Black Hole (Cognac Edition)
Mikkeller ApS

Black Hole (Cognac Edition)Black Hole (Cognac Edition)
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From:
Mikkeller ApS
 
Denmark
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
ABV:
13.1%
Score:
93
Avg:
4.2 | pDev: 10.48%
Reviews:
78
Ratings:
159
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Sep 27, 2021
Added:
Nov 05, 2010
Wants:
  22
Gots:
  53
Brewed at De Proefbrouwerij.
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Ratings by thetastywort:
Photo of thetastywort
Reviewed by thetastywort from California

4.2/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into a Bruery Tulip glass.

A: Almost lives to the name, but has a nice dark tan color against the light. Coffee-colored head with great lacing.

S: Immediately hit with the cognac. The chocolate and vanilla aromas quickly follow with nice earthiness. Absolutely beautiful and opens up as it sits.

T: Sweet and roasted flavor with nice chocolate and vanilla flavors. Boozy finish of cognac with coffee bitterness. Although, very smooth and warming.

M: Full bodied with moderate carbonation. Definitely a sipper.

O: A great beer that would be great for a sampler with the other variations. It’s too early to tell since this is the first one I’ve tried. Could possibly be my favorite of the bunch. Very complex and just a great RIS. I would buy again, but $$$$. After I go through the other variations, I’ll cross my fingers and hope my local store still has whichever is my favorite.
Sep 23, 2011
More User Ratings:
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.67/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Here is another 10 year old bottle that was consumed for the Raiders opener in Nevada September 2020.

Pours black. Light bubbles, film like head that is brown and around 1/9". The aroma has that boozy wood cognac french oak quotient. Charred barley, smoky ash tray, earth, leather, wool.

Taste is boozy, but its not that wet boozy, there is a neat mix of french oak dryness and ash going on here that makes the heat different and interesting. There is a dark fruit presence with a different twinge of bitterness to it. Not really feeling the vanilla in the taste or mouth feel. This isn't a vanilla beer, this is a coffee and cigarettes beer with a grip load of roasted malt but without the hefty thick viscosity. Shows off that cognac is just whisky in french oak. Bit of an oversimplification.

I think the honey had more of a drying effect to an already astringent beer. Its a big beer best shared. I know I sipped on around 8 ounces of it for over an hour during/after the game.
Sep 27, 2021
Photo of JohnnyHopps
Reviewed by JohnnyHopps from Indiana

4.29/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Appearance - The beer poured a deep black color with little visible carbonation.

Smell - The scent of leather radiates from this one with the smokiness of the stout.

Taste - In terms of the stout profile, this is pleasantly smokey. The overall profile has huge leather notes with red grapes and chocolate. The promised honey and vanilla have disappeared in aging. The leather red grapes continued in the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel - My one complaint is the feel. The viscosity is more like a black lager than a stout.

Overall - This bottle was enjoyed side by side with the tequila verson. Tequila won.
Nov 12, 2017
 
Rated: 4.4 by CheapBeerBuzz from California

Jan 10, 2017
Photo of Resuin
Reviewed by Resuin from Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a 375 mL bottle into a stemmed glass. This is 5 or 6 years since bottling.

A: Pours black and leaves a half finger of tan head which quickly fades to a tan rim around the glass.

S: Delicious spiced cognac, licorice, plums, dark chocolate.

T: Dark chocolate, oak, a touch of smooth heat, vanilla, honey, cognac. Very smooth.

M: Low carb but enough, creamy, full body.

O: I'm impressed by this one. Really smoothed out and without any oxidation. Very nice and drinkable with a complex array of nice flavors.
Dec 18, 2016
 
Rated: 4.32 by WastingFreetime from Wisconsin

Feb 23, 2016
Photo of jlindros
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts

3.39/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Light fizzy head, dark brown color.

Nose light, muted, faint chocolate and roast, faint cognac booze.

Taste smooth chocolate, cocoa, caramel, toffee boat, faint cognac, little booze, little bitter spicy hop

Mouth is med bod, light carb.
Feb 21, 2016
 
Rated: 4.13 by trxxpaxxs from New York

Apr 27, 2015
 
Rated: 3.73 by jzeilinger from Pennsylvania

Apr 08, 2015
 
Rated: 4.44 by lonewolfcry from Minnesota

Dec 21, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by olradetbalder from Sweden

Nov 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4.33 by dar482 from New York

Oct 21, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Crispy21 from Illinois

Oct 09, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by edhizdeid from Washington

Aug 17, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by sendbeer from Georgia

Aug 10, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by zestar from California

Aug 02, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by DrBier from Pennsylvania

Jul 28, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by dlee33 from Indiana

Jul 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by ArsMoriendiOU818 from Virginia

Jun 09, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by afsdan from Colorado

Mar 21, 2014
Black Hole (Cognac Edition) from Mikkeller ApS
Beer rating: 93 out of 100 with 159 ratings