 JoeM500 (1877), Chicago (little italy), Illinois, USA
May 3, 2006
Sipping a big goblet full of this black, oily, hazy topped berzerker, I pondered the whole madness surrounding the recent Dark Lord release fiasco. The forum threads had a circus-like atmosphere with ugly attitudes and greedy tones that made me feel like I was reading a forum completely foreign to me. I wanted a case of Dark Lord and I wanted to try this barrel aged beer, which contains every bit of chocolatey, rough espresso edged goodness I expected, delivered in a malty, oaky, alcoholic envelope of teeth clenching bourbon., warming my stomach and sticking like glue to the sides of my tongue. Personally, I’d rather not stand in line for $180 worth of beer that I used to get in $20 growlers, but I completely understand supply and demand (I often spend $250 on an urban vinyl toy that sold-out for $100 just minutes before). I rather enjoy when the pub is filled up and rowdy, too, almost as much as I enjoy it’s quiter moments, but the thought of seeing the people who had recently caused such goofy fury on the forums and being directly associated with that forum made me rethink the reasons why I’ve been a member of ratebeer for the last 50 months. For the first time I didn’t want to go to Three Floyds directly because of my association to Ratebeer! Rating beer was a lot of fun, meeting people was tenfold the fun but now I feel that the ratings and racking of numbers and boorish forum behavior has cheapened the experience for me. I can honestly say that I didn’t want to be a part of the Ratebeer group that rallied at the Pub last weekend. I value many of you as friends on an individual basis, so I hope I’m not coming off sounding elitist or rude. I have met a ton of great people because of Ratebeer and will continue to keep in touch with many of the people here, but through emails and other routes. I also found myself using Ratebeer forums as an outlet for my own grumpiness sometimes and that’s not what this site is supposed to be about. I’m not putting anybody down here, these are my personal thoughts and nobody is being singled out. I will move along through the World of new beers on my own, with fond memories of the great times here at Ratebeer. Joe & Admins, keep up the great work and I’ll continue to point people to this site, like I have for over 4 years now. I’ll buy you all pints when I run into you! Cheers- Joe Marinaro (aka Marinaro500 aka RatedX)
BeerBunker (31), Burbank, Illinois, USA
Aug 20, 2008 Forgot to rate this one after Dark Lord Day. Draft in a plastic cup at the brewpub. Poured like motor oil. It looked like pancake syrup, and had the same thickness. Had small brownish ead, that did not dissapate. Instant great taste of bourbon and malts. Delicious lingering taste of coffee and chololate. Alcohol is apparant, and damned delish too. Finishes, with thick sludgy goodness. To sum it up, if you soaked a piece of wood in bourbon and then sucked on it, you’d get the same effect.
pnista (884), Bloomington, Indiana, USA
Aug 11, 2008 Great Taste ’08. 2007, aged for a year. Finally! Pours a thick sludgy viscous, glass coating oil brown, with debris in it! The nose is big sweet sticky Dark Lord, completely going one on one with the oak. Tannins are heavy, but no heavier than the sweet alcohol, chocolate, vanilla, alcohol, and roast. The mouthfeel is as thick as a solution can be. The flavors are as to be expected, insane. Basically just like I imagined, only with more oak, and not as screwed up as I thought it would be. This is an actual improvement to Dark Lord! Splendid.
marchcow (482), Coralville, Iowa, USA
Aug 10, 2008 Draft on tap at Taste of the Midwest. Unbelievably thick beer, more like chocolate syrup. Completely opaque and solid. Flavor is rich chocolate, vanilla, bourbon, oak. Left my glass looking like it had been dipped in chocolate. Very good.
nolankowal (826), Dublin, Ohio, USA
Aug 7, 2008 Oily black pour with a thin tan head. Aroma of oak, light toasted coconut, vinous fruits, roasted, bready malt and bakers chocolate. Flavor was rich roasted malts, dark chocolate, vanilla notes, sticky caramel, hints of bourbon. Rich/thick body, soft/no carbonation sweet/vinous/woody with a roasty/oaky/sticky-sweet finish. The barrel didn’t tame nor subdue this beast of a beer...really just upped it another level. It also helps that it started with the 07 vintage which was one of my favorite years to begin with. Really goddamn awesome, it gets my first 5.
luckymortal (16), USA
Jul 31, 2008 If you’re in the mindset of a liqueur and not a "beer" then this is one of the most complex and beautiful drinks you’ll find.
ALl I’ll add is that I actually enjoy drinking the bottled 08 more than the aged 07. But this is an amazing experience. I’ll be retunring every year I can just to get this stuff.
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