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Black Damnation V - Double Black
De Struise Brouwers
- From:
- De Struise Brouwers
- Belgium
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
- ABV:
- 26%
- Score:
- 97
- Avg:
- 4.41 | pDev: 11.34%
- Reviews:
- 116
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Aug 13, 2023
- Added:
- Mar 14, 2010
- Wants:
- 609
- Gots:
- 67
At 26% ABV, this beer explores the very limits of its definition. There's been a lot of discussion on whether or not this loomy pool of blackness still qualifies as a beer, but we know one thing: our fans just can't seem to get enough of it. Because it's so monstrously expensive to produce, we don't do it often. But when we do, people flock towards it like moths to flame!
Our Cuvée Delphine (Black Albert Belgian royal stout aged on Four Roses bourbon barrels) serves as the base for this beer. To end up at Double Black, we recrystallize it to twice its consistency. Not just twice the alcohol, but twice the flavor and all-round deliciousness. Can you handle it?
Our Cuvée Delphine (Black Albert Belgian royal stout aged on Four Roses bourbon barrels) serves as the base for this beer. To end up at Double Black, we recrystallize it to twice its consistency. Not just twice the alcohol, but twice the flavor and all-round deliciousness. Can you handle it?
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Jeffo:
Reviewed by Jeffo from Netherlands
4.76/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
4.76/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Served at the De Struise table at the 2010 BOREFTS Beer Festival at De Molen in Bodegraven. Poured so generously by David working the taps.
Four oz taster. Listed at 26.8%
APPEARANCE: Pours a larger, super thick looking, tan head with great retention. Head slowly fades and leaves lots of clingy lacing down the sides of the glass. Pitch black body with zero carbonation evident. Head eventually fades to a thin swirling wisp and a ring. Only a ring remains but leaves a few dots of lacing down the glass. Doesn't get any more impressive than this at 26%. Looks menacing.
SMELL: Tough to pick up anything while so cold, but once it warmed up closer to room temperature, the aromas came to life. Lots of roasted malts, with strong aromas of baker's chocolate and some espresso notes. Bolder imperial stout aromas, with heavier emphasis on the roasted and charred malts.
TASTE: Like Cuvee Delphine on steroids. Lots of roasted and charred malts, dark baker's chocolate and espresso flavors, with hints of bourbon as well. Some faint vanilla notes and wood from the barrels. A big, bold, lingering roasted and barrel influenced aftertaste includes a touch of bitterness and spicy yeast notes. Amazingly enough, there's not a touch of that 26% to be found. Really wonderful stuff.
PALATE: Full body and very thick and luscious on the palate. Medium carbonation and extremely smooth. No alcohol noticeable on the swallow, and finishes slightly dry. Way smoother than I had expected.
OVERALL: This was the hit of the evening for me; the only beer I went back to for a second pour. I'd been anxiously awaiting this one for quite some time, and it didn't disappoint. The Double Black reminded me of what I loved so much about that first batch of Cuvee Delphine many moons ago, but then amped up to the tenth degree. A big, bold, bruiser of an imperial stout, with a look and feel that makes you forget that it's ¼ alcohol. Hopefully our beer paths will cross again sometime. Thanks to the guys at De Struise for brewing such a gem and brining it to the festival, and thanks to Dave for the expert pours.
Sep 25, 2010Four oz taster. Listed at 26.8%
APPEARANCE: Pours a larger, super thick looking, tan head with great retention. Head slowly fades and leaves lots of clingy lacing down the sides of the glass. Pitch black body with zero carbonation evident. Head eventually fades to a thin swirling wisp and a ring. Only a ring remains but leaves a few dots of lacing down the glass. Doesn't get any more impressive than this at 26%. Looks menacing.
SMELL: Tough to pick up anything while so cold, but once it warmed up closer to room temperature, the aromas came to life. Lots of roasted malts, with strong aromas of baker's chocolate and some espresso notes. Bolder imperial stout aromas, with heavier emphasis on the roasted and charred malts.
