110K+OT Batch #6
Cigar City Brewing

Zythophile from District of Columbia

4.1/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Bottle Date: 1/2/17 (I think)
Palate Contaminants: other beer

The look is thick. Thick, thick, thick. Fine brown head, although it dissipates quickly, rendering little lacing. So that's an odd combo. Maximally opaque, and I mean absolutely no light gets through even at the edges.

Smell definitely has raspberries up front, but they're notably not sweet. Really dark, bitter chocolate, too. Lightly floral, with berry blossom scents. Overall, could have a bit more depth.

The chocolate is restrained in the taste, and it actually gives way to acidic charred barrel. The raspberries are a disappointment, though. (It's possible I let this one sit too long.) There's a bit of decaying vine at first, but eventually the berry comes through. Sweetness is barely detectable at first, and that would really rescue matters if it hit earlier. Green coffee beans in there, too.

At least the less pleasant tastes give way in the aftertaste, leaving the best of the raspberry. And the green coffee gives way to chicory. The alcohol is well hidden for a tenner. Surprisingly moderate weight for the type. Not a lot of carbonation, either.

Nov 11, 2020

rex_4539 from Greece

4.93/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

L: Jet black color, almost no head, not much lacing to speak of, no visible carbonation.

S: Chocolate, raspberry, coffee. Wow!

T: Chocolate, raspberry, coffee, alcohol. I just went to heaven :)

F: Full bodied, full flavored.

O: World class imperial stout. A must have.

Nov 17, 2019

Prager62 from Colorado

4.08/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A bottle purchased at the Oskar Blues Boulder taproom in November 2018. No visible bottle date, pouring in a wine glass for the review. Hey, it's a port barrel aged beer!

Look- Pours thick and oily black with a generous finger of lasting dark creamy mocha foam. A trace bit of lacing is present.

Smell- Heavy raspberry, molasses and leather.

Taste- Raspberry dominates the taste along with a little tobacco, molasses and oak.

Feel- Thick, creamy and silky smooth like a stout should be.

Overall- A very raspberry forward dessert beer. I love raspberries, but drinking a glass of this is like the equivalent of eating a pound. It's good, but one to share in my opinion. I feel the port barrel probably makes the raspberries even more pronounced. It's a very good beer even though I find it quite one dimensional in smell and taste. I'd love to try a bourbon barrel version for comparison.

Dec 30, 2018

Treyliff from West Virginia

4.3/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

750ml bottle poured into a tulip

A- pours deep black with a one-finger foamy khaki head that has short retention

S- plenty of port barrel on the nose with undertones of raspberry jam, chocolate, licorice, vanilla & light wood

T- port barrel up front gives some dark fruity notes, followed by raspberry jam, vanilla, black licorice, vanilla cream and caramel. Light char and more berries on the finish

M- medium body and carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel that continues into the finish

O- raspberries and port make a good combination

Jun 27, 2018

Ciocanelu from Romania

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Black color with mocha head. Lots of raspberry jam on the nose with dark chocolate underneath. Taste is bitter and roasty with slightly acidic raspberry juice and jam flavor. Medium plus body with soft carbonation. Really elegant beer, like a sophisticated dessert without being too sweet.

Apr 02, 2018

deebo from Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A-On tap at CC. Big 8 oz pour has a ringing of dark beige bubbles atop a black, opaque brew
S-Rich notes of wood, alcohol soaked raspberries and mounds of chocolate. Smells like dessert.
T-hey, tastes like dessert too. Raspberry enrobed truffles.
M-smooth, low/moderate carbonation with a pleasing warmness.
O-A rich, fruity chocolate bomb. Nice barrel notes. Flavorful and a perfect sipper.

Dec 09, 2017

stakem from Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle poured into a matching CCB snifter. The brew appears black in color with a brown head that fades leaving patchy lace.

This smells char and seedy with raspberry then earthy licorice, milk chocolate and mild oak fading to a sweetness like caramel and vanilla.

This tastes like char, licorice, earth and tobacco with a contrasting raspberry tartness. Some slight booziness and oak in aftertaste.

This is medium in body with modest carbonation. A decent mix of flavor that is enjoyable but man its a little strange the way the flavors seemingly combat one another rather than blend.

Feb 03, 2016

sweemzander from Illinois

4.51/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

750mL bottle poured into a snifter.
(A)- Pours pitch black in color. Produced a decent enough layer of froth.

