Obscur Désir
Les Brasseurs Du Temps

 

 

 

On draft at BTD. Brought in a tulip and the remainder in a separate glass due to too much foam. I guess I lively fast pour. Almost midnight black with a beige fluff, very good retention. Dark chocolate and chicory. The taste is quite similar bit with added bitterness. Mouthfeel isn't very smooth. Finish is quite dry and bitter. Doesn't hide the abv as well as hoped. Overall a nice brew but not an exceptional one

 

It's frustrating when there's as much head as liquid; the first few sips are just foam (in this case one that looks like the center of a chocolate macaroon). Lacing hangs like heavy brown silk drapes, leaving the glass nearly as opaque as the burnt black beer itself. Obscur Désir ("dark desire") looks just that.

The aroma registers like a shot of espresso with a shaving of cinnamon bark, a split vanilla pod and a shot of Kahlua. It's rich, strong, and tempers bitterness with hints of spice and sweetness. It doesn't knock your socks off but may yet prove to take off other articles of clothing - it's pretty silky and sensual.

Imperial Stouts shouldn't taste like alcohol but they should be more impressive and impactful. Obscur Désir fits that profile - it'll slow your heart rate without your palate being any the wiser and your brain being perfectly ok with the trade-off. This is the kind of concentrated, rich dark chocolate flavour that single-origin bars strive for; there's hints of toasted nuts, chicory, spice, and a subtle ashyness.

Those who enjoy a little something after dinner will love Obscur Désir. It drinks like a combination of coffee liqueur (roasted malts) and peppermint tea (the hops) and even served cold has a warming element that's well suited to Canadian cold winters. Leave the Baileys on the shelf - this is better.

Obscur Désir is alluring and irresistible alright. It has rich, bittersweet flavours, a smooth texture but strong presence - it's an enticing recipe in every detail. Looking to cut down on the fats? Skip the chocolate cake and have a small glass of this instead - it tastes the same and is every bit as satisfying.

Appearance: It has a nice jet black color to it. It has a nice creamy tan head that dies down slowly and leaves lovely lacing.

Smell: The aromas definitely give out hints of roasted malts, coffee, sweet chocolate, grassy hops and black licorice.

Taste: Like the aromas, it has roasted malts, coffee, sweet chocolate, a grassy/earthy bitterness and black licorice.

Mouthfeel: It has a low-med carbonation with a nice overall balance and feel.

Drinkability: It's a very smooth drinkable beer accompanied by good flavors and aromas.

Serving type: bottle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2011 vintage

A: VERY black, hardly gradient towards the edge of the glass. Beautiful inviting dark brown head. Great looking stout.

S: Extremely roast-heavy, with a licorice spiked chocolate liqueur vibe. Probably the roastiest (a word?) stout I've ever had the pleasure to inhale.

T: Charred and chocolate chocolate chocolate. Roast dominates again with an interesting woodiness. Zero booze.

M: Creamy and full but not a difficult beer to drink.

750ml bottle poured into tulip with Mattsander and alpineclimber 12/10/12 bottle from papat444 or was it unibroue4ever I don’t remember so thank you both

A black with just a thin cola edge and a large mocha head that falls rather fast but leaves lots of lace where it existed

S chocolate’s firmly in charge here, Hershey chocolate syrup, coco powder, fudge and just a little smoke and booze

T the big chocolate notes are still there but there’s more added to it, charred wood and espresso with just a little licorice, well concealed booze and its like drinking chocolate pudding very rich and tasty

M silky and thick with a creamy texture but just barely, lots of charred wood on the finish but no smoke to go with it

O another example of 4.25 being useful so slightly higher here, must be a chocolate lover for this one, very nice brew

Rich chocolate fudge in a glass with well concealed booze, well worth trying this one was even better then I expected

Thanks for another nice one, Deadbolt82!

Appearance. Pours black with two fingers of creamy light brown head.

Smell. Dark chocolate and roasty malts, booze, and a little black licorice.

Taste. Nice semi-sweet chocolate and black licorice, some dark, well roasted malts. Dry, lightly bitter, lightly boozy finish.

Mouthfeel. On the lower side of full bodied with low+ carbonation.

Overall. A very nice ris ...at least I thought it was an ris when I reviewed it. Anyways, exactly what I wrote was, "everything an ris should be." Ha!

Bottle from ZorPrime, shared at Steve's birthday. 750ml into some tulips. Bottled August 15, 2011 - bottle #631.

Dark brown/black with a bubbly medium brown head. Spotty lacing and solid retention. Nose has dark chocolate, coffee, dark bread and some sweetness. Taste has dark chocolate, strong roast character, coffee and some light espresso. A bit of coffee liqeur. Drying with a bit of roast sourness inteh finish. Medium mouthfeel, perhaps a bit on the lighter side. Good carbonation and a feel appropriate for the style. Alcohol is well hidden, which was nice. An OK imperial stout, but left me wanting a bit more given the previous reviews.