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Smuttlabs The Stallion Red Wine Barrel Aged
Smuttynose Brewing Company
- From:
- Smuttynose Brewing Company
- New Hampshire, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
Ranked #1,043 - ABV:
- 11%
- Score:
- 93
Ranked #3,408 - Avg:
- 4.21 | pDev: 5.46%
- Reviews:
- 24
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Nov 26, 2022
- Added:
- Dec 01, 2014
- Wants:
- 7
- Gots:
- 7
Imperial Stout aged in red wine barrels
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Johncnh:
Rated by Johncnh from New Hampshire
4.12/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Jul 02, 2016
4.12/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Jul 02, 2016
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by hman43 from North Carolina
3.84/5 rDev -8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.84/5 rDev -8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Look: It pours black with a dark brown head. Head retention is very low.
Smell: There are aromas of roast and chocolate up front. There are some cocoa elements with a touch of vanilla and a slight vinous quality.
Taste: There are roast and chocolate flavors up front. There are background notes of wine and wood. There are also very low vanilla elements and very low dark fruits.
Feel: It has a full body with a bitter aftertaste that includes a touch from the wine.
Overall, the wine elements are light, but do enhance the roasted and chocolate flavors from the beer.
Nov 26, 2022Smell: There are aromas of roast and chocolate up front. There are some cocoa elements with a touch of vanilla and a slight vinous quality.
Taste: There are roast and chocolate flavors up front. There are background notes of wine and wood. There are also very low vanilla elements and very low dark fruits.
Feel: It has a full body with a bitter aftertaste that includes a touch from the wine.
Overall, the wine elements are light, but do enhance the roasted and chocolate flavors from the beer.
Reviewed by StoutElk_92 from Massachusetts
4.68/5 rDev +11.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.68/5 rDev +11.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Bottled January 2016
Pours black with a dense creamy tan brown foam head. Smells like chocolate, coffee, caramel, roasted malts, dark fruit, vanilla, red wine, oak, mild smoke, black grapes, plum, black cherry, with earthy herbal piney hops. Tastes like rich dark chocolate, chocolate syrup, black coffee, mild smoke, dark fruits, black grape, plum, black cherry, red wine, oak barrel, vanilla, caramel, with earthy piney hops. Feels medium bodied, creamy with moderate smooth carbonation. Overall a really nice red wine barrel aged imperial stout.
May 05, 2020Pours black with a dense creamy tan brown foam head. Smells like chocolate, coffee, caramel, roasted malts, dark fruit, vanilla, red wine, oak, mild smoke, black grapes, plum, black cherry, with earthy herbal piney hops. Tastes like rich dark chocolate, chocolate syrup, black coffee, mild smoke, dark fruits, black grape, plum, black cherry, red wine, oak barrel, vanilla, caramel, with earthy piney hops. Feels medium bodied, creamy with moderate smooth carbonation. Overall a really nice red wine barrel aged imperial stout.
Reviewed by HellsRanger from Pennsylvania
4.46/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.46/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
This pours a rich totally black oil with nice thick tan foam that didn't stay around long for the party with mild lacing left behind.
The aroma highlights the wine barrel to no end...it's like being inside the barrel whikle aging is happening. Very suprising how pleasant and not overbearing.
As for the taste... what can I say, but WOW! this is definetly aged in wine barrels as it comes across somewhat like a merlot with that nice snappiness to it, and sweet flavor as well...so enjoyable I didin't want it to end. It was such a nice surprise of balance and flavor, that it was tough to put down and enjoy it while it lasts.
The feel follows the taste, with the wine giving it a snap along with nice thickness in body.
A real enjoyable drink that is a must try for a wine barrel aged brew. I will be searching it out again to start it in the cellar. Can't wait.
Mar 11, 2019The aroma highlights the wine barrel to no end...it's like being inside the barrel whikle aging is happening. Very suprising how pleasant and not overbearing.
As for the taste... what can I say, but WOW! this is definetly aged in wine barrels as it comes across somewhat like a merlot with that nice snappiness to it, and sweet flavor as well...so enjoyable I didin't want it to end. It was such a nice surprise of balance and flavor, that it was tough to put down and enjoy it while it lasts.
The feel follows the taste, with the wine giving it a snap along with nice thickness in body.
A real enjoyable drink that is a must try for a wine barrel aged brew. I will be searching it out again to start it in the cellar. Can't wait.
Reviewed by EMV from Pennsylvania
4.08/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.08/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a tall bottle into a Dogfish Head tulip. 2016 edition cellared for nearly 2 years.
L: Inky black pour with 1 finger of brownish head. Falls fast... modest solid rim of lacing. A bit of burgandy around the edges as you hold it up to the light.
S: Dark fruit and red wine. Mild tartness and roast.
T/F: Roasted grains... strong red wine presence as expected. Oak and slightly tart. Not a lot of sweetness which isn't a bad thing. Dark fruit and mild cocoa. Medium to thick bodied.. becomes fuller/richer as it warms. A bit boozy but not overpowering.
O: A solid red wine barrel aged stout... a big sipper... good flavor and the red wine works well with the beer. Still super after 2 years in the cellar.
May 02, 2018L: Inky black pour with 1 finger of brownish head. Falls fast... modest solid rim of lacing. A bit of burgandy around the edges as you hold it up to the light.
S: Dark fruit and red wine. Mild tartness and roast.