(S)- HUGE jam essence. Almost tobacco and smoky but just massive berry fruits. Hints of cocoa and oak. Minimal acidity

(T)- Very similar to the smell. I like the smoky cocoa this adds into the slightly tart dark berry jam this has.

(M)- A mellow carbonation level meets a dynamic and complex beer. The port barrel and raspberries add a huge dimension to the stout base.

(O)- This is a big beer with mountains of tart jam amidst a cocoa driven stout base. Makes me wanna spread this on toast

Aug 15, 2015

KillerJigger from Iowa

4.2/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Had it on tap. Was instantly liking all the roasty tastes. Wasn't syrup thick. More like a thin beer, could have been thicker. Not overwhelming chocolate or roasty which made it well balance and very very very drinkable. Love it. Good job CCB.

Jan 13, 2015

portia99 from Massachusetts

4.08/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle poured into a CBS oversized snifter

L - Pours opaque and near black in color with a thick, dark brown head about a finger high, densely bubbled. Foamy lacing left on the glass.

S - Plenty of raspberry up front, muddled a bit by some buttery caramel aroma. Base is solid with lots of fudge, dark chocolate and milk chocolate and some molasses. Lacking in roastiness. Port comes thru subtley mixing nicely with the raspberry.

T - Raspberry is not at all subtle - it is up front and prominent in the flavor profile. Bright and fruity with a mild tart character. Some port flavors come thru complimenting the raspberry nicely. Dominates the other flavors a bit pushing the stout flavors into the background. Chocolate comes thru...everything else is a bit of an afterthought. Dessert-like beer for sure.

M - Only able to muster a medium body...a bit thin compared to others in the style. Carbonation is on the lower side yielding a slight tingle on the tongue. Alcohol is well hidden and not at all noticeable. Port comes thru to me mostly on the inhale in a mix of porty/winey and raspberry nuances.

O - Quite good, but still a bit of a letdown for me. I had huge expectations for this one coming in though to be fair. The stout flavors and aroma are muted largely by the raspberry. I would have been happier if more of these were allowed to shine. The raspberry and port wine collaboration is very nice and something I would like to see more of...bring out the chocolate aspects in this beer and it would be superb. Still very good, but could have been so much more for me.

Dec 07, 2014

maximum12 from Minnesota

3.45/5  rDev -20.7%

It’s Wednesday & I’m thirsty. A blind stab brings out this beautiful 750ML bottle that’s been hanging around too long. It’s going down. Split with my wife, & much anticipation.

The pour is as black as Hannibal Lecter’s heart, & almost as carbonated. Looks like a coffee mocha something or other. The nose is scorching alcohol, raspberry chocolate mousse cake, & a touch of port that might go unnoticed if not for the label. Hot lick damn.

110K+OT Batch #6 is a classic Cigar City stout. There’s a huge, sticky, thick mouthfeel with a shot of roast that was missing from the nose (or perhaps just covered up by the mélange). Hard on its heels comes an overwhelming hit of berries: raspberry, light red wine, port right in the back of the throat, unfortunate eye-dropper of cherry Nyquil; mildly medicinal, which is like a finger in the belly button when you’re…no, no, bad memory. The rare Cigar City stout that I’ll be content to have half a bomber of.

Well off the bull-eyes, maybe glancing off a horn. The fruit just doesn’t ring true. It’s close, but I expect hotness from Cigar City every time & this one’s merely cute. Pretty good.

Oct 02, 2014

Pencible from Virginia

4.4/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: This poured an opaque black with thick dark tan head.
S: It smelled like rich dark chocolate covered raspberries, with some fresh roasted coffee and oak and prunes.
T: It tasted like rich dark chocolate and dry roasted coffee, with some tart raspberries and oak and prunes. It had a clean and earthy bittersweet aftertaste.
M: It was thick with moderate carbonation. Great huge body.
D: This was a fantastic brew. Huge scent and taste and body. The finish was smooth with well hidden alcohol, so it was easy to drink but worth sipping. Would age well, but doesn't need it. High quality.

Aug 09, 2014

gueuzedreg from Colorado

4.29/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A- A tad thinner than Zhukov and Huna, but it looks a bit darker. More deep black in this. Medium to large lacing with no legs.

S- Big raspberry dark chocolate upfront. Toffee, light port barrel.

T- A bit raspberry heavy; but if you are going to go, I guess go big. Sweet, some of the port barrel is noticeable here with a sweet to tart tang. Chocolate and toffees as well.

M- A bit thin for me with CCB. I expected this to be thick like MZ and Huna, and while it was still pretty thick; it was just noticeably lighter than those two.

