Ratings: 61 | Reviews: 43 | Display Reviews Only: Reviews by Birdlegs:3.75/5 rDev +11.3%Birdlegs, Apr 19, 2014More User Reviews:3.18/5 rDev -5.6%look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2Appearance  This is the darkest, blackest ale that I have seen to date. Even the head and lacing is black.
Drinkability  I cant imagine anyone liking this stout.RoyalT, Oct 14, 20033.1/5 rDev -8%look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.522 oz bomber. Pours as dark black and opaque as any stout I've ever seen. The head is brown, but quickly drops into film and collar foam. A nice sheet lacing effect lasts for the first ten minutes, then all lacing disappears.
Taste is oddly tart, and displays some floral hops in the beginning. At room temperature, some stout character finally emerges with some mild coffee and chocolate flavors. This one ends up smooth and light bodied, very drinkable if you make an exception for the style. This is certainly a departure from any other imperial stout that I've tried. Probably, more like a porter as a previous reviewer opined, and the tartness in the taste and mouthfeel seem out of place. Overall, it's pleasantly drinkable and the alcohol is well concealed. I love this brewery's Aftermath IPA, but they need to work on this one a bit.merlin48, May 17, 20041.88/5 rDev -44.2%look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2Seeing this at the Market, being a local example of my favorite style I jumped on it with high hopes. Poured into a snifter a true black, with no light peeking through even when held up to it. Head came in a sandy brown, moderate in size....so far so good with this beer. The nose was the first indicator of this beer's true character, pleasant but not really showing off strong notes of coffee, chocolate, or anything else when compared to the top examples of this style. Upon tasting this stout really falls to pieces, The taste isn't offensive by any means...it's just sort of...blah. Very tingly metallic in the mouth for a stout and almost completely lacking in those great roasted barley flavors we all know and love in a stout. The aftertaste is in no way smooth and elegant like a good stout, instead its somewhat tart with a definite bite. I don't know if they planned this beer to have that feeling or if it was just an unfortunate mistake but it really just doesn't work. After all this is the first beer I've reviewed here at BA that I simply would not recommend for any reason, there are too many better choices in this genre to make this beer worthwhile.masikon, Dec 10, 20053.75/5 rDev +11.3%LXIXME, May 18, 20133.9/5 rDev +15.7%look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4The very dark brown cap on this stout seems to indicate an exceptionally intense and rich beer, but it's actually more like a basic stout. It's medium bodied with a mild, fine-bubbled carbonation that caresses the tongue; and that's OK, but you might expect a bit more body and some creaminess from an Imperial stout. The nose is a bit more exciting with notes of espresso beans before grinding, some delicate dark fruits, and some burnt caramel; but again, it seems to fall a bit short for the style. Finally, the flavor is the biggest disappointment when comparing it to other Imperial stouts, but I actually like it alot just as it is... I just wouldn't call it an Imperial stout - "strong" stout might be more appropriate (of course, you can't put the word "strong" on the label!). In any case, it's certainly clean, and the alcohol is nowhere to be found, but the maltiness just isn't there. In fact, its dark fruitiness seems almost equal in intensity to its roastiness, and there's no real chocolate or caramel to be found. On the other hand, it's exceptionally well-balanced and smooth, leaving it a surprisingly easy to drink beer at 8%!!! And the juicy, red grape and raisin-like fruitiness is quite nice! I'd recommend it, but be aware of what you're getting.NeroFiddled, Mar 11, 20054.1/5 rDev +21.7%look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4Appearance - excellent dark black color, I actually thought of motor oil when I poured it. The head is the darkest brown head I have ever seen but is quickly dissapates.
Overall a real nice beerElemental, Mar 06, 20043.93/5 rDev +16.6%look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4Review from notesPours black as night with a pinky of chcolate colored head. Above average head retention & lacingS: Intense chocolate, leafy hops, a touch of vanilla & dark fruit once warm, almost pulled a 4.5T: Dryness, dark chcolate, & a bit of coffee & cocoa powder up front. Roasted grain, more coffee, & a touch of grainyness as this warms. Finishes with dark fruit, dryness & subdued roastyness MF: Smooth, medium bodied with low carbonationDrinks pretty easy for the style & ABV, a solid example of the style, a little too much coffee & dryness for me to go ga-ga over, but not bad at allrusspowell, Nov 16, 20083.5/5 rDev +3.9%look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5Aroma was tart and blueberry/blackberry fruity with hints of chocolate. Not too Imperial smelling, but not a bad smell. Pours a deep purple/black with a pinky thin mocha head. Fore is burnt malt and bakers chocolate. It gets VERY thin through the middle palate wise. Finish is coffee/dark chocolate bitter with a touch of metallic twang in it.Jredner, Feb 17, 20064.72/5 rDev +40.1%look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5I was really surprised by this beer and by it's low overall score when I got here. It may not be a huge Imperial Stout like a Surly or Three Floyds but it is what it is and it is good. I would say sublimely balanced with lots of flavors. Very drinkable and delicious. I'll be picking up a case of these to stash away for the rest of the winter.gvarsity, Jan 30, 