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Bomb!
Prairie Artisan Ales
- From:
- Prairie Artisan Ales
- Oklahoma, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
Ranked #78 - ABV:
- 13%
- Score:
- 99
Ranked #198 - Avg:
- 4.49 | pDev: 8.24%
- Reviews:
- 1,120
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 04, 2024
- Added:
- May 29, 2013
- Wants:
- 1,054
- Gots:
- 2,767
Imperial stout aged on coffee, cacao nibs, vanilla beans, and ancho chili peppers.
ABV varies by batch.
Originally brewed using Nordaggios coffee; now brewed with Spaceship Earth coffee.
ABV varies by batch.
Originally brewed using Nordaggios coffee; now brewed with Spaceship Earth coffee.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by TheBrewo:
Reviewed by TheBrewo from New York
4.3/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.3/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
We crack a bottle, pouring into our St. Bernardus goblets. The pour puts forth a murky beer of the deepest root beer browns. It holds a half finger tall head of cakey but thickly oiled bubbles the color of creamed espresso. Retention is brief, again, settling into this oily film. Lacing is ridged and sheeted. No haze or sediment is appreciated, and carbonation appears to be moderate, although the bubbles rise slowly in the muck. The aroma is explosive of raw coffee beans, dense and powdered cacao, richly singed and roasty chocolate and black maltiness, tobacco smokiness, bright acidity, harsh coiny metallics, cooling vanilla bean, white sugar sweetness, brandy-soaked figs, gentle floral hoppiness, cooked cereal grainy grit, perfumed potpourri, hollow hot chili seediness, hearty bready yeastiness, celery vegetals, and waxy lipstick smear. The flavoring is crazily bittering and acidic; it is very unlike the picture conjured up by the aroma. The things that take center stage are the coffee and unsweetened raw cacao. These alone put the pucker level through the roof. Otherwise you meet notes of hot coffee acid, chemical extract of vanilla, hot and salty booziness that speaks somehow of bourbon, gentle green chili pepper heat, biscuity butters, sourdough bread yeastiness, muddy mineral, raw plum skin and juiciness, powdered cinnamon, grainy grit of rye, tannic barley, and charcoal-blackened chocolate malts, black licorice, and icy metallic coolness. The body is maximally full, and the carbonation is medium. Each sip offers pleasant slurp, smack, cream, and froth. The mouth is oiled, with a subtle chili burn finally leeching onto the palate. This makes for a fiery astringency once settled. The abv is up there, but not obtrusive enough to hinder drinkability. The enormity of the beer keeps it as a sipper regardless.
Overall, we’ve been hugely excited for this beer, and are wonderfully grateful to have found it when we did. We were honestly not sure if we would truly ever get a chance to try it, actually, as our timing as of late seems to have been perfect for always missing it. Alas, here we are, and what a massive beer it is!! We were actually taken aback here. From the description of the ingredients the base beer was aged over, and the sweeter aroma, we were so, so surprised at what a bitter flavoring was presented. If anything, this simply acts to slow the drinker down so that they can savor each sip. This bitterness is primarily in the form of acidic coffee bean roastiness, cacao, and yeasty metallics. All of the inclusions blend expertly together, but each of them are powerful enough to stand on their own, at the center of their own beer. Actually, the chili peppers are rather subdued. This was likely intentional, so as to produce the most widely marketable beer. Not just something chili-heads like us would seek out for the heat. This is a super-duper beer, and amongst the most serious and thoroughly top-quality we’ve ever come across.
Nov 04, 2014Overall, we’ve been hugely excited for this beer, and are wonderfully grateful to have found it when we did. We were honestly not sure if we would truly ever get a chance to try it, actually, as our timing as of late seems to have been perfect for always missing it. Alas, here we are, and what a massive beer it is!! We were actually taken aback here. From the description of the ingredients the base beer was aged over, and the sweeter aroma, we were so, so surprised at what a bitter flavoring was presented. If anything, this simply acts to slow the drinker down so that they can savor each sip. This bitterness is primarily in the form of acidic coffee bean roastiness, cacao, and yeasty metallics. All of the inclusions blend expertly together, but each of them are powerful enough to stand on their own, at the center of their own beer. Actually, the chili peppers are rather subdued. This was likely intentional, so as to produce the most widely marketable beer. Not just something chili-heads like us would seek out for the heat. This is a super-duper beer, and amongst the most serious and thoroughly top-quality we’ve ever come across.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by TheBigBoy from Pennsylvania
2.68/5 rDev -40.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.5
2.68/5 rDev -40.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.5
For me, one of the most objectional beers i've recently had....very dark, very boozy, some vanilla ands little heat to boot...just awful, this one found the drain quickly...sorry not a fan in the slightest.
Mar 04, 2024Reviewed by hmf05 from Colorado
4.38/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.38/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours jet black. Aroma is coffee, chocolate fudge, salted caramel, and some slight booze. There is a touch of earthiness from the peppers but it's subtle. Taste follows suit. Alcohol well hidden for the abv. Rich and delicious. This just doesn't look great in a glass and the touch of booze on the aroma is knocking this down a bit.