O- They achieved probably exactly what they were going for here. It is a bit sweet, and the raspberry chocolate stout did not work as well as say Lindley Park.

Aug 04, 2014

BarrytheBear from Wisconsin

3.35/5  rDev -23%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Blindly served, yet easily guessed, by Kyle. Thanks buddy.

Just oozes raspberries....Port plays a submissive role and the stout base of this beer simply doesn't stand much of a chance. Very sweet, very fruit driven, and disappointingly shallow on both Port influence and stouty goodness.

For a brewery that can excel in stouts and has a way with barrels, this is a bummer.

Apr 27, 2014

Dyalango from North Carolina

4.44/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Jet black with a brown/reddish head.
S: raspberries, chocolate, tartness
T: raspberries! barrel notes, sweetness, chocolate
M: thick, boozy, CCB nails this aspect
O: fantastic beer, very fruit forward, less barrel than I would have thought but excellent beer overall.

Feb 15, 2014

GameFreac from Georgia

4.64/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Thanks to Ben from Angry Chair for this one.

Appearance: Pours a super dark midnight black with a brown head.

Smell: Smells of raspberries, chocolate, sweetness, slight roast, caramel. No idea what port smells like but I'm getting some type of wine barrel character.

Taste - Taste mirrors the nose. Chocolate covered raspberries. More raspberries with chocolate on the aftertaste. Reminds me of jam or jelly. Some wine flavors. Some barrel but it's very minimal.

Mouthfeel: No alcohol at 11%.

Overall: Fucking delicious. Perfect dessert beer. Amazing and better than Life is Like.

Feb 12, 2014

Jeffo from Netherlands

4.37/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Another CCB gem sent over by dboon. Cheers man!

From a 750 into a snifter
80 SRM

APPEARANCE: A thick black pour yields a one finger, medium looking, dark tan or mocha colored head with great retention. Opaque black body with higher levels of carbonation for the style perhaps. Head fades to a full foam cap and clings to the sides of the glass. A ring and slight, swirly wisp remain leaving lots of lacing down the glass. Nice stuff, but a touch too carbonated for the style.

SMELL: Big nose of roasted malts, dark chocolate, toffee, red wine notes and some well integrated raspberry aromas for sure. Sweet cream and vanilla in there as well, with the oak, port and fruit flavors providing great balance. Interesting and intricate.

TASTE: Roasted malts, dark chocolate and port notes up front, with sweet toffee through the middle before a nice and refreshing raspberry fruit finish. Well measured for sure. Bold and lingering finish of roasted grain, milk chocolate, light cream and oak with sweet raspberry flavors as well. This is great.

PALATE: Medium body and medium carbonation. Not overly creamy, a touch prickly perhaps, but goes down fine and finishes quite sticky on the palate. Enough weight, but could be a touch smoother.

OVERALL: This was outstanding. Perhaps a bigger, creamier feel would help push this over the edge, as well as a touch more bitterness to balance the fruity sweetness at the finish, but these are minor details. Another top class stout from perhaps the best stout brewer in the United States. Thanks again dboon. This was awesome.

UPDATE: Drank a batch #2 in September 2018. This is basically exactly the same but the carbonation is lower and it's definitely silkier and smoother on the palate. Really, really nice and at least as enjoyable as the review above says.

Dec 28, 2013

johnnnniee from New Hampshire

4.39/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Bottle from the source. Thanks Mead Me for helping with the delivery!
Solid black color with a huge tan head that persists forever. Aromas of chocolate, caramel and brown sugar with a light vinous and a solid raspberry presence. The flavor is sweet with unfermented dark sugars, chocolate and lots of tart and lightly sweet raspberries. Tastes like chocolate covered raspberries very nicely done! Thick body with a sweet sugary mouthfeel and a light level of carbonation. I enjoyed the hell out of this beer, I almost feel bad about sharing I wanted it all to myself! I so wish I had another!

Dec 16, 2013

Alieniloquium from Florida

3.77/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750 mL bottle poured into a snifter.

Appearance - Very thick. Viscous black. Nice dark khaki head. Thick collar.

Smell - Strong raspberry. Some vinous notes. Chocolate. A little oak.

Taste - Sweet raspberry. Dark chocolate. A little harsh on the bitter chocolate. Some oak. Strong fruit in the finish.

Mouthfeel - Thick. Bitter. Boozy.

Overall - This is good, but the fruit is very strong. I'm not a huge fan of fruited stouts.