20123.75/5 rDev +11.3%Hopmodium, Mar 15, 20133.45/5 rDev +2.4%look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.522oz picked up last week at the Coop for about $4.50.. shared with Brenda.. mine poured into my trusty snifter.Despite an aggressive pour.. only a slight 1" head is formed... dark brown with little lacing... brew is very black.Aroma is Chocolate malts and quite fruity... I could easily be mistaking this for hops.. could use quite a bit more dark malts... a little vanilla as it opens up.Flavor is pretty much the same as the aroma.. with more of a coffee background.. still it needs more maltiness in the mid palate with more dark grains. Mouthfeel is lite for the style but is still pretty silky. More body is needed.This brew is by no means terrible, I just think it needs to be dialed in... that said, it would be a pretty good Stout when the weather warms up.I will be buying a few more of these for the cellar, but I probably won't touch one for at least 6 months.JohnGalt1, Apr 15, 20083.75/5 rDev +11.3%bespin15, Dec 04, 20112.48/5 rDev -26.4%look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2Totally jet black and opaque. Tight, persistent bister head with an odd orange hued tinge. Meandering foam trails. Dark chocolate fudge and espresso wafts to the nose at first. Ensuing are notes of burnt butterscotch and singed brittle. Enticing, but functional aromawise. In flavor, incipient is a quick snap of buttery chocolate brownie. Unfortunately, this brew goes south from there. Leaping in is a obtrusive, lingering impression of fermented, astringent, unripe cherries. Dark malt tones attempt to offset tartness, but the roasted barley and bittersweet chocolate malt hints are far too understated to offer any saving grace. Non descript hop bitterness combines with the prevalent tartness to lend a permeating, chalky dryness. Strangly enough, an oily viscosity develops and grows progressively thicker on the palate. It's almost plaque - like. Poking though are prune and raisin hints. Finishes expectedly tart, assuaged with only a brief, fleeting mocha surge. An odd, rather disappointing imperial. If there wasn't ample barley to cover it up, this would be blatantly lactic, unless that tartness was intentional. Regardless, it doesn't work.marc77, Jun 29, 20042.6/5 rDev -22.8%look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 322 oz bomber. This pours about as pitch black as one could ask for. There is a good looking dark tan head present that quickly fades out of existence leaving only a slight lacing about the glass. Overall one of the best looking stouts I have seen, now if only the head retention was better it would be perfect. A burnt chocolate and sugary sweet aroma dominates the smell, with the burnt scents standing out the most. This stout is about a medium body, much thinner than most Imperial stouts and is not so smooth going down. The flavor is an over roasted one that dominates the less apparent alcohol and chocolate. It is also quite sour, not something I would expect from a beer like this. Overall not a bad beer but defiantly nothing I would reach for first.meathookjones, Jun 03, 20043.5/5 rDev +3.9%Smurf2055, Aug 07, 20133.76/5 rDev +11.6%look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75Dark dark brown, almost black in color with a light brown head. Head leaves small bubbles around rim of glass. Smells are boozy, roasted and bitter. Tastes is bittersuite with a nice roastiness. Booze a bit prevelant in this flavor wise, not a bother but think it would have been if masked a little more. Feel is smooth and velvety. Good but has potential to be much better. Just misses the mark somehow to be great.Braz, Feb 12, 20132.93/5 rDev -13.1%look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3This is a bit of a disappointment for an imperial stout. The appearance is really quite nice with a pitch black body under a dense, if smallish, brown head. The aroma is pretty good too, with coffee, black chocolate and a grape or plum fruitiness. The flavor is where this one falls apart. The flavor is thin and salty with a slightly tart finish that is disappointing after the rest of the aspects. Finishes with a smokey, charred malt finish.aracauna, Jan 01, 20054.13/5 rDev +22.6%look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.566 cl. bottle pours a pitch black fluid with a brown head. Smells of plums, raisons, and roasted grains. Full bodied with a smooth, creamy mouthfeel. Has a roasted grain taste meshing perfectly with a raison date sweetness. The strong coffee flavored finish lingers long on the throat.
A very well balanced, highly drinkable stout.beerceller99, Sep 30, 20042.95/5 rDev -12.5%look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3Pitch black (no light whatsoever) with a nice creamy dark brown head. It's pretty much downhill from there... Burnt dark malt aroma with a touch of dark fruit character. Overly astringent burnt dark malt flavors. Medium bodied ... a touch airy with a burnt dry finish.
Tasted: 12/15/06RBorsato, Dec 27, 20062.4/5 rDev -28.8%look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5brew comes courtesy of great BA mickey! Thanks!
Hope this isnt how they all taste!sulldaddy, Aug 10, 20053/5 rDev -11%Zach122, Oct 03, 20133.93/5 rDev +16.6%look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4A: Black, tan head, little retention, hints of lace.
D: Quite good.Derek, Nov 14, 20064/5 rDev +18.7%bernat1971, Jun 15, 20143.4/5 rDev +0.9%look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3pours an opaque with a thin brown head, and no lacing.smell of licorice, some sour malt, espresso, cocoa, and some smoke.taste is thick, smoke, dark chocolate, licorice, some roasted nuts, and sour malt, ends dry and sour.nice smell but the look was lacking, and taste was average.froghop, May 13, 2009