Imperial Eclipse Stout - Christian Brothers Brandy
FiftyFifty Brewing Co.

Imperial Eclipse Stout - Christian Brothers BrandyImperial Eclipse Stout - Christian Brothers Brandy
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From:
FiftyFifty Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
ABV:
9.5%
Score:
91
Avg:
4.08 | pDev: 14.22%
Reviews:
45
Ratings:
87
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 23, 2021
Added:
Dec 02, 2010
Wants:
  132
Gots:
  24
Brown/purple wax top.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

4.09/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Sometimes I think there are a lot of duplicate listings, some beers that fell through the review cracks and then sometimes its just that I'm not aware of some variations.

The most recent time I had this beer was New Year's Eve 2018, bottle 313 out of the year 2010. Pours black with a hint of dark brown, lighter brown head, 1/4" deep. The aroma was roasted malt, chocolate malt, oak and brandy.

Taste offers far more dark fruit notes than the whiskey and bourbon barrel Eclipses. Unlike lesser brandy barrels, they achieved a smoothness in the mouth feel here that wasn't weighed down by the usual dark fruit pungent bitterness and alcohol booziness that can occur. Carbonation was soft, but appropriate. There was an aspect of the wood that seemed different, but that could just be the liquid contents (brandy) causing that effect on the palate, not the wood. I've had a few of these (started w/ a case) that did seem to be boozier and more bitter than others through the years (kenny rogers), but all in all, these aged pretty well.
Feb 23, 2021
 
Rated: 4.22 by emerge077 from Illinois

Apr 16, 2017
 
Rated: 4.5 by nathanmiller from New York

Feb 28, 2015
 
Rated: 4.21 by jfstilling from South Carolina

Feb 26, 2015
Photo of Rothobinide
Reviewed by Rothobinide from California

4.94/5  rDev +21.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Tried this in a vertical (and horizontal?) tasting of 27 different Fifty Fifty Eclipse variants / vintages from 2008 through 2014. Had the 2010 and the 2011 Brandy Barrel versions, both excellent.

Poured opaque with a light lacing that dissipated rather quickly.

The brandy didn't fully materialize in the flavor profile - but the beer was oh so smooth in the mouthfeel. A cooling alcohol burn was consistent throughout though not overpowering at all. Plenty of chocolate, a smidgen of raisin and plum - a bit of sweet stone fruit. The finish was smooth and warming. Remnants of a slightly sweet vanilla bean flavor lie on the palate. Overall an exceptional entry in a fathomless library of barrel-aged variations.
Jan 19, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by SwG237 from New York

Dec 08, 2014
 
Rated: 4.07 by wethorseblanket from California

Nov 29, 2014
 
Rated: 4.52 by ferrari29 from Illinois

Nov 09, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by SocalKicks from California

Sep 29, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by HugeBulge from New York

Sep 08, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by JCam9981 from North Carolina

Sep 07, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by HaveUSeenMyCellar from California

Apr 18, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by spinrsx from Canada (ON)

Feb 03, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by zestar from California

Jan 05, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by JMBSH from Colorado

Dec 29, 2013
Photo of deltatauhobbit
Reviewed by deltatauhobbit from Maine

4.28/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Thanks to mlaroche for this trade awhile back.
Bottle 54
2010 Vintage

Pours a wicked dark brown/black color, hardly any head and no lacing either, carbonation looks to be pretty minimal so it's a bit worrisome it may be flat.

Smell has a rich roasted malt aroma backed with touches of dark fruit, cocoa and a subtle oak brandy, a mellow but well blended aromatic.

Taste is not a "slap your mouth it burns" stout which is refreshing since sometimes it can be heavy handed when it comes to barrel beers, the roasted malt contributes a strong char character with the barrel-aging not overwhelming the base beer, the subtle dark fruit and chocolate have a good layering of flavors with the oak and brandy showing up last, carbonation is quite low but not flat, could definitely have used a few more bubbles to make this beer more full bodied and creamy than syrupy and sticky.

Mouthfeel flaws aside, this is an excellent example of how to age a beer in barrels, the brandy does not overwhelm the beer itself or make it burn on every sip, instead it adds just enough flavor and complexity to complement.
Dec 21, 2013
Photo of stakem
Reviewed by stakem from Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Bomber into a matching Eclipse snifter. The brew appears a dark brown to black cole with a thin tan penline of head that that doesnt really maintain that well. A swirl revives the cap that is quick to fade leaving some spots of lacing effect on the glass.

The aroma contains plenty of earth and roast. A little spicy character almost like cinnamon mixes with some raw oak qualities moreso than the expected fruity or vinous brandy notes. Also, some sulfur comes out with swirls. It isnt until the brew really warms up that it gets quite fruity in alcohol with almost a raisony character typical of the other eclipse variations.

The taste is raw, bitter and earthen with a surprising amount of citrus to almost grassy hop elements. Some fruity alcohol tang like brandy is present but with a lingering bitter chocolate to woody aftertaste. The barrel presence has a hint of spice almost like cedar (just like the nose suggests) but remains more neutral and raw oak in flavor than anything elsez

This is a medium bodied brew with a modest amount of carbonation. It is strangely complex and very much different than the other eclipse variations. The brandy in this one almost had it leaning towards a barrel aged black ipa of sorts which was unique. Admittedly, this was one of the barrel treatments ive been holding on to the longest and it was in the top 3 I was most excited to try since I really like brandy barrel aged beers. Unfortunately, while enjoyable it falls mid-range in the series overall as far as my enjoyment level.
Oct 22, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by jegross2 from Illinois

Oct 16, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by Kegatron from Pennsylvania

Oct 13, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by IdrinkGas from Pennsylvania

Sep 26, 2013
Imperial Eclipse Stout - Christian Brothers Brandy from FiftyFifty Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 87 ratings