 duff (5404), Sydney, Australia, Surrey, England
Mar 9, 2008
Draught@Erasmus. Pretty special stuff, and very close to a five for me. Its very apparent from the deep black colour and tan head, that this is a big beer. Aroma shows lots of chocolate and mocha notes as well as licorice and some notes of dark fruits, but ts is more on the roasty side. palate is quite big, yet i think they have manage to balance out the 13% alcohol very well. For such a strong beer, the palate is amazingly subtle. Lots of roasted malt characters, yet not as thick and in your face as other imperial stouts, this shows more ellegance and subtlety, yet remaining, full bodied, warming and packed full of flavour, as you would expect any good Imperial stout to be. Nice dose of hoppyness in the finish, gives it an extra something, and some slight notes of piney grapefruit can be tasted underneath the dominant roasted malt notes. Something really special has been made here. Now, if only i could get this in London.........
redlight (1043), Winter Park, Florida, USA
Aug 21, 2008 Rich rum and raison aromas, plums, dried figs. Pours black with a thin tan head. Some smoke in the flavor, rich dark malts, burnt coffee, some molasses and rum like flavors, smooth chocolatey aftertaste. Excellent beer.
fiver29 (276), Strongsville, Ohio, USA
Aug 20, 2008 Bottle courtesy of Sparky27!! Thanks! Pours pitch black with a thick dark tan head. Has little aroma for the style. What I do smell is dark roasted malts. But its very subtle. Has a heavy mouthfeel. When I swallow this its so heavy I have to push it down. I get a sharp alcohol taste just after it goes down, then I taste bitter chocolate, dark malt, dark coffee, subtle caramel, and finishes with a bitter flavor that may come from the chocolate or possibly hops or both. This is a complex brew that I am grateful to have tried. Thanks Eric!!
thewolf (3490), Kolding, Denmark
Aug 19, 2008 Bottle @ YNWA, Kolding.
Pours opaque and completely black. A giant, staying, creamy, cappucino-brown head. Great duration. Aroma is a bit underwhelming for a 13 % beer. Roasted tones, some soft plums and a touch of dark Guetamala coffee. Medium carbonation, but only a mild creaminess. But when aroma and mouthfeel was a bit of a let-down, the flavour is stunningly complex. Let tartness at first, some liquorice giving game. Lots of hard roasted malts and a truly wonderful, lingering aftertaste. Soft viniousity and dark, dry, chocolate. There is hops - a lot of hops - in here, but it never does anything but balance out the wonderful flavour. In a few years, the aroma might have settled, and this will be a world-class beer - now it is just behind the best.
Sammy (3023), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Aug 16, 2008 Thank you for sending Absumaster. Absolutely black, with a bit of creamy head, it looks rich and thick. Aroma of maltiness and a little coffee roast. The flavour is chocolate,roast, malt, a little coffee, mid-sip bitterness. The real feature of this beer is its balance. Its not too sweet, not too chocolate. Just eminently drinkable. A fine RIS.
Gusgus (105), Tanumshede, Sweden
Aug 14, 2008 Ratebeer #100. Bottle, thanks marsiblursi! Pours pitch black with large, café latte colored creamy head. Very vinous aroma with red fruits, some yeast and acrid sourness from the black grains. Very soft mouthfeel with slight sweetnes and a hint of sourness. Vinous with long chocolatey aftertaste. Earthy bitterness in the finis with a strange vegetal bitternes, like radish.
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