Mass hysteria broke out in Atlanta on the release of this beer with single bottle limits are general geek, pant-wetting. I was given a couple on a recent trip to Kentucky without the general, associated madness – thanks Kevin.
12 oz single. Pour is a dark brown/black Porter like affair. Little lace other than a touch of spotty character on the surface. Obviously the ABV impairs any significant head or retention. It ultimately dies to just about zero carbonation which is OK.
Nose is an extremely rich, sweet. liquor based aroma. Some alcohol but not overpowering at all. The liquor element is prominent. Obviously some good alcohol legs. The alcohol manifests itself with even more sweetness.
A very sweet rum infused assault is the start on the tongue. The molasses and licorice are certainly there, but they combine to give a slightly smoky charcoal bitterness and the rum like sweetness still continues to shine through. Slightly bitter, dry aftertaste and with it the slightest hint of hop character – VERY slight!
One might describe this as a poor man’s Utopia’s (after the initial carbonation has gone) as it tastes and drinks in a very similar manner.
If you don’t enjoy a sweet beer you’d better stay away. Certainly a pretty extreme brew and a beer that is in a bottle about twice the size it needs to be, but still a pretty interesting beast – In fact it reminds me a little of Avery’s The Beast! Drinkability is not great, but that’s really a given for a 12.5% beer.
In the end, fine, but 6 oz every six months would be too much for me.