Nov 05, 2013

jaasen64 from Massachusetts

4.21/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

750ml bottle poured into Treehouse tulip.

A- Pours a pitch black with a thin coffee mocha head that recedes at a decent rate, some spotty lacing and alcohol legs.

S- Creamy dark chocolates, port, subtle raspberries that balance very nicely with the port. Fairly rich smelling, nice balance, fairly aromatic.

T- Sweet port, nicely balanced raspberries, creamy dark chocolate, finishes with chocolate covered raspberries lightly smoked in port. Nice balance, berry flavor blends with the port very nicely.

M- Medium bodied, could be a tiny bit thicker, not a ton of carbonation but decent for style, fairly drinkable for abv.

O- The sweetness of the port and raspberries meshed really nicely with one another for a sweet but not too rich stout. Fairly expensive but worth the price, at least to try. CCB hits another one out of the ball park.

Oct 26, 2013

BMMillsy from Florida

3.86/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours thick and black with a dark brown head that recedes relatively quickly. Definite raspberry in the aroma, vanilla, anise, roasty bittersweet chocolate, grapes. Aroma is astringent at first but mellows after a few sniffs into a raspberry chocolate bar. Flavor is very raspberry up front, some roasty chocolate finish that lasts. Very very silky smooth but not nearly as thick as other CCB stouts. The raspberry is the main flavor here, and is nicely integrated into the stout with just a hint of tartness. Heads and shoulders above any other fruited stout I have had, which up to now have been disappointing. I got some vanilla barrel in the nose, but not much more from the port in the taste. Would have liked a bit more body and cream feel to this but overall a really neat beer that was nicely executed.

Sep 22, 2013

macrosmatic from Florida

4.6/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5

Reviewed from notes. Poured from 750 mL bottle into a Peg's snifter.

A: Essentially black, opaque, with a thin tan head that fades to a ring of brown foam quickly. An occasional bubble of carbonation breaks the surface.

S: Sweet booze, roasted chocolate, dark fruity sweetness, oak wood with vanilla dry tannins and deep roasted malts.

T: Dark roasted malts and liqueur (port) flavor, chocolate and a touch of coffee, then a burst of bright raspberry fruitiness, then dark chocolate, dark fruit (figs and plums) and sweet vanilla with dry tannins. Roasted malt bitterness and dryness into the hang. The fruity character increases some as the beer warms during the drink.

M: Has a rich body but it's thin when compared to the high standards of other CCB stouts. Low carbonation sensation. The alcohol is noticeable in both flavor and heat, but the overall impression isn't "hot" at all.

O: This was really good - fruity without tasting artificially sweet or cloying, roasty without being overly bitter. Excellent flavors, but the thinner body does detract a bit from the overall impression. It's possible the fruited character of the stout contributed to the lighter mouthfeel. Overall, though, very nice beer.

Sep 22, 2013

Tone2467 from Florida

4.57/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle into a snifter.

A: CCB has really defined the appearance of this style for me. Pours black as a moonless night with a quarter inch light brown head which quickly fades to a nice crown. A drop on the finger leaves a nice brown trail over where the drop runs.

S: I immediately pick up on the Port presence along side of some Berries. There is also some Chocolate coming in. No real trace of booze here which I find nice.

T: The taste follows the smell nicely. I pick up good Wood and Port flavors with some bitter Berries. On the back end the Berries have a strong presence with a bit of burnt Chocolate and a tad bit of bitterness. Again no real alcohol presence. A nice blend of flavors overall.

M: Very light carbonation. A light to medium body here with not much lingering beyond each sip. I would have liked this to coat the Mouth more.

O: An Imperial Stout brewed with Raspberrys and aged in Port Barrels. That is what was on the Bottle and it is exactly what it was. I can't say it's my favorite Stout but, it portrays what it is supposed to be beautifully. A great Stout by all measures. Worth a try if you're into BA Imperials.

Sep 08, 2013

UCLABrewN84 from California

4.02/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap for The Full Pint 6th Anniversary Celebration held at 38 Degrees in Alhambra, CA.

Billed as an imperial stout brewed with raspberries and aged in port wine barrels.

Pours an opaque black with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to a film on top of the beer. A foamy curtain of lace coats the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, chocolate covered berries, port wine, and woody aromas. Taste is much the same with slight sour berry, port, and cocoa flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of woody and roasty bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer with a nice port wine barrel aged presence that works well with the base beer and raspberries.

Aug 12, 2013