Martha's Vineyard Extra Stout
Martha's Vineyard Ales

Pours virtually black with a thick, creamy head. The head slowly fades, leaving a sheeting of dark tan lace. A ring of thick foam clings around the edges of the glass. The sweet, roasted malt aroma is noticeable from a foot away, with notes of vanilla, chocolate, and piney hops. Perhaps even a touch of alcohol esters in the nose. The taste is exquisite, with choclolates, coffee, roasted nuts, and dark fruits all intertwined like some decadent truffle that you can't afford to buy. A decent shot of bitterness cleans the palate on the finish, leaving just a lingering mocha java aftertaste. An ever so subtle note of tobacco creeps in mid-glass. The mouthfeel is magnificent, with just a hint of fine carbonation supporting the rich, supple liquid. The drinkability is also tremendous, as this one goes down quite easily and is also quite desirable. Thanks to Big Deb for this via BIF. Truly a rare treat.

Pours out very dark with a nice head. Tastes heavy of coffee and chocolate which means I don't like it that much because I do not like coffee or chocolate at all. A nice burnt flavor and some tasty hops keeps this in my glass because other than the coffee flavors this is a damn fine brew. The perfect mouthfeel for a stout this could be quite drinkable for the average ba. Certainly worth a try if you can get it.

This beer pours nearly jet-black with a light brown 2-½ finger head. Looks awesome! The well pronounced aroma of tangy roasted malt and light coffee notes to get your mouth watering. Smells great! Holy mother of Pearl! The taste is an incredible blend of more of the roasted malt, coffee, and perfectly blended hops. Awesome transition of flavors! This is a medium bodied brew that drinks down way too easy for a stout, but that is the only flaw I truly can find. This is one incredible brew and I understand that it is no longer being made. I owe BIGDEB a huge amount of gratitude for relinquishing the last of an endangered species! Thank you BIGDEB, you are the epitome of a true BA! Cheers!

The striking thing about this beer is the roasted malt. There is enough for 2 beers in this one. Pours out to a dark-as-night color in the glass with little head. Taste is said roasted malt with a light hop presence. A delicious beer. Thanks to BIGDEB for sending this one my way.

Hells Bells, this is one *serious* beer, I should get AirMiles for drinking this. Pours with a head that is so big it can only be described as being, well– conceited. A ‘hot tar’ jet black thick bituminous beer slowly pours into the glass, a viscous masterpiece. Is it clear? – Who knows? for not even the Hubble Telescope can penetrate into the deep blackness of this beer. The head is swelling faster than a rising Hollywood Star, and it’s nearly as out of control. A deep brown crusty puffy head slowly rescinds whilst fighting gravity. It has been recently proved that Gravity travels at the speed of light, I better drink this up quick then.
This is so burnt that I had the Long Beach Fire Dept. on standby whilst drinking this beer, I could always jump off my Balcony into the Pacific Ocean though if things got too hot.
Aromas are of deeply roasted malts & burnt skid marks (the rubber tire variety). Initial tastes are of deeply roasted malts also, mixed with dark rich Columbian coffee, dark exotic chocolates & some grainy charcoal tastes. Wow. I love this beer. Flavors are powerful, but not overpowering, dominant but neither 'over-the-top'. The finish has fantastic roast bitterness with a lingering smoldering burntness that just teases the hell out me. Hop-bitterness is prevalent, but is restrained against the roast background. A truly fantastic highly accomplished beer.

There is one piece of Graffiti that frequents 50% of the Men’s Rooms in English Pubs, the Gents Pisser or “Bogs” as we more affectionately refer to these receptacles of all that is not needed in England. I will repeat it for US and female BA’s who are not in the know, it simply says “You don’t buy beer, you merely rent it”. By the way, Is this the same in Women’s Restrooms? I am intrigued and always wondered – Female BA’s please Beer Mail me and let me know.
Either way, I so desperately wanted to extend my lease on this beer, but alas, I cannot seem to re-negotiate the 6 hour lease, and come the early hours of tomorrow morning – sadly, I feel it will be evicted. Damn.
Awesome, only 2 prior Reviews – and this place is now listed as Closed. What?? Tell me it’s not true!. Shit!!! - I need counselling, and I need it now!!!!
I’m in love, and like most of the women I always fall in love with, I may never see this again. I am ecstatic & depressed all at once.
A Mighty Bloody Big Thanks to BigDeb for this Monster Beer.
(Hey Deb, Thank f**k it wasn’t this one that broke in transit – there is a Beer God!!!)