El Gordo | Good People Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Good People Brewing Company
Alabama, United States
goodpeoplebrewing.com
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 13.90%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by GPHarris on 07-09-2010
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 123 | Reviews: 32
4.25/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: Arrives with an espresso color capped by a mocha head that leaves a dancing pattern of lacing behind
Smell: Dark chocolate, espresso and molasses
Taste: Dark chocolate and espresso forward with the molasses tone building; a hint of prune emerges, as well; through the middle, the hops come through to cut the sweetness and bring a moderate amount of bitterness
Mouthfeel: Full bodied with moderate carbonation; some warmth in the gullet
Overall: I tasted the 2017 and 2016 versions side by side and found that while the 17 had a bit more alcohol burn, the 16 was developing a fruity complexity
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: Arrives with an espresso color capped by a mocha head that leaves a dancing pattern of lacing behind
Smell: Dark chocolate, espresso and molasses
Taste: Dark chocolate and espresso forward with the molasses tone building; a hint of prune emerges, as well; through the middle, the hops come through to cut the sweetness and bring a moderate amount of bitterness
Mouthfeel: Full bodied with moderate carbonation; some warmth in the gullet
Overall: I tasted the 2017 and 2016 versions side by side and found that while the 17 had a bit more alcohol burn, the 16 was developing a fruity complexity
615 characters
3.83/5 rDev -14.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
2017 batch hooked up on draft, Loosa Brews, Tuscaloosa, AL.
Pours viscous and black, fairly cold and left without much head on it. What little residual head and lace appeared was tan in color.
Malt, chocolate, and coffee on the nose. Doesn’t boast anything fancy, just a nice balance of adjunct-free imperial stout goodness. A little bit of vanilla sweetness lingers.
Malty and bold, but quickly followed up by bitter cacao nibs and booze. A nice balance, with a slightly overly bitter finish. However, the complexity of mild vanilla, bourbon, charred malt and chocolate make for an intriguingly complex beer.
Smooth, light but sharp carb, boozy. Smooth, sticky finish, nice mouthfeel. The one thing I will say is I don’t love how it warms.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
2017 batch hooked up on draft, Loosa Brews, Tuscaloosa, AL.
Pours viscous and black, fairly cold and left without much head on it. What little residual head and lace appeared was tan in color.
Malt, chocolate, and coffee on the nose. Doesn’t boast anything fancy, just a nice balance of adjunct-free imperial stout goodness. A little bit of vanilla sweetness lingers.
Malty and bold, but quickly followed up by bitter cacao nibs and booze. A nice balance, with a slightly overly bitter finish. However, the complexity of mild vanilla, bourbon, charred malt and chocolate make for an intriguingly complex beer.
Smooth, light but sharp carb, boozy. Smooth, sticky finish, nice mouthfeel. The one thing I will say is I don’t love how it warms.
748 characters
4.39/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.29/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.32/5 rDev -4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
3.75/5 rDev -16.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
750ml bottle at share. Black pour with small cap of beige head. Aroma comes in a bit sweet, roast grains, sugar, smoky. Taste follows with a bit more of the roasty grains. Nice feel over all too.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
750ml bottle at share. Black pour with small cap of beige head. Aroma comes in a bit sweet, roast grains, sugar, smoky. Taste follows with a bit more of the roasty grains. Nice feel over all too.
195 characters
4.46/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
3.88/5 rDev -13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Shiny black with a large, airy foamy dark tan head.
Smell is milk chocolate with coffee, molasses, and woody hops that exhibit a sort of light char.
Taste starts off with a darker chocolate, yet also has bitter baker's cocoa and a cedary, woody hop presence that gives off sharp pine resin and grapefruit rind. This is like a more bitter Yeti, and the sharp bitterness builds boldly, with a near Worcestershire tang.
A slick medium-light but round body has a crisp, light carbonation, finishing semi-dry.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Shiny black with a large, airy foamy dark tan head.
Smell is milk chocolate with coffee, molasses, and woody hops that exhibit a sort of light char.
Taste starts off with a darker chocolate, yet also has bitter baker's cocoa and a cedary, woody hop presence that gives off sharp pine resin and grapefruit rind. This is like a more bitter Yeti, and the sharp bitterness builds boldly, with a near Worcestershire tang.
A slick medium-light but round body has a crisp, light carbonation, finishing semi-dry.
