Pimp | Clown Shoes
Brewed by:
Clown Shoes
Massachusetts, United States
clownshoesbeer.com
Style: American Brown Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 10.00%
Availability: Limited (brewed once)
Notes / Commercial Description:
Got them fancy clothes. Got that big car, suicide doors, 8 track stereo, color TV's. Livin' the American dream, now you've got a brew as smooth as chorus from Al Green. Brash Brewing and Clown Shoes each made a brown ale at Mercury, then blended them. You don't have to have solid gold pants to enjoy... but it helps.
"When life's a bitch, be a pimp"
-unknown
Added by Dope on 05-31-2012
This beer is retired; no longer brewed.
Reviews: 56 | Ratings: 162
3.45/5 rDev -13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This is a big, boozy beer. Tastes more like a stout or a porter. I've noticed that the last few dark beers from Clown Shoes have tasted like slight variations of the same beer- Hoppy Feet 1.5, Blaecorn Unidragon, and Pimp all taste the same to me. It's like the Simpsons joke at the Duff brewery there are 4 spouts coming out of the same barrel filling 4 different bottles. A virtual brewer doesn't need to make 13 beers year round in my humble opinion.
★ 453 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This is a big, boozy beer. Tastes more like a stout or a porter. I've noticed that the last few dark beers from Clown Shoes have tasted like slight variations of the same beer- Hoppy Feet 1.5, Blaecorn Unidragon, and Pimp all taste the same to me. It's like the Simpsons joke at the Duff brewery there are 4 spouts coming out of the same barrel filling 4 different bottles. A virtual brewer doesn't need to make 13 beers year round in my humble opinion.
★ 453 characters
3.51/5 rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
appearance: Quite dark brown with some cola highlights. big messy mocha head.
smell: A bit of cocoa but mostly, not much happening.
taste: A lot richer than the nose. Nice combo of nutty chocolate and a little hoppy bitterness.
mouthfeel: noticeable carbonation.
overall: not bad, not great.
★ 293 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
appearance: Quite dark brown with some cola highlights. big messy mocha head.
smell: A bit of cocoa but mostly, not much happening.
taste: A lot richer than the nose. Nice combo of nutty chocolate and a little hoppy bitterness.
mouthfeel: noticeable carbonation.
overall: not bad, not great.
★ 293 characters
3.63/5 rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
First had: on tap at Iron Abbey, Horsham, PA
Served in a tulip glass, an opaque, dark brown-black with a thin cap of beige head. Surprisingly stout-like in appearance for a brown ale. Roasty, nutty aroma, with a balancing dark malt sweetness, hints of coffee and cocoa. Similar taste, roasty dark malts up front, nutty, dark sugar sweetness--caramel, toffee--coffee and dark chocolate, root beer, with a bit of alcohol burn. Smooth mouthfeel, thinner bodied than you might expect before remembering that this is supposed to be a brown ale, not a stout, though it seems to bear semblance to both. Almost comes off like they were trying to make a stout, but it wasn't full enough so they called it an imperial brown ale. Regardless, still a pretty good beer overall.
★ 765 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
First had: on tap at Iron Abbey, Horsham, PA
Served in a tulip glass, an opaque, dark brown-black with a thin cap of beige head. Surprisingly stout-like in appearance for a brown ale. Roasty, nutty aroma, with a balancing dark malt sweetness, hints of coffee and cocoa. Similar taste, roasty dark malts up front, nutty, dark sugar sweetness--caramel, toffee--coffee and dark chocolate, root beer, with a bit of alcohol burn. Smooth mouthfeel, thinner bodied than you might expect before remembering that this is supposed to be a brown ale, not a stout, though it seems to bear semblance to both. Almost comes off like they were trying to make a stout, but it wasn't full enough so they called it an imperial brown ale. Regardless, still a pretty good beer overall.
★ 765 characters
3.68/5 rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle opened on 8.19.12.
A - Pours a very dark brown with a light brown head. Good retention.
S - Nutty and dull coffee.
T - Nice roasted malt and again some dull coffee.
D - Decent carbonation with a nice medium body. Finish with some nice smokey tones.
