Big Black Voodoo Daddy
Voodoo Brewing Company

Big Black Voodoo DaddyBig Black Voodoo Daddy
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From:
Voodoo Brewing Company
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #190
ABV:
12%
Score:
93
Ranked #3,158
Avg:
4.19 | pDev: 8.59%
Reviews:
475
Ratings:
1,250
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 07, 2024
Added:
Jul 05, 2006
Wants:
  369
Gots:
  257
This Is our Imperial Stout that we age in conditioning tanks with oak staves. This adds a classic character of old world aging with out the Bourbon tones. This black ale is about 12% alc. and very rich in roasted and chocolate malt tones. Velvety smooth and able to be aged for years.

all Beers to be bottle conditioned
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by biegaman:
Photo of biegaman
Reviewed by biegaman from Canada (ON)

4.22/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
They call voodoo the 'black arts' and indeed this offering from Voodoo Brewing is entirely, thoroughly black as well as artful, at least in the minimalist sense. It sits stout and solemn like a chunk of black marble, its head like a trim of heavy slate; the liquid looks thick enough to absorb a bullet. If you dropped your keys in there you'd have a hard time finding them.

The nose is rich in decadent, flavourful, dark maltiness and, with a little swirling, even while cold, probably ranks up there with the best of the style. Notes of unsweetened dark chocolate, fresh-pulled espresso and just the faintest hint of currant stick to this bouquet like a fox guarding the hen house. Notes of bourbon are absent - and good riddance to 'em!

Bourbon barrel-aging can bless a beer with unparallelled complexity and character but it's often on the bourbon's own terms, meaning it comes part and parcel with an intense, intractable boozyness that can overwhelm - not just the senses - but the beer's other elements. With that proviso, I applaud Voodoo Brewing for using just plain old oak.

The notes of (the darkest of black, like 90% cacao) chocolate and espresso come together like the teeth of a zipper. Despite all that rich, heavy decadence, however, some leafy, spicy hoppiness and a very perceivable cassis flavour are stirred up by the inevitable alcohol warmth (which is fortunately dried out in the finish by the oak, the taste of which does linger).

When gambling with higher alcohol content it is always good to have a heavy hand with the malts; this brewmaster obviously practices safe high gravity brewing, as the rich fullness of the (11 different varieties of) malts would confirm. (And hey, he even found a way to nudge a fair bit of spicy hoppiness in there too!) Both mask the true strength modestly.

Big Black Voodoo Daddy is a beer as cool as its name sounds. It certainly put a spell on me! Despite being aged on plain oak (how boring!) and not being bottle-conditioned (quel faux-pas!) this beer packs every bit the rich, intricate flavour and is every bit a formal acknowledgement of the ingenuity of American brewers as any other jacked-up stout.
Jun 21, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.02 by mattreitz49 from Florida

Mar 07, 2024
 
Rated: 4.18 by kodt from Illinois

Feb 05, 2024
Photo of jjamadorphd
Reviewed by jjamadorphd from Florida

4.48/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
I was expecting to get a very booze-forward stout, but instead I ended up drinking a well-balanced, and at times almost something akin to a dessert beer. Great dark looking beer, the smell was malty and sweet to match the taste. Mouthfeel was medium-bodied but smooth and overall this ended up being something very good, after letting it sit a year (I should mention...)
Jan 15, 2024
 
