Imperial Eclipse Stout - High West Bourbon
FiftyFifty Brewing Co.

Imperial Eclipse Stout - High West BourbonImperial Eclipse Stout - High West Bourbon
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From:
FiftyFifty Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
Ranked #1,239
ABV:
11.9%
Score:
93
Ranked #4,003
Avg:
4.17 | pDev: 8.87%
Reviews:
42
Ratings:
217
Status:
Active
Rated:
Saturday at 02:28 AM
Added:
Aug 26, 2013
Wants:
  22
Gots:
  76
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of jmdrpi
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania

4.21/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
2022 vintage on draft, in snifter glass

black in color, tan colored head that fades. Nice oaky bourbon aroma - a little caramel and vanilla. Dark cocoa, a little boozy. Slightly sweet finish. Fuller bodied, smooth feel
Saturday at 02:28 AM
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

4.1/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
500ml bottle from Tavour. Dark brown pour, small bubbly head. Roasty aroma, chocolate, bourbon notes. Taste is sweet up front, warm at the back. Roast malts, chocolate and a balanced bourbon flavor. Lingering warmth
Oct 15, 2023
 
Rated: 4.34 by dafla67 from Pennsylvania

Jun 05, 2023
Photo of TerryMills
Rated by TerryMills from Tennessee

4.49/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2022 bottle
May 17, 2023
 
Rated: 4.5 by bpfrush from Wisconsin

Feb 11, 2023
Photo of SLeffler27
Reviewed by SLeffler27 from New York

4.46/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Pours very dark black walnut and is black in the glass. No highlights or any light passes through (SRM 38-40). A light khaki head is a thin combination of fine bubbles and pancake batter. Thick spotty lace forms above a dense ring, and a fine viscous film forms no legs on a PBGC Imperial 2 snifter.

The aroma is filled with dark roasted cocoa and cola. Bittersweet chocolate and dried figs follow, while faint Bourbon provides a backdrop. Licorice comes out late and stronger, while alcohol presents with warmth. The alcohol is much stronger than expected, even though this is an 11.9% beer. Peat starts out light and builds strength as the beer warms.

The flavor is clearly more Stout than Barrel, which is an appealing throw-back. Bourbon is more present in the flavor than it was in the aroma, while roasted malt and cocoa have a light, charred edge. The peat is present, though less developed than in the nose. There is a hint of black coffee in a long, modest finish. This beer definitely improves with warmth and sings with velvet notes.

The body is full, though almost feels light, due to the creamy texture and a soft, fine carbonation. Alcohol is above expectations, with light warmth.

Certainly, this is a sipping beer, and it seems pleasantly old school, which can be comforting. I imagine a mild cigar would pair well while reading in a bulky oak chair surrounded by leather-bound books. It would also pair beautifully with a grilled rib-eye. (Bottle date 2019.)
Jan 31, 2021
 
Rated: 3.96 by Mikexw from New York

Jan 30, 2021
 
Rated: 4.33 by AmeriCanadian from Tennessee

Oct 25, 2020
Photo of beergoot
Reviewed by beergoot from Colorado

4.29/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Anthracite coal colored body topped with a thick, creamy tan head; heavy sheets of foam coat the inside of the glass. Strong smells of cocoa and bourbon; raspberries. The taste contains all the smell attributes and then some; milk chocolate; white oak; a hint of orange peel; boozy overtone blending nicely with the malt and honey sweetness. Heavy body; thick and velvety with residual sugars; sticky; firm yet balanced alcohol warmth permeates the mouthfeel.

This is from a 2015 release, and it has aged well. I have no reference for what it would have tasted like earlier, but this five year old is a beauty right now.
Oct 03, 2020
Photo of puck1225
Reviewed by puck1225 from Texas

4.37/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This is a beautiful beer. Poured from a 500 ml bottle into a tulip glass. Rich dark brown color with a fluffy beige head and nice curtain lacing. Smell of dark fruit and bourbon. Taste of dark chocolate, cappuccino, vanilla and an extremely pleasant, earthy booziness. Warming beer! Very nice beer to enjoy after Wednesday night hockey! Wish he Stars had won!
Sep 24, 2020
 
Rated: 4.15 by khargro2 from Tennessee

Jul 15, 2020
 
Rated: 4.48 by OtisCampbell007 from Tennessee

Jul 13, 2020
 
Rated: 4.59 by ummswimmin from New Jersey

May 31, 2020
 
Rated: 4.25 by shehateme from Massachusetts

Apr 27, 2020
 
Rated: 4.74 by JamesBondGA from Georgia

Jan 13, 2020
Photo of PittBeerGirl
Reviewed by PittBeerGirl from Ohio

4.54/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
2018 edition.

Pours an opaque coffee color. No light passes through. Head is a latte color and lacing sticks all the way down the glass.

Nose is full of bourbon heat and sweetness. Which is the highlight. Dark chocolate, roasted malt, and a hint of oak barrel are in the background. Complex and very well done.

Flavor is similar to the nose with some dark fruit added. Very complex and the high west bourbon flavors really come out. Finish has some alcohol heat but is pretty smooth. Overall bourbon flavors>roasted malt>dark fruit>oak>alcohol heat>chocolate

Mouthfeel is exceptional. Heavy bodied but not chewy, low to medium carbonation, smooth with a hint of alcohol.

Overall this is an excellent beer that was an excellent find. This was a special present for my husband for Christmas so I didn't mind paying extra for this special treat. Besides we drove to Fifty-fifty on our honeymoon and it was one of our favorite experiences.
Dec 31, 2019
Photo of Phyl21ca
Reviewed by Phyl21ca from Canada (QC)

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Bottle: Poured a pitch-black color stout with a large dark brown foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of bourbon, vanilla and sweet chocolate notes is very enticing. Taste is also a mix of vanilla and bourbon with some sweet black cholate notes with a woody finish with some residual sugar notes. Body is full with nice creamy texture with good carbonation and almost no alcohol is apparent. Superb BA imperial stout and high-quality barrels really improves the base beer.
Nov 09, 2019
 
Rated: 4.49 by Ajlvt from Washington

May 12, 2019
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

4.49/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2014 vintage; drank 1/28/16 @ Harvest Hop Haus.

Brown/black appearance.

Huge tan head; frothy lace.

Strawberry, oak, fresh earth & faint smoke notes in the nose.

Smooth medium thick mouthfeel.

Strawberry, oak & milk chocolate flavors up front; mild booze heat & faint smoke notes on the finish.

An excellent, complex stout. Bravo!
Mar 09, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by teamwiggum from Wisconsin

Jan 03, 2019
Imperial Eclipse Stout - High West Bourbon from FiftyFifty Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 93 out of 100 with 217 ratings