O - Coffee, nuts and smoke. Solid, but nothing special.
★ 316 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle opened on 8.19.12.
A - Pours a very dark brown with a light brown head. Good retention.
S - Nutty and dull coffee.
T - Nice roasted malt and again some dull coffee.
D - Decent carbonation with a nice medium body. Finish with some nice smokey tones.
O - Coffee, nuts and smoke. Solid, but nothing special.
★ 316 characters
3.73/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
On-tap at Prime 16.
A: Black with red-brown highlights. Nice, solid, fine light-brown head. Good retention, spotty lace. Nice.
S: Powerfully malty, nutty, chocolatey, spicy, roasty. Ok, but a little ashy.
T: Follows the nose - sweet, roasty, malty up front; bitter, malty, ashy on the finish. Not too much booze. Tasty.
M: Creamy, moderate carbonation; a bit thin on body, though.
O: Above average and generally enjoyable, but nothing special.
Cheers!
★ 458 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
On-tap at Prime 16.
A: Black with red-brown highlights. Nice, solid, fine light-brown head. Good retention, spotty lace. Nice.
S: Powerfully malty, nutty, chocolatey, spicy, roasty. Ok, but a little ashy.
T: Follows the nose - sweet, roasty, malty up front; bitter, malty, ashy on the finish. Not too much booze. Tasty.
M: Creamy, moderate carbonation; a bit thin on body, though.
O: Above average and generally enjoyable, but nothing special.
Cheers!
★ 458 characters
3.75/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
22oz bottle with Bottled 5/2012 on the side. Pours a dark, dark brown color with a half inch of tan head. Lots of lacing. Aromas of booze, caramel malts, earth, chocolate, and brown sugar. Taste is sweet. Vanilla, caramel, booze and light and sweet coffee. Sweet aftertaste. Creamy, heavy mouthfeel. The 10% ABV is very present. Never really had a Brown Ale like this beer. Boozey and sweet, with lots of vanilla and caramel. Overall, it borders on being too sicky sweet, but its a beer worth having again.
★ 506 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
22oz bottle with Bottled 5/2012 on the side. Pours a dark, dark brown color with a half inch of tan head. Lots of lacing. Aromas of booze, caramel malts, earth, chocolate, and brown sugar. Taste is sweet. Vanilla, caramel, booze and light and sweet coffee. Sweet aftertaste. Creamy, heavy mouthfeel. The 10% ABV is very present. Never really had a Brown Ale like this beer. Boozey and sweet, with lots of vanilla and caramel. Overall, it borders on being too sicky sweet, but its a beer worth having again.
★ 506 characters
3.76/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a two finger khaki head that fades quickly leaving some lace. Black color, no highlights, ton of yeast left in bottle. Light carbonation and medium bodied. Brown sugar nose and flavor is burnt brown sugar. Very smooth, high ABV is hidden. $7.54 for a 22oz bottle from Beverage Warehouse Winooski, VT. Bottled 5/2012.
★ 322 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a two finger khaki head that fades quickly leaving some lace. Black color, no highlights, ton of yeast left in bottle. Light carbonation and medium bodied. Brown sugar nose and flavor is burnt brown sugar. Very smooth, high ABV is hidden. $7.54 for a 22oz bottle from Beverage Warehouse Winooski, VT. Bottled 5/2012.
★ 322 characters
3.76/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Split a 22 oz bottle poured into a duvel glass.
A: pours a dark dark brown/black with a two finger mocha head that dissapates nicley and leavs some beautiful lacing.
S: earthy toasted nutty grain, touch of chocolate and a touch of sweetness. A little dissapointed here after the magnificent appearance.
T: a step up from the nose... The chocolate seems to step out a bit more... The earthy nutty grain is still there and blends nicley with the chocolate notes... The alcohol is non existent here... I was suprised when I checked and saw the 10% abv.
M: on the light side if a medium body... medium carbonation, I'm not gonna lie I wish this brew had a touch more heft and creamyness to it.
O: a good beer, tasty and different, highly drinkable for 10% abv. Overall I think I prefer the original clown shoes double brown a bit more.
