timsilvia32 (447), from Michigan now in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
| 4.1 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 9/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 16/20 | Nov 4, 2009 2009. Solid black pour, dark brown foam that surprisingly dissappeared completely. Not really that thick appearing, not much lacing either. Aroma is strong, molasses, roast malt, dark chocolate, a little oaky like booze. Mouthfeel is one of the thickest I’ve had in a while. Not syrupy though, with enough carbonation lurking. It is sweet, but I don’t think it’s too much. Flavors does match the aroma, roast and sweet from malt, molasses, something like a chocolate ball with port in it and just hints of espresso and anise. That’s probably the one place would have like a little more of, roast and bitters. I was surprised by that considering 3F likes to hop the heck out of things.
Drinkability is actually fine to me, as I don’t get any over sweetness from this. It’s actually quite good for a beer this big. I’ve heard 09 is a more drinkable batch up front without having to let it age. I pretty much agree, reminds me more of American/Double, which I prefer, even though the difference is subtle. I’m not going to give this all 5’s, but definetely lived up to expectations.
After some warming I’ll change my tune a bit. The sweetness does kind of overtake this one after a bit. Reminds me of some of the Weyerbacher stouts. Of the A+ RISs, I still put Abyss a notch above.
drseusszb200 (207), Florida, USA
| 4.6 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 9/10 | 4/5 | 9/10 | 4/5 | 20/20 | Dec 12, 2009 2009 bottle. poured jet black with a tan head that faded quickly to give nice lacing. smelled of coffee, dark chocolate, plums, raisons, bacon, cherries. tasted sweet to start with notes of cherries, chocolate, plum, raisons and very good at hiding the alcohol. ericandersnavy (1127), crossroads, Texas, USA
| 4.1 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 17/20 | Dec 10, 2009 bottle thanks to cavie. thanks for finally helping me get this one. 2009 version. poured as black as the night with a tan head. the legs on this were sick and stained the glass. aroma was chocolate covered cherry cordial and plum. flavor was the same plus dark roast, cinnamon, and some alcohol. body was medium-heavy with a good slick feeling. great stuff and glad i have a bottle to age. arminjewell (108), Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| 4.7 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 9/10 | 5/5 | 9/10 | 5/5 | 19/20 | Dec 9, 2009 2009 Bottle courtesy of belgiangirl. Poured thick black with deep molasses and licorice aroma. Complex hops at the beginning followed by anise and molasses and finishes well with a smoky/hop bitter ending. Was even better warmed up, and is a delicious brew. Cavie (1439), Fort Worth, Texas, USA
| 4.5 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 9/10 | 5/5 | 9/10 | 5/5 | 17/20 | Dec 5, 2009 #1400! 2009 vintage. Pitch black pour. No light escapes this dark hole of a beer. Yum, lots of darkness in the pour. Heavy malty notes. Some chemical sour but nothing distasteful. Taste has loads of chocolate. Flavor has bit of astringent notes that fade quickly. This will be much better with years on it. Some sharp flavors need to fade and it will be fantastic. That being said, well freaken done! Jblauvs (597), Manchester, New Hampshire, USA
| 4.6 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 9/10 | 4/5 | 9/10 | 5/5 | 19/20 | Nov 28, 2009 Black Oily pour, tight ring of fizzy tan head.
Intense Aroma of molasses, dark sugars, dates, figs, Black Olives, booze. Subtle chocolate notes as well. Complex malt in the mouth, powerful sweet molasses and chocolate as well as vanilla, nutty hazelnut, and booze. the Finish is lasting, boozey with chocolate and a shadow of the dates in the aroma. Awesomely multidimensional. swoopjones (1917), Buffalo, New York, USA
| 4.2 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 5/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 17/20 | Nov 27, 2009 Plenty of people to thank for this, #1900!!! Cgarvieuk for the first sample hand bottled into a Thai Swet Mango Chili hot sauce bottle, kid you not. Enjoyed on the bus from Edinburgh, Scotland to Sheffield, England. TomThompson for the 2009 & El Jefe for the 4 yr vertical (2005-2008). Deep dark pour. Darker tan head, Big heavy roasted malt aroma, light soy, light booze, rich. Fuller oily mouthfeel. Rich, roasted malts, soy, chocolate. Extremely complex. Much Thanks to all the previously mentioned craftycarl21 (560), South Hero, Vermont, USA
| 4.6 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 9/10 | 4/5 | 9/10 | 5/5 | 19/20 | Nov 25, 2009 09 white wax vintage. Oily black pour with with some ruby and brown tints around the edges. Almost no head present. Aroma is absolutely monstrous; big notes of chocolate, espresso, molasses, brown sugar, fig, raisin, date, black olive, plum, a bit of marzipan, and a warming alcohol presence. I expected a straightforward bomb of an imperial stout, but this is so complex and so nice. Flavor is incredible; lots of coffee, rich chocolate, vanilla, molasses, and clear booze notes. The dark fruit becomes more subtle, but those notes of date, fig, and raisin are still present. There is a really nice toasted almond, walnut, and hazelnut note; adding the sweetness to that, it borders on a Nutella feel. Palate amounts one of the easiest 5s i’ve ever given; absurdly rich and smooth, and the flavors are just further expounded in the aftertaste. Dark Lord somehow lives up to the hype. oteyj (773), Canterbury, New Hampshire, USA
| 4.5 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 5/5 | 9/10 | 5/5 | 18/20 | Nov 25, 2009 2009 vintage courtesy of craftycarl21. Black oily pour with hints of garnet when held to a bright light source. Head is small and tan, though dissipates expediently. Aroma is absolutely massive. Raisin, plum, fig, vanilla, coffee, massive dark sugar, molasses, brown sugar, creamy milk chocolate, and gratuitous nasal warming booze. Flavor is bursting with dark burnt sugars, dark fruit, coffee, chocolate, and booze. Molasses, burnt plum and date sugars, espresso, cocoa nib, and vanilla further the complexities of the flavor arrangement. So complex, unique, different, and welcomed. Palate is rich, oily, creamy, velvety, and thoroughly warming from the massive alcohol nature. There’s hype for a reason...
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