Persuasive full-bodied limited edition (winter ’13) herbal stout layers smoky dark-roasted chocolate malts above dry-spiced green tea notions. In the midst, ashen hop-charred bittering contrasts maple-sugared pine sapping. Musty black grape, blackberry, black cherry and fig nuances drift below.
Robust full body with bourbon-fueled chocolate-coffee creaming awakening Blackstrap molasses-sapped anise goo. Cherry cordial, sun-dried raisin and purple grape illusions sweeten the backend. Ashen cherrywood undertones and earthen hop-charred resin deepen mocha resonation to oats-roasted bottom.
Overly aggressive carbolic pour forms big-bubbled tan lace atop dark brown full body. Condensely embittered roasted hop char and dark roasted grain malting form coffee-burnt espresso overtones and cocoa-powdered black chocolate fudging. Wood-singed ashen nuttiness affects raw mocha molasses finish. On tap at Climax 2017, bittersweet medium-roast Columbian coffee and oats-flaked cacao nibs mildly surge past fig-spiced burgundy illusions, black currant snips and cola nuttiness.
Spectacular 2012 version with heightened 15% alcohol volume brings lustier bourbon whiskey warmth to creamier chocolate-caked vanilla, anise and molasses richness. Belgian chocolate spicing drapes cherry cordial, whiskeyed cherry and cherry coughdrop illusions as well as less aggressive raisin-prune-fig dried fruiting. Jack Daniels whiskey, cognac and sherry undertones serenade chocolate brownie finish to wood-charred honeyed oats spine.
Smoothly silken slow sipper, aged in oak barrels, brings wood-charred bourbon spicing to chocolate-browned vanilla sweetness and wine-soaked dried fruiting. Lightly creamed molasses malting enriches raisin-pureed black cherry compote midst before reaching dark chocolate cordial cherry peak (contrasted by slight ashen earth reminder). Bourbon, burgundy and brandy boozing fades off. Toasted almond, hazelnut, coconut, purple grape and chocolate mousse illusions round out the busy backend. Sweet anise waft adds black licorice presence not detectable in tapped version. On tap at Capital Alehouse, oak-charred dried fruiting enriches bourbon-wined mocha frontage. Fudgy molasses creaminess thickens oaken vanilla, dusty cocoa and milky coconut illusions. Chocolate-covered cherry and raisin notions as well as wispy dark rum undertones find tertiary space.
Opulent ‘Double Extreme Imperial Stout’ brings indeterminable wheat influence to molasses-smoked dark-roasted malting and peaty hop-charred nuttiness. Well-balanced black chocolate, black licorice, black coffee and vanilla conflux defines creamy mahogany-hued full body. Rum-spiced bourbon-burgundy wining, sweetly soured raisin-prune-cherry niche and soy-sauced espresso milking found beneath thick mocha surface.
On tap at Track 84, excellent 2012 limited edition full body retains dryer stylistic intrigue. Up-front dark and brown chocolate overtones receive nifty bourbon whiskey serenade over wood-charred hop roast to ample nutty bottom. Roasted coffee, vanilla, molasses and black cherry caress supplemental soy-sauced cacao seeding.