T/F: Roasted grains... strong red wine presence as expected. Oak and slightly tart. Not a lot of sweetness which isn't a bad thing. Dark fruit and mild cocoa. Medium to thick bodied.. becomes fuller/richer as it warms. A bit boozy but not overpowering.
O: A solid red wine barrel aged stout... a big sipper... good flavor and the red wine works well with the beer. Still super after 2 years in the cellar.
Reviewed by LeRose from Massachusetts
4.19/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
4.19/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Bottled in January 2016.
Pours thick, oily, and as close to black as can be. The head was soapy - big bubbles that fell to a mocha-colored ring and a few floaty rafts that lasted for the duration.
The initial smell was rich, fruity red wine. This was quickly complimentred by coffee, chocolate, sweetness like brown sugar, tobacco, vanilla, oak. Very interesting combination and pleasing.
The taste flips that a bit. Opens more with the coffee notes, but the wine characteristics roll right in with the fruitiness and tannins, a bit of tartness. Swett...yep...but not overly so. A bit of vanilla, and a swett/bitter chovolate on the end as the taste fades. Nice lingering flavor.
The feel is not as heavy as the visual suggests. It is drying, but it also leaves a bit of tingle on the sides of the tongue. It us just a bit sticky on the lips. Minimal cabonation, but what there is gives just enough snap.
This is a very well-constructed stout. Layers of flavors wash back and forth and the wine character is certainly not in the back seat. This beer is worthy.
Apr 21, 2018Pours thick, oily, and as close to black as can be. The head was soapy - big bubbles that fell to a mocha-colored ring and a few floaty rafts that lasted for the duration.
The initial smell was rich, fruity red wine. This was quickly complimentred by coffee, chocolate, sweetness like brown sugar, tobacco, vanilla, oak. Very interesting combination and pleasing.
The taste flips that a bit. Opens more with the coffee notes, but the wine characteristics roll right in with the fruitiness and tannins, a bit of tartness. Swett...yep...but not overly so. A bit of vanilla, and a swett/bitter chovolate on the end as the taste fades. Nice lingering flavor.
The feel is not as heavy as the visual suggests. It is drying, but it also leaves a bit of tingle on the sides of the tongue. It us just a bit sticky on the lips. Minimal cabonation, but what there is gives just enough snap.
This is a very well-constructed stout. Layers of flavors wash back and forth and the wine character is certainly not in the back seat. This beer is worthy.
Reviewed by Damian from Massachusetts
4.5/5 rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Drank from a 1 pint .9 fluid ounces bottle purchased at Cambridge Wine & Spirits, Cambridge, MA
Served in a snifter
Impressive appearance. The fuller bodied, dark brown/black liquid was topped by an immensely tight and creamy, finger-plus tall cap of tan colored froth. Solid retention. The head fell to a thick, lasting collar. Odd shaped patches of lacing stuck along the glass.
The aroma was really interesting and unique. Powdered cocoa notes came through strongest. Big red wine and raisin presence. Fairly sweet. Aged port came to mind. Moderate amount of roast. There was a tart twanginess as well, which apparently was from the wine barrels. Lots of oakiness too.
Like the nose, the flavor profile was also very unique. Big roasted malt presence up front. Loads of red wine character and fruity tartness as well. Strong oaky barrel notes. Fairly tannic. Cocoa came through in the center. Some dark fruits too. Raisins were apparent. Touch of cherry. Notes of bitter roast lingered in the finish. Slightly ashy.
Nearly full bodied, frothy mouthfeel. Super creamy and smooth on the palate. The liquid contained a fine, moderate, tongue blanketing effervescence. By the drink’s end, the sugars in the beer left a sticky film on my lips.
Many of the infected barrel-aged stouts I have encountered in the past had a fruity twanginess to them, and The Stallion definitely reminded me of some of these. That said, this is a really interesting, boundary pushing imperial stout by the folks at Smuttynose. No matter the fate of the brewery, I really hope they still keep making this.
Feb 16, 2018Served in a snifter
Impressive appearance. The fuller bodied, dark brown/black liquid was topped by an immensely tight and creamy, finger-plus tall cap of tan colored froth. Solid retention. The head fell to a thick, lasting collar. Odd shaped patches of lacing stuck along the glass.
The aroma was really interesting and unique. Powdered cocoa notes came through strongest. Big red wine and raisin presence. Fairly sweet. Aged port came to mind. Moderate amount of roast. There was a tart twanginess as well, which apparently was from the wine barrels. Lots of oakiness too.
Like the nose, the flavor profile was also very unique. Big roasted malt presence up front. Loads of red wine character and fruity tartness as well. Strong oaky barrel notes. Fairly tannic. Cocoa came through in the center. Some dark fruits too. Raisins were apparent. Touch of cherry. Notes of bitter roast lingered in the finish. Slightly ashy.
Nearly full bodied, frothy mouthfeel. Super creamy and smooth on the palate. The liquid contained a fine, moderate, tongue blanketing effervescence. By the drink’s end, the sugars in the beer left a sticky film on my lips.
Many of the infected barrel-aged stouts I have encountered in the past had a fruity twanginess to them, and The Stallion definitely reminded me of some of these. That said, this is a really interesting, boundary pushing imperial stout by the folks at Smuttynose. No matter the fate of the brewery, I really hope they still keep making this.
Smuttlabs The Stallion Red Wine Barrel Aged from Smuttynose Brewing Company
Beer rating:
93 out of
100 with
89 ratings
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