★ 837 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Split a 22 oz bottle poured into a duvel glass.
A: pours a dark dark brown/black with a two finger mocha head that dissapates nicley and leavs some beautiful lacing.
S: earthy toasted nutty grain, touch of chocolate and a touch of sweetness. A little dissapointed here after the magnificent appearance.
T: a step up from the nose... The chocolate seems to step out a bit more... The earthy nutty grain is still there and blends nicley with the chocolate notes... The alcohol is non existent here... I was suprised when I checked and saw the 10% abv.
M: on the light side if a medium body... medium carbonation, I'm not gonna lie I wish this brew had a touch more heft and creamyness to it.
O: a good beer, tasty and different, highly drinkable for 10% abv. Overall I think I prefer the original clown shoes double brown a bit more.
★ 837 characters
3.76/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Wonderful aroma of chocolate and light roasted espresso beans. Light bakeshop type aroma is hidden behind the main aromas.
Dark brown to the point where the beer is virtually black. Nice tan head and weird lacing, but not too bad overall. The head leaves a ring around the glass at the meniscus and clears out in the center.
Chocolate and toffee are in the forefront with coffee coming in as a close second. Brown sugar and a nice toasty biscuit flavor rounds it out. It's lighter than I expected in body, and has a happy moderate level of carbonation. The beer kind of dances on the tongue but doesn't foam up. Quite delicious.
★ 630 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Wonderful aroma of chocolate and light roasted espresso beans. Light bakeshop type aroma is hidden behind the main aromas.
Dark brown to the point where the beer is virtually black. Nice tan head and weird lacing, but not too bad overall. The head leaves a ring around the glass at the meniscus and clears out in the center.
Chocolate and toffee are in the forefront with coffee coming in as a close second. Brown sugar and a nice toasty biscuit flavor rounds it out. It's lighter than I expected in body, and has a happy moderate level of carbonation. The beer kind of dances on the tongue but doesn't foam up. Quite delicious.
★ 630 characters
3.8/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Draft at Prohibition Taproom in Philadelphia, PA.
Pours pitch black and completely opaque with a half finger off-white head that quickly settles into a thin ring. Spotty lacing left behind.
Roasted dark malt aroma with some sweet booze and a subtle hop presence. Very robust smelling with hints of burnt toast, roasted coffee bean, dark chocolate and oatmeal followed by faint earthy pine notes and alcohol.
Medium bodied but slightly thinner than expected with a balance of sweet and roasted malt notes followed by some boozy heat in the finish. Slightly smokey with some coffee bean, dark chocolate and oatmeal flavor countered by sweeter chocolate notes, caramel and toffee. The hop presence found in the nose is absent in the flavor and the strong alcohol heat takes away from the malts. Still, it's well balanced and flavorful. Not bad but could have been great.
★ 873 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Draft at Prohibition Taproom in Philadelphia, PA.
Pours pitch black and completely opaque with a half finger off-white head that quickly settles into a thin ring. Spotty lacing left behind.
Roasted dark malt aroma with some sweet booze and a subtle hop presence. Very robust smelling with hints of burnt toast, roasted coffee bean, dark chocolate and oatmeal followed by faint earthy pine notes and alcohol.
Medium bodied but slightly thinner than expected with a balance of sweet and roasted malt notes followed by some boozy heat in the finish. Slightly smokey with some coffee bean, dark chocolate and oatmeal flavor countered by sweeter chocolate notes, caramel and toffee. The hop presence found in the nose is absent in the flavor and the strong alcohol heat takes away from the malts. Still, it's well balanced and flavorful. Not bad but could have been great.
★ 873 characters
3.8/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22 oz bottle poured into my Three Floyd's glass. Dark brown, mahogany color with a frothy tan head filling the top half inch of the glass. Nice looking color to it.
The aroma shows some pretty bold malt flavors. I get more sweeter caramel and milk chocolate to it at first, but I also get some roasted malts that add some coffee and dark chocolate. Pretty nice aroma overall, the malt flavors are bold but well balanced with each other.
