 Gusler (2656), Tucson, Arizona, USA
Apr 18, 2004 Release 2004
What the hell can I say about this magnificent creation that hasn’t already been said? This was to be my 6000th beer, but I decided to take it to Papago and as we often bring special beers to sample, this was my choice.
The beer as it slowly oozes out of the 22 ounce brown bottle pours as thick as molasses in January in Maine, it literally makes a glugging sound as it excavates itself from its container. Onyx in color, the head a deep chocolate brown that is creamy as whipped chocolate icing and portly in size, the lace a coat of brown to obscure the glass. Nose is rich bitter sweet chocolate, burnt coffee, sweet malt, a treat for both the olfactory and ocular senses, a beer you must sniff to understand its complexity, start is thick and chewy, ambrosial and the top as full as any beer I’ve ever tasted. Finish is pleasing in its acidity, hops are powerful in their spiciness, the alcohol quite noticeable and the rich sweet chocolate and burnt coffee flavors continue to the parched desert dry aftertaste, also a quite noticeable tummy warming sensation, “Just one fantastic beer”, but a word of warning not meant for the weak of palate or people not into strong over the top beers, so if you fall into these categories and you have a “Dark Lord” sitting around, send it to me immediately if not sooner. lol
tbookman (618), Ephrata, Pennsylvania, USA
May 4, 2007 2007 bottle (thanks Phatz!!) Holy Toledo - where have you been all my life?!?! Pours an oily dark brown, almost no carbonation. Looks almost like melted dark chocolate. Wonderfully rich aroma of chocolate, espresso coffee, cherries, bourbon, and more. Flavor just explodes on the palate, then melts into your throat. Flavors of dark chocolate, fine bourbon, some fruity sweetness at the back of the throat and a hint of vanilla. Just wonderful in every way, a truly amazing beer!
s_creigh (199), Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA
May 24, 2006 Sampled the 2005 while at DL Day 2006. I don’t know what to say beyond what has already been said. Amazing beer. It actually caught me off guard. Much more intense than I even imagined. I thought it could not live up to the hype but it more than did. I have 2 bottles of 2006 cellared, can’t wait!
Kodos (190), USA
Dec 24, 2002 I have tried quite a few Russian Imp’s. This has got to be the TOP! On tap. Dark, dark, dark. Not much aroma...? Super complex tastes...Chocolate, fruity/plum/nuts...so much more...Vanilla in the end. Is there alcohol in this? Wait a minute...Heat in my chest says yes...Oh yeah, 13+%. Not apparent in the taste at all. This has got to be Nick’s BEST creation yet...PLEASE continue this beer . We ALL want moremoremore!!!
Dogbrick (2228), Columbus, Ohio, USA
Feb 15, 2003 Deepest gratitude to T.A.R. for this wicked beer, bottled from growler. This beer pours like it comes from the Land of Shadow itself. I expected to see the Eye of Mordor appear over the freshly poured glass. Completely black as Doom with a very thin dark beige head. Aroma is not subtle, it is mostly coffee, malt and alcohol. The flavor doesn't bother tip-toeing around either. Warming alcohol flavor gets progressively stronger as it warms, but never snuffs out the other flavors of cocoa, coffee, surprisingly sweet malt, and raisins. There are enough hops in the finish to keep it from being too much. This beer is utterly perfect in every respect.
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