Black Damnation V - Double Black
De Struise Brouwers

Black Damnation V - Double BlackBlack Damnation V - Double Black
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From:
De Struise Brouwers
 
Belgium
Style:
American Imperial Stout
ABV:
26%
Score:
97
Avg:
4.41 | pDev: 11.34%
Reviews:
116
Ratings:
363
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?
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Jeffo:
Photo of Jeffo
Reviewed by Jeffo from Netherlands

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, 2010
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.5 by steverx8 from England

Aug 13, 2023
Photo of REVZEB
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
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, 2018
Photo of Prospero
Reviewed by Prospero from Colorado

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, 2018
 
Rated: 4.1 by stephenlee from England

Jun 05, 2018
 
Rated: 5 by Dutchcraftbeergeek from Netherlands

Oct 09, 2017
 
Rated: 4.08 by StoutSnob40 from California

Jul 22, 2017
 
Rated: 2.34 by Deltoro from Florida

Apr 28, 2017
 
Rated: 4.57 by kmoen from California

Jan 03, 2017
Photo of Phyl21ca
Reviewed by Phyl21ca from Canada (QC)

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, 2016
 
Rated: 4.7 by tux_alin from Romania

Dec 29, 2016
 
Rated: 4.75 by Hayley_86 from Netherlands

Dec 25, 2016
Photo of spinrsx
Rated by spinrsx from Canada (ON)

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, 2016
Photo of mothman
Reviewed 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
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, 2016
 
Rated: 4.61 by Ben1313 from New Hampshire

Sep 24, 2016
 
Rated: 4.23 by Prost76 from New Hampshire

Sep 24, 2016
 
Rated: 4.66 by ScottP from New Hampshire

Sep 24, 2016
 
Rated: 4.4 by schinebd from Massachusetts

Aug 08, 2016
 
Rated: 4.7 by Gotti311 from Wisconsin

Jun 08, 2016
 
Rated: 4.5 by NickThePyro from Washington

May 29, 2016
Black Damnation V - Double Black from De Struise Brouwers
Beer rating: 97 out of 100 with 363 ratings