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Super Nebula
Block 15 Restaurant & Brewery
- From:
- Block 15 Restaurant & Brewery
- Oregon, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
Ranked #734 - ABV:
- 11%
- Score:
- 95
Ranked #1,844 - Avg:
- 4.27 | pDev: 8.9%
- Reviews:
- 51
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Oct 24, 2023
- Added:
- Feb 24, 2009
- Wants:
- 204
- Gots:
- 49
Imperial stout matured in 9 & 10 year old bourbon barrels. Additionally aged on house roasted Papua New Guinea & Ghana fair trade cocoa nibs. Deep black brew, with a brown creamy head. Excellent wood, chocolate, caramel, light smoke and bourbon in the nose. Complex flavors, with notes of molasses, vanilla, bourbon, coffee, roast fig and wood. Huge depth with a warming balanced finish.
58 IBU
58 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by sulldaddy from Connecticut
4.49/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.49/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Sampling a cellar temp 2022 vintage 500 ml bottle poured into my snifter.
The beer pours a rich cola brown and no light passes through my glass when I hold it to the light. A soft fluffy beige colored head of about 3.5 cm foams up and almost overtops my glass. This foam fades slowly and leaves dense lattice as it drifts down the glass. Foam remains a steady edge layer through out the tasting.
Aroma is rich and malty with dark chocolate, anice notes, some roasted malt, a bit of charred wood, and good dose of bourbon. Not hot booze and no hop character. The aroma is not on the overly sweet smelling side of malty.
First sip reveals a medium body with smooth texture and only slightly sticky on my lips after each sip. the carbonation is very fine and soft, physical traits make this a highly drinkable beer.
Flavor is dark chocolate an some fudge, I also get molasses and roasted malts and again the bourbon hits on the finish. No wood or charred notes here. I still dont get any hop balance and the ABV is still hidden... yikes! that is dangerous.
The bourbon lingers, it is more bourbon flavor than any real sweetness and this stout isnt sweet on the flavor profile really at all. This feels like an olde school BBA Imp Stout. Im enjoying it and glad to have been given the chance to sample it!
May 16, 2023The beer pours a rich cola brown and no light passes through my glass when I hold it to the light. A soft fluffy beige colored head of about 3.5 cm foams up and almost overtops my glass. This foam fades slowly and leaves dense lattice as it drifts down the glass. Foam remains a steady edge layer through out the tasting.
Aroma is rich and malty with dark chocolate, anice notes, some roasted malt, a bit of charred wood, and good dose of bourbon. Not hot booze and no hop character. The aroma is not on the overly sweet smelling side of malty.
First sip reveals a medium body with smooth texture and only slightly sticky on my lips after each sip. the carbonation is very fine and soft, physical traits make this a highly drinkable beer.
Flavor is dark chocolate an some fudge, I also get molasses and roasted malts and again the bourbon hits on the finish. No wood or charred notes here. I still dont get any hop balance and the ABV is still hidden... yikes! that is dangerous.
The bourbon lingers, it is more bourbon flavor than any real sweetness and this stout isnt sweet on the flavor profile really at all. This feels like an olde school BBA Imp Stout. Im enjoying it and glad to have been given the chance to sample it!
Reviewed by Zythophile from Washington
4.46/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.46/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Bottle Date: January 2021
Palate Contaminants: rich red wine
Expected dark brown color. Not a whole lot of medium-fine brown head. Minimal lacing.
The scent has non-sweet brownie, Brazil nut, and mahogany. It's a little honey-ish toward the end. Good, intriguing balance. The dark wood-type smells increase with temperature. Makes me thing something really pleasant is in store.
The nutty/mahogany tastes are really strong, then comes black coffee with a little creamer. There's some bitterness with that, but that Brazil but, with a little hazelnut, isn't that far behind. The sweetness that's related to honey shifts more toward brown sugar or molasses, although that's quickly overwhelmed by smoky and woody flavors. So, light sugar, light bitterness, merely moderate savoriness, and still it's got plenty of flavor. Good balance and pleasant flavors, let's say.
Moderate carbonation. Aftertaste is brown sugar and mahogany. Alcohol detectable, but reasonable for a thirteener. Medium weight.
Apr 17, 2022Palate Contaminants: rich red wine
Expected dark brown color. Not a whole lot of medium-fine brown head. Minimal lacing.
The scent has non-sweet brownie, Brazil nut, and mahogany. It's a little honey-ish toward the end. Good, intriguing balance. The dark wood-type smells increase with temperature. Makes me thing something really pleasant is in store.
The nutty/mahogany tastes are really strong, then comes black coffee with a little creamer. There's some bitterness with that, but that Brazil but, with a little hazelnut, isn't that far behind. The sweetness that's related to honey shifts more toward brown sugar or molasses, although that's quickly overwhelmed by smoky and woody flavors. So, light sugar, light bitterness, merely moderate savoriness, and still it's got plenty of flavor. Good balance and pleasant flavors, let's say.
Moderate carbonation. Aftertaste is brown sugar and mahogany. Alcohol detectable, but reasonable for a thirteener. Medium weight.
