Brasserie Noir
Goose Island Beer Co.

Bottled 11/15/17

This was another impulse buy of an old bottle from MBC while I was buying a few other things. I had an old Brassiere Blanc a few months back that was quite good, but this one sounds even better. In fact it’s probably held up better as well. Let’s pop it open and see what it’s all about

Pours a very dark brown with a finger of creamy reddish tan head that fades to a thin cap and leaves minimal lacing

The nose is pretty sharp, but in a way that really compliments the underlying Stout. I’m picking up on aromas of tannic red wine, black cherry, dark chocolate, black pepper, medium roast coffee, burnt caramel, vanilla, sharp oak, and light blackberry

It doesn’t handle the sharpness quite as well in taste, but it still has a pretty good balance all things considered. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting tannic red wine, sharp oak, cacao nib, blackberry, black licorice, dark toast, tobacco, and light vanilla. The swallow brings notes of cacao nib, sharp oak, tannic red wine, black cherry, fig, smoky tobacco, black licorice, dark toast, and molasses

A medium body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a sharp beer. Finishes slightly sticky but the acidity helps it along

It’s definitely a bit past its prime at nearly 6 years old, but this is still a very good beer

765 ml bottle into a snifter. Bottled 11/15/17, had 8/20/21.

Pours near black and opaque, with a brief, short head and light foamy lacing. Aromas of roasted malt, wine, char, vanilla, toffee, oak, caramel, chocolate, figs, light tobacco. Flavors of roasted malt, wine, oak, vanilla, grapes, chocolate, some caramel, light tobacco and figs, a generally fruity flavor. Smooth, a solid full body, appropriately carbonated.

Excellent. The base stout is terrific (is it BCS?), and the Cabernet barrels are great- prominent but not dominant. A ton of distinct and expressive aromas and flavors. Truly enjoyed this one.

Pours onyx black with a soapy tan head that lingers as a collar around the glass. The nose has dark chocolate, vanilla, and red wine notes - LOADS of red wine notes. Wow.

The dark chocolate and vanilla verge on decadent and are delicious flavors to lead you to the red wine flavors, which lend an acidic quality to this big stout (11.8% ABV) that elevates the beer to world class+ IMHO.

The mouthfeel is full and substantial, commensurate with the style. This is 5+ years old and truly magnificent. I only wish I had purchased a case of it all those years ago.

 

On draught at Dive Bar, NYC.

Pours a black color with notes of mahogany and ruby. A wispy creamy tan head quickly dissipates. A ring of lacing retains throughout. Good looking brew.

The nose is strong and fragrant with notes of roasted malts and the fruity and oaky character of the wine barreling. Aromas of cocoa, vanilla, Cabernet grape, raisins, fig, caramel, biscuit and toast.

Opens very sweet, even too much so. Yet the complexity of flavors soon begin to mesh, as does a developing bitterness that makes its mark in the finish. Notes of dark biscuit, toast, bittersweet dark chocolate, caramel, vanilla and earthy resiny hops. The wine barrel flavors impress, as they bring forth notes of grape, raisin, date, fig, oak and wood. Sweet overall, there is nevertheless some significant roasty and hoppy bitterness.

Full bodied, definitely a sipper. The feel is fluffy and thick, with a sticky and drying finish. The carbonation is moderate to gentle.

I grew to appreciate this beer’s complexity and love how the flavors came together. A great beer for a cold night like this one.

 

 

 

 

Bottled Nov 15, 2017, another that I planned to share with rudzud

Pours a darker fizzy creamy smaller head with fair retention, nice messy lacing, jet black color with long legs oily stains on the glass

Nose brings tons of roast and dark malts, coffee and cocoa, a touch of char, dark chocolate with some baking spices and fudgey super heavy roasted stout characters, light fruity notes with a little red wine, some sweet vanilla, touch of oak

Taste some roasty dark malts, quite fruity with sweet red wine a bit port like, dark chocolate and cocoa, chalky cocoa, with some nougat and fudge, a touch nutty with a little roasted coffee notes, lots of dark chocolate as it goes, a little bitterness from the roast, some acidity as well, smooth sweet vanilla and light barrel notes, touch of baking spices, a touch of smooth alcohol, sweeter finish, a bit more alcohol, lingering red wine and port flavors, and dark chocolate with vanilla

Mouth is full bod, rich thick oily, light tingly alcohol, med to a bit lighter foamy carb

Overall not bad, a nice big heavy imperial stout that reminds me of Black Tuesday but not as heavy, or maybe even BCBS, red wine was decent although the barrel wasn't much, but still a nice fun sipper

 

 

The beer is a black color with a tan/orange head.
Nice aroma of chocolate, fruit, and red wine.
Even more taste. Chocolate, cherry, red wine, vanilla, and oak.
Medium-bodied, on the dry side.

10oz draft pour into a snifter shows an all enveloping deep, dark, vacuous black body briefly supporting a 1/8in cocoa powder colored head of mixed bubbles that disipate to an edge hugging ring, leaving sheets of lacing with legs.

Aroma is cocoa and roastiness with subtle grape must.

Flavor is, at first, Bourbon County, but quickly sidesteps the bourbon for Cabernet, muted dark fruit and oak notes with a cocoa remainder.

Mouthfeel is full, thick and viscous finishing dry.

Overall a fun experiment.

 

 

 

A- Pours a very dark color with a slight head and lacing
A- Aroma has cocoa and Cabernet grape hints
M-The taste follows the nose with a cocoa and nicely added Cabernet grape flavor
M-A medium bodied moderately carbonated beer
O-A well done Imperial Stout