Batch 100 Strong Black Ale
Mad Fox Brewing Company

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From:
Mad Fox Brewing Company
 
Virginia, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
ABV:
10%
Score:
94
Avg:
4.38 | pDev: 8.45%
Reviews:
8
Ratings:
25
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jul 23, 2016
Added:
Oct 28, 2011
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by droomyster:
Photo of droomyster
Reviewed by droomyster from Virginia

4.2/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had a half pint today at the cask tapping, I typically frown when given a half serving but quickly realized that this beer was something so special that I needed no other beer to justify my visit to the brewpub.

Pours black and still as a swamp, with almost no head to speak of. Aromas of are hot and sweet. Steaming molasses and warm toffee are held aloft on the wings of alcoholic gusts. Not a roasty smells despite the depth of its blackness. Fascinating taste. The alcohol is so hot from the get go that you know you have to take it slow. Gives off a beautiful whiskey burn from minute it touches the tongue. It's kinda syrupy and medicinal up front with raisin and other dark fruits becoming more prominent in the middle. Cherry liqueur and port-like flavors come in on the back end before giving way to a big vanilla finish that lingers for several minutes. Extremely low carbonation. Very slick texture, like drinking a light motor oil. A captivating, ponderous beer. I highly recommend trying it.
Oct 28, 2011
More User Ratings:
Photo of HattedClassic
Reviewed by HattedClassic from Virginia

4.21/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Beer pours a nice creamy tan head with a slight brown note. Beer itself is a nice dark black with slick sheen to it.

Smell is really good. Nice moderate bourbon note mixing with the chocolate, vanilla, and light oak notes. Overall, the notes are well balanced ad don't overwhelm each other but complement. Slight booze note.

The taste is just as good as the smell. The bourbon is a bit stronger and so is the alcohol but not to it's detriment. The chocolate is still there as is the vanilla but the oak gets lost occasionally.

The feel is good. Heavy body with a nice light but biting carbonation to give it texture. Smooth and a little bit slick.

Overall, a pretty good beer. It's a good choice of barrel and the notes work well. I'd say go for it but today is probably the last day it's available.
Jul 23, 2016
 
Rated: 4.79 by Navalartichoke from Virginia

Jul 13, 2015
 
Rated: 4.71 by Dsimenson from California

Oct 22, 2014
 
Rated: 4.24 by CuriousMonk from District of Columbia

Sep 02, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by pcarney8 from Virginia

Aug 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Gatordaddy from Maryland

Dec 08, 2013
Photo of blackie
Reviewed by blackie from Oregon

4.32/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
snifter on the brewpub patio

a: served in a snifter glass, this commemorative is black in color, the tan head retained as a ring around the glass

s: bittersweet chocolate and roasted barley form a dense malt nose with tasteful but clear notes of bourbon barrel; raisin and prune, sweet tobacco, dark sugars, and mild earthy hops

m: carbonation on the low end, full, smooth body

t: a body of bittersweet chocolate and roasted barley holds deeper flavors of prune, raisin, sweet pipe tobacco, oaked bourbon, dark cane sugar, mild hops, complex and quite tasty

o: a deep beer with lots of character that shows its barreling well, very enjoyable to take your time with
Sep 01, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by starrdogg from District of Columbia

Aug 14, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by Myst from Maryland

Aug 14, 2013
 
Rated: 4.75 by jtladner from District of Columbia

Jul 13, 2013
Photo of cjgiant
Reviewed by cjgiant from District of Columbia

3.39/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
O: Drinking barrel-aged version at 3rd anniversary party. Obvious barrel-aging was in whiskey (bourbon) barrels. Strong nose of whiskey, represented in taste as well, especially up front. The coffee flavors of the stoudt hit later. If you're a fan of bourbon barrel aging (I am not, really), I think this would be worth a try.

A: black with little lacing
S: obvious bourbon barrel notes
T: whiskey, coffee
M: not much, can tell it's a higher ABV beer
Jul 13, 2013
 
Rated: 5 by djre4orm from Virginia

Jun 06, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by ipas-for-life from Virginia

May 23, 2013
 
Rated: 4.75 by warriorsoul from Pennsylvania

May 10, 2013
Photo of billab914
Reviewed by billab914 from Virginia

3.97/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at Mad Fox's 2nd anniversary party. Served in a snifter. Pitch black in color with just a trace amount of a head around the edges of the glass. Very dark and still looking.

The aroma has a strong barrel presence to it. Bourbon, oak and vanilla all really stand out in it. I get a little malty, caramel sweetness, but the bourbon barrel seems to steal the show. The bourbon may be a little strong, but it's also good.

Again, lots of bourbon shows through in the taste. There is some really nice notes of brown sugar, vanilla and oak but it's also a little hot. A little bit of the darker, roasted malts show through, but the bourbon is definitely the dominant flavor.

The mouthfeel is on the heavier side with carbonation being low. Overall, I thought it was a pretty solid beer. The bourbon dominated a little, but overall it came together well. The bourbon flavors were really good in it.
Aug 07, 2012
 
Rated: 4.75 by jacewg from District of Columbia

Aug 02, 2012
 
Rated: 4.5 by ncaudle from Virginia

Jul 26, 2012
 
Rated: 4.25 by nmann08 from Virginia

Jun 11, 2012
 
Rated: 5 by Eriktheipaman from California

May 17, 2012
Batch 100 Strong Black Ale from Mad Fox Brewing Company
Beer rating: 94 out of 100 with 25 ratings