The Dark Side Belgian Style Imperial Stout
Terrapin Beer Company

The Dark Side Belgian Style Imperial StoutThe Dark Side Belgian Style Imperial Stout
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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:
183
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 Mavajo:
Photo of Mavajo
Reviewed by Mavajo from Georgia

3.67/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Brewer categorizes this as a Belgian Style Imperial Stout.

Pours a dark brown color - near black, but still noticeably brown. Off-white (almost grayish) thin head that fades fairly quickly and leaves minimal lacing. What head you do briefly get has an interesting spotty, frothy, bubbly look - but it's gone before you blink.

Aroma is mostly cocoa with that subtle Belgian yeast undertone and slight coffee notes. Taste brings much of the same. I think another reviewer summed it up very well - this brew straddles the line between subtle and bland. I found the mouthfeel to be a bit too thin, but maybe that's the style? Despite the thin mouthfeel, this brew manages to be pretty heavy in your gut. Drinkability is pretty typical for a stout.

I really wanted to like this brew - I love stouts, I love Belgians and I love Terrapin. Seemed like a match made in heaven. I'm glad I tried it since it is quite unique, but to be honest, I felt like it came up short.
Jan 01, 2010
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by Jodio from Texas

Feb 11, 2017
 
Rated: 4.5 by RBorsato from Virginia

May 30, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Kegatron from Pennsylvania

Apr 22, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by BillRoth from Maryland

Dec 15, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by xnicknj from Pennsylvania

Oct 29, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by ari32 from Georgia

Oct 03, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by illidurit from California

Jun 25, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by InspectorBob from New Jersey

May 23, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by JamesWn from Florida

Feb 28, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by t0rin0 from California

Feb 28, 2013
Photo of bigfnjoe
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
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, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by AlexFields from Tennessee

Jan 07, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by AgentZero from Illinois

Dec 06, 2012
Photo of oline73
Reviewed by oline73 from Maryland

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, 2012
Photo of axeman9182
Reviewed by axeman9182 from New Jersey

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, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by mendvicdog from Maryland

Nov 06, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by duceswild from Heard & McDonald Islands

Nov 04, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by acurtis from New Jersey

Sep 23, 2012
 
Rated: 4.5 by jda007 from Florida

Jul 20, 2012
The Dark Side Belgian Style Imperial Stout from Terrapin Beer Company
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 183 ratings