Nov 15, 2023Reviewed by LifesAnesthesia from Virginia
4.64/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.64/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
L - - deep brown, nearly pitch black with mahogany highlights and a tan head that dissipates quickly, leaving behind no real lacing to speak of
S - smoky chilis and roasted, bitter coffee, with rich dark chocolate, with roasted coffee notes
T - everything is intermixed well - rich roasted coffee, dark chocolate, and smoky ancho chilis along with vanilla and caramel
F - full bodied with light carbonation
O - a pretty fantastic stout that's probably overshadowed by abraxas and BA abraxas
Nov 05, 2023S - smoky chilis and roasted, bitter coffee, with rich dark chocolate, with roasted coffee notes
T - everything is intermixed well - rich roasted coffee, dark chocolate, and smoky ancho chilis along with vanilla and caramel
F - full bodied with light carbonation
O - a pretty fantastic stout that's probably overshadowed by abraxas and BA abraxas
Reviewed by SpaceCamp from Virginia
4.46/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.46/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
L: Pours a dark hickory, forms no head and a very thin espresso ring around the edge of the snifter. No noticeable lacing or retention, with a distinctive oily character. Has a crunchy, dark chocolate hue when held to the light.
S: Cacao nibs, bourbon barrel, oak, vanilla, and coffee. Hints of chili heat.
T: Strong coffee roast, cacao nibs, vanilla, and roasted malts. Slightly astringent. Faint chili burn in finish.
F: Medium- to full-bodied. Thick, creamy mouthfeel. Moderate carbonation.
O: The sun rises in the east, Prairie delivers another outstanding stout.
Aug 08, 2023S: Cacao nibs, bourbon barrel, oak, vanilla, and coffee. Hints of chili heat.
T: Strong coffee roast, cacao nibs, vanilla, and roasted malts. Slightly astringent. Faint chili burn in finish.
F: Medium- to full-bodied. Thick, creamy mouthfeel. Moderate carbonation.
O: The sun rises in the east, Prairie delivers another outstanding stout.
Reviewed by SaCkErZ9 from South Carolina
4.47/5 rDev -0.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.47/5 rDev -0.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Got a bottle of this from Charleston Beer Exchange years ago. Finally getting a chance to try it and I am stocked. I have had this fresh on draft but that was probably 6 years ago and I was unable to get a review done.
Pours pitch black with a small, wispy toffee colored head. Sporadic lacing. Aroma is coffee and chocolate and figs and alcohol. Mouthfeel is a little thin for my liking. Slightly watered down but wonderful flavor overall. I enjoyed the draft version more and this bottle was a bit of a letdown. Solid beer but plenty better.
Jul 20, 2023Pours pitch black with a small, wispy toffee colored head. Sporadic lacing. Aroma is coffee and chocolate and figs and alcohol. Mouthfeel is a little thin for my liking. Slightly watered down but wonderful flavor overall. I enjoyed the draft version more and this bottle was a bit of a letdown. Solid beer but plenty better.
Reviewed by journey-of-beer
4.75/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
4.75/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Look: exceptionally dark brown, almost black. Very thin mocha colored head, minor lacing.
Smell: very well-mixed chocolate and vanilla fight for dominance. Moderately strong coffee and malt.
Taste: follows the nose. The chocolate, vanilla, coffee, and malt sweetness are all present. Nothing is overpowering. No real taste of chile peppers until the back end (see feel).
Feel: rich, silky, velvety, and smooth. Low carbonation as expected given the style and the 13% abv. Warmth from the alcohol during and after swallow. Tingling spice on the tongue (from the chile peppers) long after the swallow.
Overall: one of the best - and possibly THE best - adjunct imperial stout I have ever had the fortune of trying. Exquisitely well-balanced flavors.
Jul 06, 2023Smell: very well-mixed chocolate and vanilla fight for dominance. Moderately strong coffee and malt.
Taste: follows the nose. The chocolate, vanilla, coffee, and malt sweetness are all present. Nothing is overpowering. No real taste of chile peppers until the back end (see feel).
Feel: rich, silky, velvety, and smooth. Low carbonation as expected given the style and the 13% abv. Warmth from the alcohol during and after swallow. Tingling spice on the tongue (from the chile peppers) long after the swallow.
Overall: one of the best - and possibly THE best - adjunct imperial stout I have ever had the fortune of trying. Exquisitely well-balanced flavors.
Reviewed by Seanjohnhunt from California
4.54/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.54/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
This one is rich, dark and creamy. I taste all the flavors except the heat from the chiles. Maybe since it's a year old the chiles have subsided. Still a fantastic brew.
Jun 24, 2023Reviewed by dd53grif from Michigan
4.44/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.44/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a dark brown color with virtually no head. Aroma of sweet coffee and roasted malts. Taste is coffee, vanilla and chocolate with a nice warm alcohol finish. Excellent brew.
Jun 21, 2023
Bomb! from Prairie Artisan Ales
Beer rating:
99 out of
100 with
6639 ratings
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