The taste also mixes sweet caramel and milk chocolate with a more bitter and roasted malt flavor. They don't seem to compliment each other as well as they did in the aroma, but still pretty good overall. Both the milky chocolate and roasted coffee flavors are really good in it separately but it just doesn't seem to come together as well as it could have.
The mouthfeel is leaning towards the heavier side with carbonation being moderate. Overall it was a another solid and interesting beer from CS. The roasted malts seemed to make it lean towards the porter style, which I thought was a good and interesting take on the style. Pretty enjoyable beer overall.
★ 1,102 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22 oz bottle poured into my Three Floyd's glass. Dark brown, mahogany color with a frothy tan head filling the top half inch of the glass. Nice looking color to it.
The aroma shows some pretty bold malt flavors. I get more sweeter caramel and milk chocolate to it at first, but I also get some roasted malts that add some coffee and dark chocolate. Pretty nice aroma overall, the malt flavors are bold but well balanced with each other.
The taste also mixes sweet caramel and milk chocolate with a more bitter and roasted malt flavor. They don't seem to compliment each other as well as they did in the aroma, but still pretty good overall. Both the milky chocolate and roasted coffee flavors are really good in it separately but it just doesn't seem to come together as well as it could have.
The mouthfeel is leaning towards the heavier side with carbonation being moderate. Overall it was a another solid and interesting beer from CS. The roasted malts seemed to make it lean towards the porter style, which I thought was a good and interesting take on the style. Pretty enjoyable beer overall.
★ 1,102 characters
3.81/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Well done strong brown ale. 22oz bomber from the Cork. Not much on the nose and a bit boozy on the finish even at 45F or so. Still, you'd never know it was 10% until you got to the end of your glass.
A bit on the pricey side for what it is, IMO. Still, if you like a brown ale and you like big beers, give it a shot!
★ 317 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Well done strong brown ale. 22oz bomber from the Cork. Not much on the nose and a bit boozy on the finish even at 45F or so. Still, you'd never know it was 10% until you got to the end of your glass.
A bit on the pricey side for what it is, IMO. Still, if you like a brown ale and you like big beers, give it a shot!
★ 317 characters
3.83/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a very dark brown, almost black, but you can see some ruby tinges. Medium brown head. Didn't stick around long, but with the ABV, not all that shocking.
The aroma is big and roasty, with plenty of chocolate malts. Some brown sugar in there as well, with some nuttiness.
The taste is sweet and nutty, plenty of chocolate in there too. Hints of booze, but it's subtle. Roast with a slight vanilla/amaretto quality.
It's nearly full bodied, but does have some carbonation that's noticeable. Some slick creaminess.
It's a nice double brown, really.
★ 557 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a very dark brown, almost black, but you can see some ruby tinges. Medium brown head. Didn't stick around long, but with the ABV, not all that shocking.
The aroma is big and roasty, with plenty of chocolate malts. Some brown sugar in there as well, with some nuttiness.
The taste is sweet and nutty, plenty of chocolate in there too. Hints of booze, but it's subtle. Roast with a slight vanilla/amaretto quality.
It's nearly full bodied, but does have some carbonation that's noticeable. Some slick creaminess.
It's a nice double brown, really.
★ 557 characters
3.88/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours into a becker a deep dark chocolate brown with a creamy one finger lighter beige that never really settles.Aromas of chocolate and more chocolate,there is more brown sugar and a big shot of sweet alcohol,smells like a sweet boozy bomb.The feel is nice and creamy with lighter carbonation,it slides down easy.As expected it's pretty boozy with chocolate malt flavors really hitting home,some caramel and just a smattering of earthiness in the finish.It's not bad but it's a sipper,maybe not suited for 4:30 in the afternoon drinking like Iam doing.
★ 553 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours into a becker a deep dark chocolate brown with a creamy one finger lighter beige that never really settles.Aromas of chocolate and more chocolate,there is more brown sugar and a big shot of sweet alcohol,smells like a sweet boozy bomb.The feel is nice and creamy with lighter carbonation,it slides down easy.As expected it's pretty boozy with chocolate malt flavors really hitting home,some caramel and just a smattering of earthiness in the finish.It's not bad but it's a sipper,maybe not suited for 4:30 in the afternoon drinking like Iam doing.
