Overall: 3.5 out of 5 steins
Good for people who like: Barleywine, Stout, Belgian Quadruple
Goes well with: Dark chocolate or a dessert unto itself
Stats: 10% abv
Brewery: Brooklyn Brewery
Bought it at: Sam's Quik Shop
I often find that when beers reach the 10% abv threshold, the alcohol overpowers the other flavors in the beer. This one is no exception. Don't get me wrong, the chocolate flavors are nice and strong. But from nose to finish, you notice the alcohol and that isn't what I'm looking for in a beer. With that said, this is a good choice if you're looking for something new to try in the strong and dark malty category. A quality bitterness balances all the malt. However for the price, and considering the other brews I've had from Brooklyn, I was left unimpressed. This beer is definitely worth a try if it's there, but I wouldn't go out of my way to go get it.
For the record, when the label claims "six varieties of black, chocolate and roasted malts" you should be skeptical. The dark malts are very intense and I'm not convinced that the average craft brew drinker can pick up the differences imparted by all those different malts. What's the real difference between 3, 4, 5, 6 dark malts? We'll all just have to drink more beers and see...