TASTE: Like Cuvee Delphine on steroids. Lots of roasted and charred malts, dark baker's chocolate and espresso flavors, with hints of bourbon as well. Some faint vanilla notes and wood from the barrels. A big, bold, lingering roasted and barrel influenced aftertaste includes a touch of bitterness and spicy yeast notes. Amazingly enough, there's not a touch of that 26% to be found. Really wonderful stuff.
PALATE: Full body and very thick and luscious on the palate. Medium carbonation and extremely smooth. No alcohol noticeable on the swallow, and finishes slightly dry. Way smoother than I had expected.
OVERALL: This was the hit of the evening for me; the only beer I went back to for a second pour. I'd been anxiously awaiting this one for quite some time, and it didn't disappoint. The Double Black reminded me of what I loved so much about that first batch of Cuvee Delphine many moons ago, but then amped up to the tenth degree. A big, bold, bruiser of an imperial stout, with a look and feel that makes you forget that it's ¼ alcohol. Hopefully our beer paths will cross again sometime. Thanks to the guys at De Struise for brewing such a gem and brining it to the festival, and thanks to Dave for the expert pours.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois
4.29/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.29/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Wow this is a booze bomb to the max. Thick, syrupy bordering on sludgy, viscous, and hot. Great dark notes in taste and smell: malt, molasses, coffee, dark chocolate, licorice, yet has some biscuit malt and belgian yeast to brighten slightly. This is all followed by a ton of booze. Study and massive beer
Dec 04, 2018Reviewed by Prospero from Colorado
4.93/5 rDev +11.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
4.93/5 rDev +11.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
2012 Bottle:
Poured near black color with a tan head that dissipated quickly.
Aroma does exhibit some ethanol but not as much as expected for 26%, maybe some anise, slight oxidization but minimally so, and not apparent in flavor.
Taste is deep dark chocolate & toffee, raisins, some dark fruit mixed with a hint of roast with a ton of residual sugar that covers the palate. It's boozy but not overwhelmingly although it does drink and taste much like port if it were beer.
Body is rich, sweet & full. Some slickness due to the all the sweetness and alcohol.
Nov 08, 2018Poured near black color with a tan head that dissipated quickly.
Aroma does exhibit some ethanol but not as much as expected for 26%, maybe some anise, slight oxidization but minimally so, and not apparent in flavor.
Taste is deep dark chocolate & toffee, raisins, some dark fruit mixed with a hint of roast with a ton of residual sugar that covers the palate. It's boozy but not overwhelmingly although it does drink and taste much like port if it were beer.
Body is rich, sweet & full. Some slickness due to the all the sweetness and alcohol.
Reviewed by Phyl21ca from Canada (QC)
3.98/5 rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.98/5 rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Bottle: Poured a pitch-black color stout with no head. Aroma of ethanol, anise and chocolate is quiet unique. Taste is dominated by overpowering alcohol and ethanol notes with some ash, anise, chocolate and residual sugar with dry raisin notes. Body is full with oily texture and low carbonation. Interesting experiment but alcohol is somewhat overwhelming.
Dec 31, 2016Rated by spinrsx from Canada (ON)
4.11/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.11/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottle shared by Phil. A crazy beer.
Dec 10, 2016Reviewed by mothman from Minnesota
4.35/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.35/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Black with tan head.
Strong and thick. Roasted with chocolate. Belgian yeast. Bourbon and oak.
Full bodied. Warm but not too boozy.
A very interesting beer that was better than expected.
Oct 23, 2016Strong and thick. Roasted with chocolate. Belgian yeast. Bourbon and oak.
Full bodied. Warm but not too boozy.
A very interesting beer that was better than expected.
Black Damnation V - Double Black from De Struise Brouwers
Beer rating:
97 out of
100 with
363 ratings
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