BOYD (Bring Out Your Dead)
Bellwoods Brewery

BOYD (Bring Out Your Dead)BOYD (Bring Out Your Dead)
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From:
Bellwoods Brewery
 
Ontario, Canada
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #87
ABV:
11.7%
Score:
95
Ranked #1,438
Avg:
4.31 | pDev: 8.82%
Reviews:
40
Ratings:
144
Status:
Active
Rated:
Sep 13, 2023
Added:
Apr 06, 2013
Wants:
  56
Gots:
  23
Returning for the first time since 2020, and the seventh time ever, BOYD is our Imperial Stout aged extensively in cognac barrels. It's feisty and warming, with low bitterness, appropriately mild carbonation, notes of anise, brown sugar, figs, and subtle maraschino cherry.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4.19 by Jonathan-Morgan from Florida

Sep 13, 2023
 
Rated: 4.06 by oberon from North Carolina

Jul 26, 2023
Photo of BGDrock
Reviewed by BGDrock from Canada (ON)

3.22/5  rDev -25.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Bottled March 2022, imbibed April 2023
Body is just about as dark as a raven feather, the pour forming no head at all, even with a swirl it's dead flat.
Aromas of red wine, young whisky, molasses, fruity dark chocolate, black forest cake, vanilla, raisin - lot's going on, interesting.
First taste is syrupy sweet and rich, like drinking maple syrup that's been mixed with melted chocolate, very intense; now bringing to mind a hot fudge sundae, it has some creaminess to it; lot's of molasses; dried dark fruit, vanilla; there's no carbonation at all, maybe it wasn't stored correctly; body is thick, slightly acidic in the finish

That's intense, but not in a great way - lacks balance, carbonation, and too sugary.
Apr 29, 2023
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Reviewed by BruChef from New York

3.56/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
2017 vintage poured into a tulip. Viscous, oily dark brown. Bittersweet chocolate, Licorice, Boozy, alcoholic aroma.
Prune juice, licorice, bakers chocolate, dry red wine. Vinous.
Something unusual/off about this. Not necessarily bad, but slightly off. As it warms it becomes more vinous. Slight Brett character reminiscent of natural wine creeping in as it warms.
Dark tan residue Coats the glass. Nice, slick, oily mouthfeel.
Past it’s prime I presume. Definitely something off about this beer but not undrinkable.
Feb 16, 2021
 
Rated: 4.25 by SteveWeiler from Canada (ON)

Nov 22, 2020
 
Rated: 4.65 by Long813 from Canada (ON)

Nov 10, 2020
Photo of CraigDeMoss
Reviewed by CraigDeMoss from Kansas

4.13/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Wow, this one is crazy, 2018 batch, poured into brandy snifter.

Looks like you’re typical imperial stout, dark, not as viscous an some BAs, some levity to it, a slight fizzy head, it loses it pretty quick

Smells like a BA, with a hint of tinny plum. Not remarkable by any means

But the taste is where this one comes through, initial hit was off putting simply because this baby needs to warm up, after about 30 mins sipping on this it just got better and better. By the end it turned into something I’ve never tasted in a stout, smooth and sophisticated. Very nice

Felt pretty good, it’s smooth and it can creep up on you if you’re not careful, but considering it’s flavor delivery it lets you catch up.

A nice sipper to lounge in your smoking jacket in the study while you ponder this macabre reality with skull on hand like some kind of Poe creature. Or just a damn good beer. May have higher marks if I had the depth of palette to understand some of the complexity here. But I think I got it. And I’ll get it again, someday
Apr 01, 2020
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Reviewed by stortore from Illinois

4.24/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
500 ml bottle into a snifter. 2018 edition, had 6/21/19.

Pours an opaque dark brown, with a half inch foamy head and spotty cling. Aromas of roasted malt, chocolate, oak, some cognac- more as it warms, figs, coffee, cocoa, some vanilla and raisins, light caramel, light licorice and tobacco, some cherries when warm. There was a hint of sour smell at first, but it dissipated. The flavor runs the same way- malt, chocolate, coffee, cocoa, oak, some cognac- more as it warms, some vanilla and caramel, molasses, light figs and prunes, cherries when warm. Smooth, a very good full body, well carbonated.

