[1] Review by Sap from Tucson, AZ, USA who has tried this beer once. (11/26/2008 9:30:18 PM)
"A solid pour produces a cresting, almost four-finger thick, rich, creamed chocolate brown colored head in my 25cl tulip glass. The head leaves lots of sticky lacing as it slowly recedes. The beer is just about perfectly black and doesn't pass any light no matter how close I hold it up to my desk lamp. Sharply acidic roast notes mix with a rich cocoa aroma up front. Other aromatic notes of salty smoked peat, burnt toffee, a rich toasted grain base, a concentrated cocoa note and an almost meaty rich malt driven note that I can't quite pinpoint (lots of Maillard browning and an umami effect), but it really boosts the richness of the aroma and provides a substantial foil to the up front burnt acidity.
Lightly sweet, but significantly rich, towards the middle the roast malt provides an acidity and dry burnt flavor that almost drowns out the malt sweetness, but in the finish the malt sweetness makes a comeback. Ultimately this beer finishes dry as a sharp, softly acid, burnt bitter roast character is what ends up lingering on the palate. Burnt, dark chocolate notes envelope the tongue for a time as the malt sweetness lingers and this beer has a certain velvet-like texture that helps boost the chocolate notes as well. This really is pretty thick and rich (especially for a beer of 6.6% abv), it is quite chewy, though the burnt, acidic, slightly acrid, roast malt definitely cuts through the richness a fair amount. Lingering in the finish is also a significant hop bitterness that couples with the roast bitterness. As the beer warms I begin to notice an almost salty, smoky character to this beer.
Despite being so roast dominated (and by this I mean the sharper, harsher notes), I am really enjoying this beer, there is enough other rich, offsetting / balancing flavors that this beer is just quite enjoyable. Just a fantastic, rich, stout that isn't too strong; in fact it is much richer than its alcohol might suggest and this is actually quite nice.
Purchased: Liquid Solutions"
Aroma:
8/10
Appearance:
8/10
Mouthfeel:
8/10
Flavor:
8/10
Overall:
9/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(4.1)
Sampled: Bottle Sample Size: 22oz @ $0 Unit Cost: $0 per Pint
[2] Review by bfeldmann from Wilmington, DE, USA who has tried this beer once. (12/27/2007 8:57:42 PM)
"Poured a dark black some red edges good head and good lacing. Aroma was very chocolate. Flavor was milk chocolate but still had a nice bitterness to it. Mouthfeel was dry. SOlid beer. thanks eagle "
Aroma:
7/10
Appearance:
7/10
Mouthfeel:
8/10
Flavor:
8/10
Overall:
8/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(3.8)
Value of this beer for its style: Not Sure Compared to this brewer's other beers: Not Sure
[3] Review by eaglefan538 from DE, USA who has tried this beer once. (11/26/2007 12:36:35 AM)
"22oz bottle from Larry Pitonka/5000. Pour was dark black with a nice tan head, good retention, continous covering. The lacing was ok. The aroma was milk chocolate. The flavor was milk chocolate, lactic notes, light chalky bitter notes. The mouthfeel was moderate body moderate dryness. Thanks, Andre, I enjoyed this one, very nicely balanced, not overly hoppy, not sickly sweet or alcohol laden, smooth bitterness."
Aroma:
7/10
Appearance:
8/10
Mouthfeel:
8/10
Flavor:
8/10
Overall:
8/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(3.9)
Sampled: Bottle
Value of this beer for its style: Not Sure
[4] Review by doulos31 from Middletown, DE, USA who has tried this beer once. (11/25/2007 9:22:31 PM)
"Dark brown pour with aroma of roast. The flavor is chalky milk bitter chocolate with coffee notes. Not a bad offering. Thanks to eaglefan538 for sharing."
Aroma:
7/10
Appearance:
7/10
Mouthfeel:
7/10
Flavor:
7/10
Overall:
7/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(3.5)
Sampled: Bottle
Value of this beer for its style: Not Sure
[5] Review by oh6gdx from Vaasa, Finland who has tried this beer once. (8/21/2007 1:30:04 PM)
"Probably this that had a Pike XXXXX Stout label. Black colour, big brown head. Aroma is roasted malts, dark chocolate, roasted coffee beans with some hints of burnt wood and vanilla. Flavour is roasted malts, chocolate, coffee, some slight hints of vanilla and hops. Alcohol shows a little bit in the finish. "
Aroma:
8/10
Appearance:
10/10
Mouthfeel:
8/10
Flavor:
8/10
Overall:
8/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(4.2)
Sampled: Bottle
Value of this beer for its style: Not Sure
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