★ 553 characters
3.88/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 22oz bottle into a nonic.
This brew pours out a very deep brown with two fingers of mocha head. It's got a very roasty aroma with notes of vanilla, nuts, and coffee. The taste is big and huge on roast, with an interesting addition of Belgian yeasts. Wasn't quite expecting that from a beer called Pimp! It's really only a hint, and the huge roasty character with hints of chocolate, nuts, and vanilla are really the stars. There's some alcohol here, but that's to be expected from a 10% brown. The mouthfeel is on the heavier side of medium, and a bit more carbonated than I'd expect. The drinkability is good. Overall, this is a pretty good imperial brown that offers a little bit of an interesting twist with the touch of Belgian influence.
★ 758 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 22oz bottle into a nonic.
This brew pours out a very deep brown with two fingers of mocha head. It's got a very roasty aroma with notes of vanilla, nuts, and coffee. The taste is big and huge on roast, with an interesting addition of Belgian yeasts. Wasn't quite expecting that from a beer called Pimp! It's really only a hint, and the huge roasty character with hints of chocolate, nuts, and vanilla are really the stars. There's some alcohol here, but that's to be expected from a 10% brown. The mouthfeel is on the heavier side of medium, and a bit more carbonated than I'd expect. The drinkability is good. Overall, this is a pretty good imperial brown that offers a little bit of an interesting twist with the touch of Belgian influence.
★ 758 characters
3.88/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Been eyeballing this one at the store. Finally taking the plunge!
Served in a Delirium Tremens shaped-glass.
A: It was dark brown, very cloudy, and will a wispy off-white head that surrounded the liquid below it.
S: More nutty than anything, more chestnut actually, and fairly strong at that.
T: Yeah, the nuttiness takes center stage here, the sugar takes stage right, and the yeast takes stage left. You know what I need in this? Bourbon.
M: Fairly prickly, considering the style. The lacing was absurd, yet the sweetness was subdued.
O: Very good entry from Clown Shoes. However, if they were to bourbonize this, I think it would be money!
★ 648 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Been eyeballing this one at the store. Finally taking the plunge!
Served in a Delirium Tremens shaped-glass.
A: It was dark brown, very cloudy, and will a wispy off-white head that surrounded the liquid below it.
S: More nutty than anything, more chestnut actually, and fairly strong at that.
T: Yeah, the nuttiness takes center stage here, the sugar takes stage right, and the yeast takes stage left. You know what I need in this? Bourbon.
M: Fairly prickly, considering the style. The lacing was absurd, yet the sweetness was subdued.
O: Very good entry from Clown Shoes. However, if they were to bourbonize this, I think it would be money!
★ 648 characters
3.88/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: coffee body, finger khaki head,
S: caramel, toffee, nut, malt
T: caramel, chocolate, malt, roasted nuts, mild bitter finish
M: med/heavy body, chewy/smooth mouth
O: Delicious brew/fine collaboration. Would get again
and highly recommend. Very nice autumnal offering.
QUITE GOOD, GRAB A BOTTLE!
★ 303 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: coffee body, finger khaki head,
S: caramel, toffee, nut, malt
T: caramel, chocolate, malt, roasted nuts, mild bitter finish
M: med/heavy body, chewy/smooth mouth
O: Delicious brew/fine collaboration. Would get again
and highly recommend. Very nice autumnal offering.
QUITE GOOD, GRAB A BOTTLE!
★ 303 characters
3.89/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
22 oz bomber into my Notch 0.5L shaker. Served refrigerator temperature.
A- dark, opaque almost black. Yeasty looking head, light brown, good persistence
S - roasted malt smell, hops, milk sugars, a little sweet
T - oh...more than I expected. After sampling a few watering black ales, this is something else entirely. Dark malts, with a strong bourbon taste. Warm alcohol flavor. What's the ABV? 10% - well that explains something. Hints of coffee, toast, but a strong bourbon/whiskey taste predominates.
M - chewy, with a biting fizz. Perfect.
O - fine brew for slow sipping by the fire.
Not really just a "brown ale". Should be a double, or something.
