Cosmos Aged In Rum Barrels
Pisgah Brewing Co.

Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Pisgah Brewing Co.
 
North Carolina, United States
Style:
Belgian Dark Strong Ale
ABV:
9.5%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.95 | pDev: 9.62%
Reviews:
4
Ratings:
17
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jun 12, 2015
Added:
Jun 05, 2013
Wants:
  3
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
View: More Beers
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Georgiabeer:
Photo of Georgiabeer
Reviewed by Georgiabeer from Georgia

4.09/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Hmm- I'll assume this is the right beer since it says right on the bottle"aged in rum barrels for 87 days" but I believe this may just be the newest iteration of Cosmos, and not an alt beer- but I could be wrong. This one is labelled as bottled May 2013, bottle #266 of 467. I've had Cosmos before and I've enjoyed it, but I think the twist of the rum barrel both elevates and diminishes this beer in different ways. The carbonation has gone a little flat, but not killed altogether- I'd guess that's from the barrel aging. On the other hand, the rum adds some nice tropical fruit flavors of pineapple and coconut on the finish that goes well with the sweet winter fruit of the Baltic Porter. A hint of roastiness and licorice helps things from being just a sugar bomb, as do some bitter chocolate flavors. I could use some more carbonation and head, but the rum certainly adds something here without a lot of woodiness. You even get a touch of the fire from the spirit itself in the aftertaste which keeps you going back. More for dessert than with a meal, but delicious.
Aug 24, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.35 by Eziel from Ohio

Jun 12, 2015
 
Rated: 3.29 by Fordknox from Tennessee

Jan 10, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by AngusOg from North Carolina

Feb 14, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by DrewLikesBeer from Florida

Dec 15, 2013
Photo of humuloner22
Reviewed by humuloner22 from North Carolina

3.49/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
To avoid confusion. The bottle (bomber) says that it is a Baltic Porter that they used Belgian yeast and aged in Caribbean rum barrels for 87 days. Alright, now that we got the formalities out of the way. It pours relatively flat, I will say that I have had this one in the cellar for about three months. I generally love everything I have had from Pisgah, which I need to review, but this is the one I have. Anyway, the pour was dark black, like you would expect of a Baltic/Russian Porter/Stout.

The smell was sweet almost like chocolate and raisins. The bottle says to serve it at 40ish-50ish degrees. I probably served this a little colder at first, but it warmed up over the hour or so it took to get it down.

Taste: Molasses, sulfur, raisins, burned chocolate and some malt component. I detect very little in the aspect of its Belgian nature. The Baltic Porter is pretty solid. I love a good rum, I have had some of the best rums in the world and I do not detect very much of the rum influence at all, unless you want to give the molasses taste to that component. To me most porters have that flavor anyway. It is a solid porter.

Afterthought: I too got this one at Peabodys in Boone a few months back and to me, its a solid porter, but for a barrel finished beer I would probably go back to the Peoples Porter, you get much more of the bourbon from the cask than you get from a rum barrel. I have found most rum barrel finished beers fall short and I find this one suffering from the same problem. I would like to have a stronger Belgian yeast and/or rum barrel impact to this beer. As it is, the porter is solid but there are much better porters for a third or half the price of this one.

One Caveat: I think beer advocate needs to change the description of this beer. They have it incorrectly described. This beer is a Porter not a Belgian Ale, in the least.
Nov 23, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by jsanford from Georgia

Nov 22, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by bootdown21 from Connecticut

Oct 18, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by manutdfan from Florida

Sep 30, 2013
Photo of twowheelssoar
Reviewed by twowheelssoar from North Carolina

3.97/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
22oz bottle purchased at Peabody's in Boone, NC.

Pours black, but not completely opaque. Little head, and what is there completely dissipates quickly, no lacing. Smells of roast, dark fruits, Belgian-y esters, vanilla oak. The taste is complex and challenging. The roastiness is well-integrated and adds a lot of depth. The rum flavors are present, and I was surprised how well they complimented the Belgian yeast flavors. The mouthfeel is a bit thin, with a bit too much carbonation for my liking.
Overall, this beer has a lot going for it, but falls short of amazing. The concept is excellent and the flavors integrate well, creating lots of complexity and depth. I am looking forward to the next batch to see if the execution can be further improved.
Aug 24, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by rvajohn from Virginia

Aug 10, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by Hopbully from Virginia

Aug 08, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by YobroitsJoe from Maryland

Aug 07, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by FUwolfpacker from South Carolina

Jul 22, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by RedneckBeerz from Massachusetts

Jul 21, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by KevinGordon from North Carolina

Jul 21, 2013
Photo of BirdsandHops
Reviewed by BirdsandHops from Oregon

3.48/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
A: pours black with a finger of brown head that recedes into a thin ring with little lacing.

S: a lot of bubblegum and candy sugar here with notes of Belgian spices, sweet breads, roasted malts, and vanilla. Perhaps some of the sweetness comes from the rum barrel, but I can't pick up any more rum notes.

T: rroasted malts here wither bitter chocolate and a bit of char. There are also Belgian spice and candy sugar flavors mixed in. Caramel, oak, and booziness come through on the finish, which is both sticky sweet and a little bitter.

M: medium-thick body with lowish carbonation, this beer is fairly thick and sticky sweet.

O: a solid beer overall, though unfortunately the barrel seems to contribute little to the base beer. I'd like more rum characteristics and a bit lighter of a body.
Jun 05, 2013
Cosmos Aged In Rum Barrels from Pisgah Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 17 ratings