Rated: 4.35 by oneeye from Pennsylvania

Dec 30, 2023
 
Rated: 4.21 by Uconnelmo from Connecticut

Dec 19, 2023
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

4.24/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
easily the best beer ive had from these guys so far, this one from the can, a sturdy and complex imperial stout with a lot of layers to it and no barrel ageing despite it having some definite woodiness and maturity to it, impressive in its quality, hopefully a sign of things to come from these guys, who have been totally hit or miss for me so far. black indeed in the glass, viscous and sticky looking, and without much head, but this doesnt need more bubbles and its not all that sweet as these go. its a treat for the senses, notes of licorice, raisin, and smoke in the aroma, fudge brownie, espresso, and butter roasty notes in the flavor, cigar, black pepper, toffee, brown sugar, and light vanilla weave in and out as well, and this ends up being quite complex as they go, and exceedingly well refined for its size, it almost makes me wonder how some of their other, seemingly easier to make styles, can be so pedestrian or even off. nice chocolate wrinkle to this, both milk and dark and very organic seeming, perhaps also some rye spice or something in the mash, this has more earthy intensity to it than a lot of these, and there is some mellowing oak character as well but without being barrel aged which is cool. black fig, black coffee, and smoke to close, smooth and long in body and aftertaste, it hides its strength pretty well, and on the whole this is really pretty great. i wish these guys well in boise!
Nov 20, 2023
Photo of BuxMontBeerLover
Reviewed by BuxMontBeerLover from Pennsylvania

4.24/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Purchased at Wegmans, Warrington, PA. 4pk/12oz cans.

As expected, this brew pours a jet, midnight, no moon black. A small, quickly fading beige head.

Aromas of sweet chocolate and malts.

An excellent imperial stout. A delicious and rich tasting brew with flavors of sweet chocolate, roasted malts, caramel, vanilla and a slightly bitter aftertaste. The ABV is well hidden but needs to be respected at 12%. A sipper and a one a night type of brew for me.

Very creamy, smooth mouthfeel with mild carbonation.

Overall, a great brew. As we head into Fall, this is the perfect beer to relax with, sip and savor. My first beer from Voodoo Brewing from my home state and I’m impressed. Would certainly seek out and purchase again…cheers!
Oct 07, 2023
Photo of tradershmulie
Reviewed by tradershmulie from Connecticut

4.66/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Wow.

Absolutely one of the most insane heads I've seen on a really cold stout. The head of three fingers just sat there. Bubbly beautiful light brown. The beer a much darker brown, but not too dark.

Not much on the nose.

Delicious. Smooth, creamy, a lot of good flavors, nothing overpowering.

Great beer.
Aug 04, 2023
 
Rated: 4.22 by craigbelly from Iowa

Jul 30, 2023
Photo of buschbeer
Reviewed by buschbeer from Ohio

4.13/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
12 FL OZ can
Served in a pokal glass

This beer pours black and is topped with a minimal tan head.

I smell coffee, anise, chocolate, and vanilla.

The taste starts sweet with cocoa and vanilla. I get some anise in the middle with black coffee. It finishes sweet again with the initial flavors.

Full bodied with a smooth mouthfeel

Solid beer. I can't believe it took me so long to try it.
May 28, 2023
 
Rated: 4.19 by not2quick from Missouri

May 20, 2023
Photo of JayQue
Reviewed by JayQue from Virginia

4.17/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
A very good RIS!!! Poured from a 12oz. can into a snifter, this beer featured a dense brown color and a surprisingly big frothy light tan/cream color head. Head retention was excellent for this strong a beer. Minimal lacing on the glass. Aroma and taste feature a rich, slightly sweet maltiness with lots of coffee and some chocolate in the flavor. Mouthfeel was rich and smooth with a little alcohol warming, but no harshness.This is one of the better RIS style beers I have had!!
May 20, 2023
 
Rated: 4.18 by HopBelT from Belgium

Apr 29, 2023
Photo of JKENNEKE
Rated by JKENNEKE

4.18/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
April 2023.Athens.
Apr 25, 2023
 
Rated: 4.13 by Gkruszewski from New York

Apr 22, 2023
 
Rated: 4.5 by Sweffin from Wisconsin

Mar 19, 2023
Photo of chinchill
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina

4.24/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On tap at the Beer Station in SC.

This near black stout has a very full body. Lots of chocolate in the nose and lingering chocolate notes in the aftertaste. Rich flavor.
Feb 16, 2023
 
Rated: 4.25 by smartassboiler from Illinois

Jan 16, 2023
 
Rated: 5 by doctorgary from New York

Jan 11, 2023
Big Black Voodoo Daddy from Voodoo Brewing Company
Beer rating: 93 out of 100 with 1250 ratings