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Bo & Luke (Habanero & Serrano)
Against The Grain Brewery & Smokehouse
- From:
- Against The Grain Brewery & Smokehouse
- Kentucky, United States
- Style:
- Russian Imperial Stout
- ABV:
- 14%
- Score:
- 91
- Avg:
- 4.11 | pDev: 11.19%
- Reviews:
- 5
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Nov 22, 2015
- Added:
- Sep 23, 2013
- Wants:
- 26
- Gots:
- 4
No description / notes.
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Ratings by anhigdon:
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by BEERchitect from Kentucky
4.08/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.08/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The "kick in the balls" variation of the infamous imperial smoked stout does so with inspirations from chipotle- with serrano and habanero taking center stage.
Darker and richer than ever, the addition of peppers hardly makes a mark on the original Bo & Luke- it's jet-black pour was dark and ominous as expected. As its fine bubbles calder from below, they rise to form a frothy mocha head, full of tightly woven bubbles- compromised only slightly by the peppers oils, lacing lightly an intermittently.
The aromas of the smoky beer wrap around the slight vegetative pepper scent and temper its campfire and meaty character slightly; yet allowing the bold roast coffee and charred fruit character of currants, grapes and berries to blend with delicate tobacco, peat and mesquite. Supporting burnt toffee is dry and doesn't compete with the beer's spicy tone.
Its burnt sweetness is roasted while black-strap molasses, espresso, and bitter chocolate quickly turn to the sharp spiciness of peppers to complement its smoked meat, charcoal, and grilled fruit. Charred berries, currants, plumbs, figs, and grapes weave into peppery spice and vinous flavors and are then further complemented with fine oak and bitterness that extends with bourbon-like alcohol sweetness, vanilla, coconut and tobacco.
Incredibly, the beer rests upon its robust malt body that facilitates early spicey-sweetness with creamy and bready texture. But as the beer extends develops across the middle palate it intensifies its spice and alcohol to finish with light ash, plaster and wood spice.
The smoke of the base beer begs for this kind of pepper flavor and feel. But a more well-rounded taste from the pulp and flesh of the pepper would sell its taste even better; reinforcing the flavor of the vegetable, and not just its spice.
Mar 31, 2014Darker and richer than ever, the addition of peppers hardly makes a mark on the original Bo & Luke- it's jet-black pour was dark and ominous as expected. As its fine bubbles calder from below, they rise to form a frothy mocha head, full of tightly woven bubbles- compromised only slightly by the peppers oils, lacing lightly an intermittently.
The aromas of the smoky beer wrap around the slight vegetative pepper scent and temper its campfire and meaty character slightly; yet allowing the bold roast coffee and charred fruit character of currants, grapes and berries to blend with delicate tobacco, peat and mesquite. Supporting burnt toffee is dry and doesn't compete with the beer's spicy tone.
Its burnt sweetness is roasted while black-strap molasses, espresso, and bitter chocolate quickly turn to the sharp spiciness of peppers to complement its smoked meat, charcoal, and grilled fruit. Charred berries, currants, plumbs, figs, and grapes weave into peppery spice and vinous flavors and are then further complemented with fine oak and bitterness that extends with bourbon-like alcohol sweetness, vanilla, coconut and tobacco.
Incredibly, the beer rests upon its robust malt body that facilitates early spicey-sweetness with creamy and bready texture. But as the beer extends develops across the middle palate it intensifies its spice and alcohol to finish with light ash, plaster and wood spice.
The smoke of the base beer begs for this kind of pepper flavor and feel. But a more well-rounded taste from the pulp and flesh of the pepper would sell its taste even better; reinforcing the flavor of the vegetable, and not just its spice.
Bo & Luke (Habanero & Serrano) from Against The Grain Brewery & Smokehouse
Beer rating:
91 out of
100 with
31 ratings
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