Mikkeller Barrel-Aged Black Hole, White Wine

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 10 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 10 | Overall: 10

Aroma is - oooooh, so thick and rich, smoky with a strong mocha overtone and hints of molasses and honey. It just fills the nose and demands a taste. It pours a deep sable, just a shade from black, with a thick and fairly persistent tan head that leaves some good lacing. Smoky flavor has tones of quality coffee, vanilla, white wine, and - WOW, what a bite! There are also hints of honey and caramel. Thick, full-bodied texture is edgy and somewhat fizzy, and has a strong if not fierce alcohol nip. If you like stouts, let this one drag you past its event horizon!

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

Jet black with a thin brown skiff floating on top. Chocolaty coffee with elements of honey, cinnamon, oak, and possibly white wine but I think I’m trying to convince myself I smell that. Taste is high quality shit!! Viscos thick sludge with a sour finish. Big backers chocolate, honey and a very odd not quit sour finish. A sweetness really starts to take over the beer the longer it sits. The white wine aging never dominates the flavor in fact it’s hard to pick up except in the finish, it just adds the little bit of extra something that’s hard to describe. 13%!!! Where?!?!?!?! I liked this brew.

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 10 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 10 | Overall: 10

I have got three of the black holes and this is the first one for me to try. Smells like most of mikkellers impy stout offerings, in the vein of george, with pretty significant brown sugar and molasses aromas. Smells thick for sure. Characteristic oak aroma is present with a water like freshness. Burying my face in the half filled tulip glass for some time I start to pick up the wine characteristics. I would identify the wine characteristics in the germannic sweet fruit wine vein. Super light, floral, peach, along those lines, which of course makes no sense cause no one oaks those wines. As I search for more of the wine, it gets like all I can smell is super faint fruit and the harsh sugar/yeast/toffee receeds. A trace of nut too. Finally Im going to taste it....I know right ;). Wine presence much more noticeable on the pallet and a really interesting addition to the stout qualities. Really lightens up the whole palate, especially the body of the beer, without being distracting of taking away from the rich velvty fruity chocolate that we all wanted. ichorm thinks I have a bias for mikkeller, I know I share that trait with beercronic. A slight after taste that has a bit of light cherry candy. Alcohol is crazy hidden and the mouth is sooo smooth for something with such broad and strong flavours. I was skeptical but I think white wine does exactly the opposite in profile from bourbon casks, but is equally as well matched for impy stout. very happy! My numbers are much higher than others, but also I seem to be the only bottled drinker. This one may have improved and come into itself with a year and a bit of age.

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

Sampled at Beer Revolution on 8/20/2011. This Imperial Stout pours a dark black color from the tap. Small to medium sized white foamy head. The aroma is chocolate, coffee, dark fruit, oak and tannins. A medium to full bodied Imperial Stout. The malts are chocolate, coffee, dark fruity and white wine. The hops are earthy and floral. Decent carbonation. Touch of chardonnay. Flavors come out at room temperature. Finishes with some vanilla and cheery. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is sweet.

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

this one was a little weird. less influence from the barrels...some mellowing from the oak, but the astingency, however slight, took away from the nose, and especially the flavor of the beer. again, super smooth at 13%, but i'd pass on this one in favor of most of the others.

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

Draught@CPH BF 2011. Black colour, small brown head. Aroma is white wine, roasted notes, mild alcohol and some sweet malts and burnt sugar. Flavour is mild white wine like dryness, some fruits along with alcohol, wood, roast, liquorice and mild smoked wooden notes.