The cognac barrels really add to the solid base beer, with lots of distinct aromas and flavors. Well executed. This is definitely best fully warmed. Very enjoyable and worth a purchase.
Mar 21, 2020
 
Rated: 3.75 by JLK7299 from North Carolina

Jan 26, 2020
 
Rated: 4.25 by paulish from New York

Dec 28, 2019
Photo of superspak
Reviewed by superspak from North Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Got in a BIF from Coronaeus. 500 ml bottle into snifter, 2018 vintage. Pours dense pitch black color with a 2 finger dense and rocky dark tan head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Dense soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of big dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, molasses, caramel, licorice, raisin, prune, cherry, fig, date, apricot, cognac, toasted oak, red grape/wine, roasted nuts, toasted biscuit, and dark bread/crust; with lighter notes of oaken vanilla, smoke, charcoal, leather, tobacco, herbal, grass, pepper, and yeast/roast/toast/oaky earthiness. Minimal booze in the aromas as it warms. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of dark/black/roast/bready malts, cognac barrels, and light-moderate fruity yeast/earthy hop notes; with big strength. Taste of huge dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, molasses, caramel, licorice, raisin, prune, cherry, fig, date, apricot, cognac, toasted oak, red grape/wine, roasted nuts, toasted biscuit, and dark bread/crust; with lighter notes of oaken vanilla, smoke, charcoal, leather, tobacco, herbal, grass, pepper, and yeast/roast/toast/oaky earthiness. Light herbal, grassy, woody, peppery, roast, charred bitterness; and cognac tang/tartness on the finish. Lingering notes of dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, molasses, caramel, licorice, raisin, prune, cherry, fig, date, apricot, cognac, toasted oak, red grape/wine, roasted nuts, toasted biscuit, dark bread/crust, vanilla, smoke, charcoal, leather, tobacco, herbal, grass, pepper, and yeast/roast/toast/oaky earthiness on the finish for a while. Amazing complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/black/roast/bready malts, cognac barrels, and light-moderate fruity yeast/earthy hop flavors; with an awesome roast/hop bitter/sweet, and tart/tangy cognac balance; with no cloying, acrid, astringent flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from lingering hop/char bitterness and tart/tangy cognac barrel notes after the finish. Medium carbonation and fairly full body; with a very smooth, creamy/silky/velvety/bready, fairly sticky/chalky/acidic/tangy/tannic, and lightly slick mouthfeel that is great. Lightly increasing warmth of 11.4%, with minimal lingering barrel booze after the finish. Overall this is an amazing cognac barrel aged Russian imperial stout. All around incredible complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/black/roast/bready malts, cognac barrels, and light-moderate fruity yeast/earthy hop flavors; very smooth and dangerously easy to sip on for the huge ABV, with the mellowly bitter/charred/acidic/tangy/tannic/drying finish. Great soft feel. Amazing balance between super rich malts and cognac barrel presence/integration; with nice earthy hop presence, and restrained fruity yeast complexity. Light residual sweetness with lingering dryness. A highly enjoyable offering, and amazingly spot on style example as expected.
Jun 01, 2019
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Reviewed by Beersnake from California

4.29/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
2017 vintage poured from fridge temp. This one pours jet black with a nice light brown head. Nose is chocolate, cognac, licorice, and wood. Taste is really interesting. A lot of black licorice, but also some clove notes, cognac, cherries, wood, lactose, toffee, dark chocolate, and some sweet candy. This really tastes interesting, and I really like how the cognac barrel has added a new dimension. Not something that I often taste. The back end and aftertaste is a bit bitter, but that's fine with me. I kind of get a coffee ground taste in my mouth. Mouthfeel is thick and viscous. Overall, I love it.
Apr 06, 2019
 