★ 659 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
22 oz bomber into my Notch 0.5L shaker. Served refrigerator temperature.
A- dark, opaque almost black. Yeasty looking head, light brown, good persistence
S - roasted malt smell, hops, milk sugars, a little sweet
T - oh...more than I expected. After sampling a few watering black ales, this is something else entirely. Dark malts, with a strong bourbon taste. Warm alcohol flavor. What's the ABV? 10% - well that explains something. Hints of coffee, toast, but a strong bourbon/whiskey taste predominates.
M - chewy, with a biting fizz. Perfect.
O - fine brew for slow sipping by the fire.
Not really just a "brown ale". Should be a double, or something.
★ 659 characters
3.9/5 rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured a brown body with two finger head on top of an aroma that is a mix of roasted and sweet caramel and chocolate notes, even some toffee. Medium bodied and sticky, even a little chewy, goes down easy and smooth. The booze makes itself known but not in an aggressive manner and the beer is mostly a good balance of sweet and roasted malts. A simple but very enjoyable brown ale.
★ 381 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured a brown body with two finger head on top of an aroma that is a mix of roasted and sweet caramel and chocolate notes, even some toffee. Medium bodied and sticky, even a little chewy, goes down easy and smooth. The booze makes itself known but not in an aggressive manner and the beer is mostly a good balance of sweet and roasted malts. A simple but very enjoyable brown ale.
★ 381 characters
3.91/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
22 oz bottle. "Brewed 5/2012" stamped on label. I didn't even notice it was this old when I bought recently.
pours extremely dark brown, 1" thick super creamy khaki colored head. huge clumps of lacing cling to the glass. aroma is a bit boozy, rich malt. taste is burnt caramel, raisin, alcohol burn aftertaste. herbal, earthy. medium body, quite creamy smooth mouthfeel. lower carbonation.
★ 391 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
22 oz bottle. "Brewed 5/2012" stamped on label. I didn't even notice it was this old when I bought recently.
pours extremely dark brown, 1" thick super creamy khaki colored head. huge clumps of lacing cling to the glass. aroma is a bit boozy, rich malt. taste is burnt caramel, raisin, alcohol burn aftertaste. herbal, earthy. medium body, quite creamy smooth mouthfeel. lower carbonation.
★ 391 characters
3.91/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Pours a very dark brown with a big dense dark tan colored head. Fades slowly, leaving a thin but solid wall of lacing behind.
S: Toasted malt with a pretty strong nuttiness to it. Kinda smells like peanut butter on toast funnily enough. I even get some salty pretzel. Pretty subtle given the strength of the brew.
T: Ahhh, now we're talking. Up front, lots of toffee, sharp, almost bitter toasted malt and hints of caramel. Again, there's that pretzel taste. It's almost a little gritty, like it's got ground up pretzels in it. I don't know how to describe it better but that's what I get out of it. Nutty towards the back end, almost like roasted peanuts. Ends with a little bit of earthy bitterness thrown in. Maybe the lightest hints of cocoa in there?
M: Fairly heavy, lower carbonation, a little grainy.
O: Definitely a unique beer. Don't think there exists a brown ale this strong - definitely a "double" brown ale if such a thing were classified. I enjoyed it, if not just for the uniqueness alone. If you like toasted malt and nuts you will like this one.
★ 1,080 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Pours a very dark brown with a big dense dark tan colored head. Fades slowly, leaving a thin but solid wall of lacing behind.
S: Toasted malt with a pretty strong nuttiness to it. Kinda smells like peanut butter on toast funnily enough. I even get some salty pretzel. Pretty subtle given the strength of the brew.
T: Ahhh, now we're talking. Up front, lots of toffee, sharp, almost bitter toasted malt and hints of caramel. Again, there's that pretzel taste. It's almost a little gritty, like it's got ground up pretzels in it. I don't know how to describe it better but that's what I get out of it. Nutty towards the back end, almost like roasted peanuts. Ends with a little bit of earthy bitterness thrown in. Maybe the lightest hints of cocoa in there?
M: Fairly heavy, lower carbonation, a little grainy.
