts. Dense chocolate cake flavor, full of silky deep-earth cocoa and subtly sweet cream. Sweet in the way a perfect shot of espresso seem sweet even without sugar. Rolling it around on the tongue feels like melting chocolate. Finishes so nice, so clean, a fresh minty hop touch left on the teeth. As good as the aroma is, as silky delicious as the flavor is, it is the perfect palate and extraordinary finish that really makes this beer sublime.
BOLTZ7555 (515), Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Oct 3, 2008 Bottle acquired via Sparky27...this one has been antagonizing me for too long, just had to have it and make it stop!!! Poured an extremely dark brown, bordering black with a mocha colored head. You can definitely smell it’s Belgian roots; roasted oats, coffee, and dark fruits. Bitter chocolate, brown sugar, and perhaps even cherry make there way to the palate. Not as viscous, syrupy, thick, or sticky as other Imperial Stouts...but very good.
Ernest (4250), Boulder, Colorado, USA
Oct 3, 2008 Bottle (BB Apr/2013).
Head is initially average sized, frothy, brown, fully lasting.
Body is dark brown to black.
Aroma is lightly malty (roasted grain, chocolate), lightly to moderately yeasty (sweat, dough), with light notes of rubber/plastic, vanilla, alcohol, hint of cherry.
Flavor is moderately to heavily sweet, lightly to moderately acidic, lightly bitter.
Finish is lightly to moderately sweet, lightly to moderately acidic, moderately bitter.
Full body, creamy texture, soft/lively carbonation, moderately to heavily alcoholic.
According to the folks I shared this with, it was a better-than-usual bottling. Which doesn’t bode well for other bottlings, I guess (unless the things I don’t like are what other people like). Very light aroma that yields unpleasant sweaty raw yeast and some car tire phenols. Fairly sour as well, and not in an enjoyable way. The mouthfeel is pretty nice, though (aside from the burning finish, which is to be expected from 13%), as is the appearance (very well lasting head). But all in all a ho-hum brew.
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