Heavy Seas Siren Noire 2013

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

Big review night with the local Brew Crew: 18 different beers with barbecue, delicious desserts, and good company. Practically black with a head that rises high but goes pretty quick. Aromas of chocolate fig, cherry, raisin... vanilla? The chocolate and char flavors are somehow made crisp by a vanilla tone, so they pop at the beginning of the taste leaving a lingering whisky flavor. The aroma is complex, the flavor is simple, and overall that works very nicely. Lovely, deep, generous.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

Think the abv and label have changed. Light bourbon and a TON of chocolate on the nose. Sweet and decadent. Defiinitely a dessert beer. Reminiscent of Rogue, with a hint of bourbon replacing the bitterness in Rogues Chocolate or Double Chocolate Stout. Excellent.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 7

Jet blackness in color. A two finger, fluffy textured, light tan head rises above. There's some hang time. Settles into a moderate suzed ringlet. A chocolate bar in the nose. More dark chocolate, a wisp of oak and a little licorce in the tasting. medium bodied and creamy

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 10 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 10 | Overall: 10

This is one of my top beers! Gosh....this was Good!!! Everything about it! Taste was dark chocolate huge! I sensed a glimmer of whiskey, but I'd have to look that one up to see if it was barrel-aged. There may have been a bit of vanilla or caramel in this because it was a tad sweet but not overbearing. The bartender gave me this beer in the best glass for a tall dark and handsome beer. I submitted the photo so hopefully you can check it out! I want a 6-pack! I guess a trip to Maryland will be in the near future!

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

The 2012/13 version is part of the 'Unchartered Waters' series - aged in bourbon barrels with added Madagascar vanilla bean. Dark brown pour with a redish hue and a tan head. Chocolate dominates the aroma. Mouthfeel is creamy and lends well to what this beer is trying to be. Bitter cocoa is prevelant in the initial sips. Further exploration reveals subtle vanilla and oak along with a splash of booze. It's a nice beer, and the chocolate really shines. I'd like to see Heavy Seas let this dwell in the barrel a bit longer so a little more barrel notes are detectable.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Dark pour, smallish head. Aroma is soapy with chocolate aspects. The flavor was predominantly dark chocolate, ashy notes, some fruitiness with also a sour lactic-like finish. It got better as it warmed, but was a bit harsh off the bat and put-offish. Not a bad beer, but a tad disappointing.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Aroma is strong, sweet and chocolaty - maybe a little too chocolaty, since the chocolate so dominates the aroma one might as well be sniffing a Hershey bar. There is a hint of malt, though. It pours a deep, nearly opaque coffee sable with a fairly thick light tan head. Flavor is mainly chocolate and has a firm alcohol nip, along with subtle woody, smoky and malty hints. Texture is smooth and finely fizzy, leaving a subtle tingle and a chocolaty alcohol finish.