O: Definitely a unique beer. Don't think there exists a brown ale this strong - definitely a "double" brown ale if such a thing were classified. I enjoyed it, if not just for the uniqueness alone. If you like toasted malt and nuts you will like this one.
★ 1,080 characters
3.92/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Poured into a Dogfish Head pint glass. Pours a very dark brown, appearing black in the glass. Fine one finger brown head with good retention and lacing. Aroma of dark roasted malt, chocolate and a hint of vanilla. Flavor of roasted malt with slight char, chocolate, dark stone fruit; finishes with charred coffee and light hops. Medium bodied. A rich flavored dark ale straddling the line between a brown ale and stout. Flavor is integrated and covers the alcohol well.
★ 469 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Poured into a Dogfish Head pint glass. Pours a very dark brown, appearing black in the glass. Fine one finger brown head with good retention and lacing. Aroma of dark roasted malt, chocolate and a hint of vanilla. Flavor of roasted malt with slight char, chocolate, dark stone fruit; finishes with charred coffee and light hops. Medium bodied. A rich flavored dark ale straddling the line between a brown ale and stout. Flavor is integrated and covers the alcohol well.
★ 469 characters
3.93/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
-double brown ale. bot on 6/12. consumed 1/13.
A: Dark otter brown pour shows auburn highlights as it exits the bottle. A tarnished-bronze mushroom head sits at 2 fingers with a frumpy textured nature, bready and porous if you will. Good show of micro bead carbonation rises along the glass walls rebuilding the head which showed remarkable retention. Thick spongy coating exists for lacing afterwards.
S: Dark chocolate, rich level of aromatic appeal, soft roasted bean bitterness. Not terribly complex, though soothing and roasty forward. Caramel chocolate coffee best sums up the first impression. Fresh roasty nature, rich chocolate with deep tones are brought out with some cocoa with just the right amount of bitterness. Fresh dark roasty coffee bean fade comes with compliments of vanilla, hazelnut that lingers about with a silty touch. Some spicy dark fruit is noticed while flashes of sweet dark malt interludes thoughout the experience.
M: Nice carbonation presence and tingle, creamy chocolate malts are smooth on the tongue with a warmth of alcohol nature.
O: Overall rich deep chocolate tones with a fresh roastiness really makes this shine out with a fresh nature. Abv is well hidden, very nice drinkability and enjoyment factor and bomber worthy to the last drop. Worthy to pimp out to your friends.
★ 1,323 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
-double brown ale. bot on 6/12. consumed 1/13.
A: Dark otter brown pour shows auburn highlights as it exits the bottle. A tarnished-bronze mushroom head sits at 2 fingers with a frumpy textured nature, bready and porous if you will. Good show of micro bead carbonation rises along the glass walls rebuilding the head which showed remarkable retention. Thick spongy coating exists for lacing afterwards.
S: Dark chocolate, rich level of aromatic appeal, soft roasted bean bitterness. Not terribly complex, though soothing and roasty forward. Caramel chocolate coffee best sums up the first impression. Fresh roasty nature, rich chocolate with deep tones are brought out with some cocoa with just the right amount of bitterness. Fresh dark roasty coffee bean fade comes with compliments of vanilla, hazelnut that lingers about with a silty touch. Some spicy dark fruit is noticed while flashes of sweet dark malt interludes thoughout the experience.
M: Nice carbonation presence and tingle, creamy chocolate malts are smooth on the tongue with a warmth of alcohol nature.
O: Overall rich deep chocolate tones with a fresh roastiness really makes this shine out with a fresh nature. Abv is well hidden, very nice drinkability and enjoyment factor and bomber worthy to the last drop. Worthy to pimp out to your friends.
★ 1,323 characters
3.95/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a creamy off white 1 finger head that fades fairly slowly with decent lacing, over almost pitch black super dark no light coming through beer.
NOse comes right out with roast and coffee, lots of fresh roasted coffee beans, light roasted malt, hint of oats and very dark chocolate with bitterness, light nutty and caramel malts, a bit chocolate covered peanut butter like, a bit of toffee comes through with a hint of bitter earthy hops.
