-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
The Dark Side Belgian Style Imperial Stout
Terrapin Beer Company
- From:
- Terrapin Beer Company
- Georgia, United States
- Style:
- Belgian Dark Strong Ale
- ABV:
- 8.5%
- Score:
- 87
- Avg:
- 3.89 | pDev: 9.51%
- Reviews:
- 139
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Feb 11, 2017
- Added:
- Dec 14, 2009
- Wants:
- 17
- Gots:
- 7
Side project #9
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by DrinkinBoy:
Reviewed by DrinkinBoy from Georgia
3.26/5 rDev -16.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
3.26/5 rDev -16.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Terrapin Dark Side pour an opaque extremely dark brown. Head appears a latte color. The head only remained around the rim, a minute after pouring.
Smell is faint, I could pick up on lingering notes of roasted coffee and cocoa.
Its taste is much more forward than the smell. Begins with a chocolately sweetness. On the mid palate it goes into the roasted taste of coffee. It finishes similar to a carbonated yoohoo in flavor. The aftertaste leaves bitter roasted notes.
The mouthfeel is thick and the carbonation is balanced.
Overall, I enjoyed the complexity of this beer. As far as I can remember its my first in the style. The name on the label is different from what it is categorized on this site. This makes a huge difference, because I would give it as a dark ale an overall higher rating than as a stout. But as with all of Terrapin's Side Projects it is definitely worth trying while it last.
Feb 19, 2010Smell is faint, I could pick up on lingering notes of roasted coffee and cocoa.
Its taste is much more forward than the smell. Begins with a chocolately sweetness. On the mid palate it goes into the roasted taste of coffee. It finishes similar to a carbonated yoohoo in flavor. The aftertaste leaves bitter roasted notes.
The mouthfeel is thick and the carbonation is balanced.
Overall, I enjoyed the complexity of this beer. As far as I can remember its my first in the style. The name on the label is different from what it is categorized on this site. This makes a huge difference, because I would give it as a dark ale an overall higher rating than as a stout. But as with all of Terrapin's Side Projects it is definitely worth trying while it last.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by bigfnjoe from Pennsylvania
3.14/5 rDev -19.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.14/5 rDev -19.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Poured from a bomber into a Victory tulip
A- pours black with a one finger brown head that quickly fades away to nothingness. Well, that was underwhelming.
S- lights hints of cocoa and soy sauce in the aroma. Not a huge fan
T- very light cocoa, slight Belgian sweetness as well. Meh
M- medium bodied on the thicker side of the spectrum
O- not...great, and I can't imagine that drinking it fresh would have made much of a difference
Feb 12, 2013A- pours black with a one finger brown head that quickly fades away to nothingness. Well, that was underwhelming.
S- lights hints of cocoa and soy sauce in the aroma. Not a huge fan
T- very light cocoa, slight Belgian sweetness as well. Meh
M- medium bodied on the thicker side of the spectrum
O- not...great, and I can't imagine that drinking it fresh would have made much of a difference
Reviewed by oline73 from Maryland
3.85/5 rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.85/5 rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I had this at the November Baltimore BA tasting. Served from the bottle into a tasting snifter.
Appearance: The beer pours almost black in color with hardly any head at all.
Smell: Just a bit sweet with a note that reminds me of tomatoes. I'm getting some malt that adds dark fruit and some roast. Just a bit warm from the alcohol.
Taste: Sweet and malty up front. I'm getting some molasses and dark fruit. The sweetness is balanced out nicely by the roasted malt. The age has smoothed this beer out nicely. The finish is sweet and malty.
Mouthfeel: The body is just on the syrupy side of medium with lots of smooth, tingly carbonation. The finish has just a touch of dryness to it.
Overall: This is a very smooth beer at this point. I really enjoyed the molasses note and thought this beer was quite easy to drink.
Nov 17, 2012Appearance: The beer pours almost black in color with hardly any head at all.
Smell: Just a bit sweet with a note that reminds me of tomatoes. I'm getting some malt that adds dark fruit and some roast. Just a bit warm from the alcohol.
Taste: Sweet and malty up front. I'm getting some molasses and dark fruit. The sweetness is balanced out nicely by the roasted malt. The age has smoothed this beer out nicely. The finish is sweet and malty.
Mouthfeel: The body is just on the syrupy side of medium with lots of smooth, tingly carbonation. The finish has just a touch of dryness to it.
Overall: This is a very smooth beer at this point. I really enjoyed the molasses note and thought this beer was quite easy to drink.
Reviewed by axeman9182 from New Jersey
3.82/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.82/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22 oz bottle, chilled down from cellar temperature and poured into my Brooklyn Brewery tulip.
Terrapin's The Dark Side Belgian Imperial Stout pours jet black, with just barely two fingers of mocha colored foam crowning the beer.Head retention is alright, but there's just a light ring of lacing left at the top of the glass. The nose has lots of bitter dark chocolate, as well as a supporting aroma of raisins. The flavor starts out much the same, with a strong dry cocoa presence. From there a bit of oxidation comes into play, bothmoe pleasant, sherry notes, as well as some more cardboard-like impressions.The subtle dark fruit notes make their way in for the close. It's not just raisin this time though, as figs are also appreciable. The mouthfeel, while still on the full end of the spectrum isn't quite as viscous as many other imperial stouts. This perception may at least in part be due to the higher than normal carbonation, which nonetheless has a creamy feel to it that's a welcome departure for the norm. I have to say, I didn't expect The Dark Side to have held up this well for three years. Judging by the oxidation, I'd say this beer's probably already peaked, though it's still drinking very nicely right now.
Nov 12, 2012Terrapin's The Dark Side Belgian Imperial Stout pours jet black, with just barely two fingers of mocha colored foam crowning the beer.Head retention is alright, but there's just a light ring of lacing left at the top of the glass. The nose has lots of bitter dark chocolate, as well as a supporting aroma of raisins. The flavor starts out much the same, with a strong dry cocoa presence. From there a bit of oxidation comes into play, bothmoe pleasant, sherry notes, as well as some more cardboard-like impressions.The subtle dark fruit notes make their way in for the close. It's not just raisin this time though, as figs are also appreciable. The mouthfeel, while still on the full end of the spectrum isn't quite as viscous as many other imperial stouts. This perception may at least in part be due to the higher than normal carbonation, which nonetheless has a creamy feel to it that's a welcome departure for the norm. I have to say, I didn't expect The Dark Side to have held up this well for three years. Judging by the oxidation, I'd say this beer's probably already peaked, though it's still drinking very nicely right now.
The Dark Side Belgian Style Imperial Stout from Terrapin Beer Company
Beer rating:
87 out of
100 with
183 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!