507 characters
4.75/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.53/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.35/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Just a fantastic beer. Poured thick and viscous - opaque with a modest tan head. Rich chocolatey aroma with some toasted malt, coffee, and floral hop notes. Huge dark chocolate on the palate. Mixed in was roasted coffee, caramel, some raisin. Bitterness there as well. Full bodied but not overly sweet. ABV well-hidden for the size.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Just a fantastic beer. Poured thick and viscous - opaque with a modest tan head. Rich chocolatey aroma with some toasted malt, coffee, and floral hop notes. Huge dark chocolate on the palate. Mixed in was roasted coffee, caramel, some raisin. Bitterness there as well. Full bodied but not overly sweet. ABV well-hidden for the size.
332 characters
4.24/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.6/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
4.29/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Six month old beer poured into a tulip glass.
L- Tar-y deep black with a minimal brown lacing that hugs the side of the glass.
S- Notes of coffee, chocolate, toffee, roasted oak and nuts, raisins and vanilla. I also get the aroma of alcohol intertwined between the other aromas.
T- Same as the nose but especially focused on the coffee. Roasted oak woodiness is also picked up. Sweet molasses flavor as well as a mocha-chocolate flavor. Bite of alcoholic buzz.
F- Thick and creamy.
O- This beer is a well crafted, flavorful, full bodied, heavy hitter. Best beer to come to from the state of Alabama in my opinion. A real treat.
628 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Six month old beer poured into a tulip glass.
L- Tar-y deep black with a minimal brown lacing that hugs the side of the glass.
S- Notes of coffee, chocolate, toffee, roasted oak and nuts, raisins and vanilla. I also get the aroma of alcohol intertwined between the other aromas.
T- Same as the nose but especially focused on the coffee. Roasted oak woodiness is also picked up. Sweet molasses flavor as well as a mocha-chocolate flavor. Bite of alcoholic buzz.
F- Thick and creamy.
O- This beer is a well crafted, flavorful, full bodied, heavy hitter. Best beer to come to from the state of Alabama in my opinion. A real treat.
628 characters
3.42/5 rDev -24%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
I understand what Good People represents to the Alabama craft beer scene, but this is the umpteenth beer of theirs that flat-out doesn't match its reputation. Maybe some aging would do it some good, but as a fresh beer this is a pedestrian Imperial Stout, at best. Look is in line, jet lack and viscous-looking with a thin khaki head of large bubbles but minimal lacing. Smell is all coffee and roasted malt, maybe a little bit of vanilla and charred wood, with no spice, dark fruit, chocolate, or licorice to be had. Taste is all coffee, basically a mouthful of dark roast with absolutely zero other notes or complimentary flavors, and certainly nothing resembling bourbon. Extremely disappointing. And the texture is thin and underwhelming, with little but bitter coffee in the aftertaste. Not a bad beer, but very one-note and far from memorable, so I'm pretty perplexed why this beer has the reputation it does.
915 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
I understand what Good People represents to the Alabama craft beer scene, but this is the umpteenth beer of theirs that flat-out doesn't match its reputation. Maybe some aging would do it some good, but as a fresh beer this is a pedestrian Imperial Stout, at best. Look is in line, jet lack and viscous-looking with a thin khaki head of large bubbles but minimal lacing. Smell is all coffee and roasted malt, maybe a little bit of vanilla and charred wood, with no spice, dark fruit, chocolate, or licorice to be had. Taste is all coffee, basically a mouthful of dark roast with absolutely zero other notes or complimentary flavors, and certainly nothing resembling bourbon. Extremely disappointing. And the texture is thin and underwhelming, with little but bitter coffee in the aftertaste. Not a bad beer, but very one-note and far from memorable, so I'm pretty perplexed why this beer has the reputation it does.
915 characters
4.54/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
2014 aged bottle. Poured into a tulip it has a dark beige almost khaki head of a half inch with a black body. Smell of slight spice, big dark chocolate, coffee, vanilla, and roasted malt. Taste is a big amount of roasted malt, dark chocolate, good amount of vanilla, espresso, and some caramel. Mouthfeel is full as well as body with a moderate to full carbonation. A big stout with a ton of flavor that is surprisingly drinkable without any big discernable alcohol notes for its abv. Definitely not the most complex stout, but very drinkable.
545 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
2014 aged bottle. Poured into a tulip it has a dark beige almost khaki head of a half inch with a black body. Smell of slight spice, big dark chocolate, coffee, vanilla, and roasted malt. Taste is a big amount of roasted malt, dark chocolate, good amount of vanilla, espresso, and some caramel. Mouthfeel is full as well as body with a moderate to full carbonation. A big stout with a ton of flavor that is surprisingly drinkable without any big discernable alcohol notes for its abv. Definitely not the most complex stout, but very drinkable.
545 characters
4.48/5 rDev -0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
El Gordo from Good People Brewing Company
Beer rating:
4.5 out of
5 with
123 ratings
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