Taste starts with big malts again very dark. Some roasted malt flavors bringing tons of coffee, almost infused coffee, but fresh roasted coffee beans and light bitterness with that. Then some dark chocolate, plenty of cocoa and light oats. Next comes in the caramel, toffee, and lots of sweet syrup like addition malts that don't come on syrupy though. The booze kicks in quickly as well with warming and slight tingly booze, not boozy tasting just hot. chewy with light nuts, again a light chocolate covered peanut butter like flavor. Light toasty brown malts come through later with the light earthy hop bitterness. Finish leaves lots of chocolate covered peanut butter, with light booze, fairly dry, a bit of bitterness, plenty of caramel and toffee with more coffee and light booze.
Mouth is med to fuller bodied, a bit thinner than I expected, plenty of hot booze, but good carb.
Overall mixed, it has lots of good points, but some not that great points. Great malts, chocolate and roast, coffee, caramel, nuts, etc, but the booze is a bit overpowering, bitterness is there but not a nice hop bitterness that blends well more from the roast, but no real off flavors which is nice. So I guess a pretty good beer if I can say that I would buy it again.
★ 1,703 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a creamy off white 1 finger head that fades fairly slowly with decent lacing, over almost pitch black super dark no light coming through beer.
NOse comes right out with roast and coffee, lots of fresh roasted coffee beans, light roasted malt, hint of oats and very dark chocolate with bitterness, light nutty and caramel malts, a bit chocolate covered peanut butter like, a bit of toffee comes through with a hint of bitter earthy hops.
Taste starts with big malts again very dark. Some roasted malt flavors bringing tons of coffee, almost infused coffee, but fresh roasted coffee beans and light bitterness with that. Then some dark chocolate, plenty of cocoa and light oats. Next comes in the caramel, toffee, and lots of sweet syrup like addition malts that don't come on syrupy though. The booze kicks in quickly as well with warming and slight tingly booze, not boozy tasting just hot. chewy with light nuts, again a light chocolate covered peanut butter like flavor. Light toasty brown malts come through later with the light earthy hop bitterness. Finish leaves lots of chocolate covered peanut butter, with light booze, fairly dry, a bit of bitterness, plenty of caramel and toffee with more coffee and light booze.
Mouth is med to fuller bodied, a bit thinner than I expected, plenty of hot booze, but good carb.
Overall mixed, it has lots of good points, but some not that great points. Great malts, chocolate and roast, coffee, caramel, nuts, etc, but the booze is a bit overpowering, bitterness is there but not a nice hop bitterness that blends well more from the roast, but no real off flavors which is nice. So I guess a pretty good beer if I can say that I would buy it again.
★ 1,703 characters
Pimp from Clown Shoes
3.98
out of 5
based on 162 ratings.
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
Poured from a 22 oz brown bomber into a clear glass snifter. Bottled on 6/2012 on bottom corner of label. Purchased at Total Wine (Norwalk, CT) for $7.99.
A: Pleasing chestnut brown with staunch 1-2 finger sof tightly bubbled, cola-like light beige head with decent retention and some scraps of lace.
S: Subtle chocolate and coffee grounds aroma mix with light caramel bready almost doughy malt qualities. Not much but mild earthy hopping. No real alcohol aspect.
T: The flavor is not well-integrated and has a heavy alcohol/booze that muddies the flavor further. The chocolate and coffee in the nose, mild to begin with, are even more masked by a cardboardy, slightly metallic alcohol -like, chemical flavor. The nuttiness is very strong too and really doesn't mesh with the alcohol and the other malt flavors. This would be a lot better beer at 8% -- to me the alcohol is too forward and blunts any subtleties that might be there. The finish has a little finesse with a little more chocolate presence, but overall I think this one misses with me: it just lands like a big thud on your palate.
M: The mouthfeel is somewhat better with a smooth creaminess, but the booziness does hamper this aspect a little bit as well. Carbonation is low and well-done. Pretty chewy overall.
O: Not really what I was expecting -- the flavors don't really work well together and it is way to boozy for me, which gets in the way of the flavors that should come through in a very big brown ale.
★ 1,481 characters