Third Coast Old Ale
10.2% ABV
Poured into a snifter. Notes are from a vertical tasting (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)
Deep rust colored, clear with sediment settled at the bottom, thick and viscous looking with a small bubbly head. The aroma is typical strong ale. The oldest one seemed to be oxidized when cold but improved with temperature. Strong notes of grain, general sweetness, dried fruit and some alcohol. The alcohol is soft and sweet, not harsh and fusel.
Strong bitterness that clearly falls with age, dried fruit flavors, flavors from hops (not pine/citrus though), and supporting sweetness. Nothing outstanding. Between the group, everyone seemed to prefer it fresher, and the freshest too was just an above average beer. Mouthfeel was alright for it's kind, but the beer was not remarkable.
4, 4, 4, 4.5, 3
World Wide Stout
Very high ABV
Bottle from 2010 poured into a tasting snifter.
I brought this beer with me to a tasting w/ label removed as a "surprise beer"... however, it didn't look too stout-y to me either. Dark brown at best w/ predictably no head.
Aroma is what people have said over and over: nail polish remover and roast. When cold (or with an unaccustomed nose?), the beer is overpoweringly acetone like but partially transitions to its roasty side in time. Taste follows the nose with notes of solvents, coffee and roast.
Perhaps because of its high alcohol, this beer doesn't seem very thick. Compared to alcoholic beverages of similar strength (port), the body is medium at best. Overall it's not bad and much more bearable later on. I have heard good things about this with age... I hope to luck into a bottle someday. But I sure am not buying this at ~10 dollars. For less than twice the price per oz., Black Tuesday is an infinitely better example of an extreme stout. This one was... weird.
3, 2, 2, 3, 1
Smoke from the Oak (Wine barrel aged imperial version)
Shared generously by maximum12. Thanks! Poured into a tasting snifter.
Perhaps the smokiest beer I have ever had to date! Very strong notes of smoke and char with only a tiny bit of dark fruit character coming through in the nose. The taste is mellower than the nose, although still mighty smoky. Dark and raisin-y with decent amount of roast and tannins leading towards a mildly astringent finish. A very unique beer but lacking balance.
4, 4, 4, 4, 3
Smoke from the Oak (Apple brandy barrel aged imperial version)
Shared at a tasting by Sender. Thanks! Poured into a tasting snifter.
Had it immediately after the wine barrel version, perhaps that's the reason for this to seem mellow? The slightly lower smokiness was certainly better but I was not able to make sense of the other notes in the aroma, not one bit.
I was expecting something like Matt, but this was at a different level, softer but not nearly as delicious. Vanilla perhaps, and some booze. Muddled fruitiness riding on smoke was my overall impression.
4, 3.5, 4, 4, 3
Smoke from the Oak (Rum barrel aged imperial version)
Shared by Sender, along with the Apple brandy version. Thanks! Poured into a tasting snifter.
This was the last in the series followed by the Wine and the Apple brandy version, and the most disappointing one. I went in expecting spice, chocolate and vanilla, and found none :/ The smoke was fine but in my opinion it should have had something more to offer than just a smoked porter, especially for the hype and what not. Nothing new to say, it's just an above average smoked beer.
4, 3, 3, 4, 3
Weyerbacher Rapture
Shared by a kind soul. I can't recall who, but thanks nonetheless! Poured into a tasting snifter.
Burnt amber hued with plenty of haze. The head was poor, hardly a few bubbles hanging around. But the bottles at a tasting table get shaken up quite a bit, so I will give it the benefit of doubt.
Strong lemon funk... yum! Slightly sweet and moderately tart after getting used to. Finishes slightly bitter and very very dry. The carbonation is up there and the beer is very mouth filling. I loved the lemony notes in it! There was an odd softness that might have been from the dregs, so I will let that go. A good beer for sure.
4, 4, 4, 4, 4
Commander Barleywine
Poured into a tasting snifter.
Perhaps the first Minnesota barleywine for me. I am glad that it was at the tasting because my first impression of this beer (on tap at the brewery) was NOT good. Poured into a tasting snifter. Thanks for sharing!
Looks the usual: dark amber, molten look of barleywines. Medium head/retention. Here's the thing with this beer, it's a different barleywine that takes some time getting used to because of the strong notes of green cardamom. Smells like an Indian dessert, frankly: sweet w/ plenty of green cardamom thrown in.
Tastes similar with sticky caramel coming forward, and finishes with a mild bitterness. I think it will age beautifully. It's one of the rare beers in which alcohol is tasting delicious. Medium bodied for a barleywine, and a good example keeping the ingredients in mind.
4, 4, 4, 4, 4
Upland Peach Lambic
Bottled 10/2010. Poured into a tasting snifter. Thanks whitemomba for the trade. Gushed slightly, but not a drop of the beer was lost :-)
Color of peach with plenty of peach... there were pieces of peach floating in it! Quite big head with good retention and overall spritz-y-ness.
Aroma is nice funk and acid with only hints of peach. Tastes quite tart and moderately peachy with excellent acidity and effervescence. Very dry and refreshing, I loved it.
4, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 4
Marshal Zhukov's Imperial Stout
2010 vintage shared by rebis1bear. Thanks! Poured into a tasting snifter.
Is this the base beer for Hunaphu's? I don't know but these sure are related. Actually black and way darker than other stouts. I know that dark as sin/night/etc is an adjective thrown around much, but damn! this IS as dark as black hole ;-)
Not much of a head here, but some thick legs are seen. Aroma is sweet and charred, but the taste is way overpowering and complex, in a very delicious way. Residual sugars, char, roast, coffee... I could go on but in summary, Zhukov's tastes of roasted fire whatever that means. Damn delicious, a straight up stout with a velvety smoothness, and excellent taste!
4, 4, 4.5, 4.5, 4.5
Marshal Zhukov's Imperial Stout - Cedar Aged (Humidor Series)
2011 sent by Dan. Thanks! Poured into a tasting snifter.
Looks like all its relatives --- extremely dark and thick. I am intrigued. Off to aroma and taste: this is dark, thick, roasty... everything, and then there's wood, lots and lots of it!
I read somewhere that this is like drinking furniture. Although I mean the same in a good way, I don't know how to say it differently. Drinks like tasty furniture? Quite thick on its own but a tad thinner than regular Zhukov's that's perhaps my favorite of the CC stouts I have had till date.
Different than any other stout that I have had, this one's like something Dogfish Head would make. Very good but I can see it getting tiring for a 750 ml.
4, 4.5, 4, 4, 4.5
Barrel Aged Sexual Chocolate
Thanks for sharing... I can't remember exactly but I think it was Nils. Poured into a tasting snifter.
This is one beer I am not going to chase, ever! Looks lightweight, tastes weak, and feels thin. Perhaps it was the palate destruction but many seemed to agree that it was unremarkable in more than one way. Garnet-brown as opposed to black with some bubbles here and there (in its defense it was a small pour).
Contrary to expectations, the notes of chocolate/vanilla were weak. Taste was alright but what is the average barrel aged stout it should be compared to? I wouldn't even recall drinking this had I not taken notes, thoroughly ordinary.
4, 3, 3, 3, 3