Rated: 4.06 by 22Blue from Kansas

Apr 02, 2019
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Reviewed by Holderness from Massachusetts

4.07/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
2018 vintage

L -- Easily one of the darkest beers I've ever seen: not only does 1,000 lumens not pass through the glass, but it barely passes through the edge of the glass it is being shined on. Finger of deep brown head produced with moderately aerated pour. Decent retention and good lacing
S -- Cognac comes through big time. Also espresso, bittersweet chocolate, herbal hop, hint of roast, booze. Booze is a bit harsh
T -- Largely follows the nose. The heavy cognac character carries over from the aromas and imparts this lightly tart cherry/grapeskin-like character that melds pretty well with the intense bitter chocolate character from the malts. You can definitely tell the base beer is a bruiser RIS
F -- Thick and silky. Minimal carb. The cognac lingers on the finish
O -- Reminds me a bit of the barrel aged Pannepot variants given the light fruity tartness the cognac imparts. A good brew although not worth the $23 spent on a 16.9 oz bottle

82/100
Mar 13, 2019
Photo of Mysticmage
Reviewed by Mysticmage from Canada (ON)

4.49/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A special beer for special occasions - why not Christmas!
Pours dark of night - think, viscious oil will make your heart quiver. Thick like caramel coffee this one offers zero collar due to intense density here but swirled in a tulip for some froth. Would have preferred a bit of collar here but can make an exception for this chewy brew. Nose is quite complex. Rich coffee, chocolate gravelly goodness. Gunpowder earth will repel many drinkers but stick with this one. Tried at various temperatures and incredible how the beer evolves - warmer likely better here. Cognac soaked barrels only add to the fun here offer sweet atumnal overtones to take you on a dizzing ride. Tastes of strong brewed coffee, wood chips, with excellent syrupy, sugary finish to provide a chewy, complex mouthful. Now, at 11.4% unless you are enjoying with friends this one will cripple you and is far to dense to enjoy it all at once. So here is what I did....I treated it like a wine. Enjoyed two small glasses with a friend (who hated it btw) and then capped it and withdrew the oxygen. Tried again the next day - good as new! So, you can enjoy this one over several days with the right equipment and at $16 a bottle...why not! A wonderful brew by what appears to be a great brewery however really for the experienced. The inexperienced will detest every sip I sense and give up. This beer require patience, calmness, a fire and feet up. This is one to be savoured and when I did I was not ready to die by any means but love another day for more. Well done Bellwoods!
Dec 25, 2018
 
Rated: 3.96 by Duncian from Pennsylvania

Dec 12, 2018
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Reviewed by Treyliff from West Virginia

4.46/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2017 Vintage
550ml bottle poured into a tulip

A- pours jet black in color with a one-finger creamy dark brown head that has good retention and leaves some lacing behind

S- plenty of cognac barrel on the nose, notes of dark fruits, leather, nutty, some floral notes & oak. Undertones of charred malt, chocolate & light earthy coffee

T- classic RIS flavors up front, intense dark charred malt, figs & chocolate. Barrel character comes out mid-palate with some vinous notes, as well as figs, pepper & tobacco. The finish continues with the barrel and lingers of dark charred malt

M- medium body with moderate carbonation leads to a creamy mouthfeel that continues into a silky smooth, slightly warming finish

O- an outstanding base beer with plenty of cognac qualities from the extensive barrel aging, outstanding
Jul 16, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by Hayley_86 from Netherlands

Jun 10, 2018
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Reviewed by Ciocanelu from Romania

4.25/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Sample at Mikkeller Beer Celebration Copenhagen 2018, Yellow Session.Dark brown color. Aroma has dark malts and a bit of sugar. Taste is malty, balanced with roasty bitterness on the finish. Decent but lacks some complexity.
May 21, 2018
 
Rated: 3.39 by vfgccp from New York

May 05, 2018
BOYD (Bring Out Your Dead) from Bellwoods Brewery
Beer rating: 95 out of 100 with 144 ratings