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho
3.96/5 rDev -7.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.96/5 rDev -7.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Bottle at share. dark, ruddy brown pour with a thin beige head. Aroma brings notes of roasty malts and bourbon. Taste adds light chocolate and vanilla with some minor savory spice. Strong but not overly boozy.
Mar 20, 2022Reviewed by DIM from Pennsylvania
4.3/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.3/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Bottled January 2021, Bolivian cocoa nibs this year.
This is really well put together. Pretty dry overall, bitter cocoa rather than sweet chocolate and lightly spicy whiskey rather than sugary booze. Hints of figs and a nice oak note at the end.
Oct 17, 2021This is really well put together. Pretty dry overall, bitter cocoa rather than sweet chocolate and lightly spicy whiskey rather than sugary booze. Hints of figs and a nice oak note at the end.
Reviewed by tobelerone from New Jersey
4.4/5 rDev +3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.4/5 rDev +3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
A great barrel aged stout for those who enjoy whiskey and whiskey forward barrel aged (Basil Hayden) beers. It’s relatively lean and tight in execution, even with a pleasant sweetness from a generous addition of high quality Bolivian cocoa nibs, it feels well attenuated and finishes clean. Kind of reminds me of the limited central waters stouts. Very tasty and elegant, an antidote to the current trend of over the top sickly sweet dark beers. This is really drinkable and stays enjoyable for all 500ml, not a 3-4oz sharing beer. Opens noticeably as it decants and comes up to temp, with the nose in particular revealing deeper layers of vanilla and wood.
Jul 12, 2021Reviewed by CraftFan5 from New Jersey
5/5 rDev +17.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +17.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
31 May 2020 - Beer #107
Corona Day #80
Price: $12.50 at Full Throttle Bottles in Seattle, WA
Appearance: 5 - a super nebulous black with a lovely, frothy, tan head.
Nose: 5 - there is a ton of chocolate on the nose. The barrel is complementary.
Taste: 5 - extremely chocolatey, wow! Dark chocolate up front, sweetens into milk chocolate on the back end. Bourbon undertones throughout.
Mouth: 5 - almost like a milk stout. Thick and smooth.
Overall: 5 - my first beer from these guys, and so glad I got a second chance at it. My first chance shattered on the way home from Portland.
Stay safe out there, my friends.
Cheers!
Jun 04, 2020Corona Day #80
Price: $12.50 at Full Throttle Bottles in Seattle, WA
Appearance: 5 - a super nebulous black with a lovely, frothy, tan head.
Nose: 5 - there is a ton of chocolate on the nose. The barrel is complementary.
Taste: 5 - extremely chocolatey, wow! Dark chocolate up front, sweetens into milk chocolate on the back end. Bourbon undertones throughout.
Mouth: 5 - almost like a milk stout. Thick and smooth.
Overall: 5 - my first beer from these guys, and so glad I got a second chance at it. My first chance shattered on the way home from Portland.
Stay safe out there, my friends.
Cheers!
Reviewed by Radcpa from Washington
4.27/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.27/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Very dark appearance with slight tan head that dissipates quickly. Aroma is a nice malt coco and coffee with a touch of bourbon. Taste is also a nice blend of malt coco and coffee with a slight bourbon.
Apr 03, 2019Reviewed by patre_tim from Thailand
3.93/5 rDev -8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev -8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4
Pitch black, like really even when held to the light. Some visible white star like carbonation, and a finger of beige head.
Smells of creamy coffee, pencil shavings, liquorice, and umami soy sauce.
Tastes of dark toasted malts, umami soy sauce, and dark chocolate. A little sweetness with almost no bitterness.
Smooth and velvety body, with a perfectly balancing carbonation. Pillowy even.
I got this in Medford, OR, drinking in Redding, CA, Jan 27th, 2019. Great mouth feel, very smooth brew.
Jan 28, 2019Smells of creamy coffee, pencil shavings, liquorice, and umami soy sauce.
Tastes of dark toasted malts, umami soy sauce, and dark chocolate. A little sweetness with almost no bitterness.
Smooth and velvety body, with a perfectly balancing carbonation. Pillowy even.
I got this in Medford, OR, drinking in Redding, CA, Jan 27th, 2019. Great mouth feel, very smooth brew.
Reviewed by siskiyoucellar from Oregon
4.44/5 rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.44/5 rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I’m just getting to know Block 15 and I’ve been very impressed, particularly with this excellent stout. Deepest, darkest brown but not black, it builds a lovely two finger head, pretty good for this ABV. The aroma makes big promises: lots of chocolate, a little espresso, salt caramel, vanilla, bourbon and a touch of char. Then the taste steps in and says “That’s nothin’; try this!”. Yep. The chocolate, caramel and vanilla bloom beautifully and the bourbon really comes into its own, strong but perfectly in balance with all the other flavors floating around. The feel is exactly, precisely what a BA Imperial Stout should feel Iike. A real knockout beer - right at the top of the game. I’ll be cellaring a few of these for sure!
Sep 23, 2018
Super Nebula from Block 15 Restaurant & Brewery
Beer rating:
95 out of
100 with
240 ratings
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