Assassin
Toppling Goliath Brewing Company

AssassinAssassin
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Toppling Goliath Brewing Company
 
Iowa, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
Ranked #15
ABV:
12%
Score:
100
Ranked #31
Avg:
4.65 | pDev: 7.96%
Reviews:
173
Ratings:
1,516
Status:
Active
Rated:
Yesterday at 03:22 PM
Added:
Feb 20, 2012
Wants:
  2,118
Gots:
  194
After endless hours of scorching in heat, brewing in turmoil, fermenting in angst, the Assassin’s journey has just begun. In the shadow of the temple, he lies in wait, maturing his plot to perfection. He emerges merciless, dominated by darkness, his bite laced with the charred remnants of his victims. No man dares to cross his path. They will forever sleep with one eye open, in fear of the Assassin’s hot kiss of death.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by aleigator:
Photo of aleigator
Reviewed by aleigator from Germany

4.01/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours a thicker night black color, with no head at all.

Smells of scorched malts, smoothed by milk chocolate, dried raisins and rock sugar. Has a rich, wooden Bourbon quality, which blends perfectly into the malts, evoking a rich chocolate profile, with molasses and matured oak on top. Scorched qualities are quite apparent, together with the slightly spicy barrel foundation.

Has a very creamy mouthfeel, due to its non existing carbonation in combination with a big amount of whipped cream.

Tastes of molasses from the very beginning, gently wrapped up by earth and profound malts, resulting in a balanced toffee impression. Bourbon gets then introduced by pleasant, hot oak, together with even more smoothing chocolate, this time heading into a bitter chocolate direction, reminding of alcoholic truffels. The bitterness from the chocolate turns more pungent during the finish, still soft on the palate due to the beers rich cream profile. Spicy bourbon completes the rich finish, accompanied by a dry touch, leaving the palate with a long lasting warmth, working its way slowly down the stomach.

The more the beer opens up, the more I like it, especially its finish is stellar, based on its smooth cream foundation, handling Bourbon, licorice and peaty, burned malts. Its slick licorice quality grows a bit too pungent though, amped up by the malts, resulting in a sweet sticky impression, which takes up a bit too much place on the palate.
Nov 01, 2015
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.87 by GreenBayBA from Wisconsin

Yesterday at 03:22 PM
Photo of moysauce
Rated by moysauce from Illinois

4.84/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Absolutely sublime.
Mar 21, 2024
Photo of sd123
Rated by sd123 from Georgia

4.75/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Dark embrace invitational
Mar 10, 2024
Photo of bbtkd
Reviewed by bbtkd from South Dakota

4.54/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Toppling Goliath Assassin 2023 BBA Imperial Stout, 15.% ABV. Pours thick and black with no head on a 5oz taproom pour into a tiny-ass glass. Aroma is mostly roast malt and bourbon, with some dark fruit, chocolate and caramel. Taste follows, plus vanilla and other subtle flavors hiding behind the gigantic boozy flavor, moderately sweet. Excellent thick and smooth mouthfeel, overall world class. Mega-boozy.
Feb 22, 2024
 
Rated: 4.68 by Jcoleman4 from Ohio

Jan 11, 2024
Photo of MonDak_Joe1953
Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota

4.56/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Tap pour at Ansari's, during its 12 Beers of Toppling Goliath. 2022 vintage.
Black colored color. Light tan head; this quickly retreats to a thin ring. Leaves behind a clinging ring of lacing.
Aroma of bourbon barrel, dark roasted malts, oak, dark fruit, caramel, and chocolate.
Taste is sweet from the barrel and the malts. Flavors of bourbon soaked dark roasted malts, oak, cherry, prune, toffee, chocolate, and vanilla. Very smooth and lingering aftertaste.
Thick and sticky mouth feel. Higher ABV% is hidden but exudes vapors. Supportive carbonation.
Is a very tasty bourbon soaked treat.
Dec 23, 2023
 
Rated: 4.5 by dontknojack from Louisiana

Dec 17, 2023
Photo of Saylor
Reviewed by Saylor from Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I had the pleasure of sharing the 2023 variety with a friend. Easily the best, beer especially stout, I’ve ever had. This puts those other mass produced, thin barrel stouts to shame.

Wonderfully thick full-flavored mouthfeel. Coconut.
Dec 15, 2023
 
Rated: 4.86 by mando31 from Illinois

Dec 10, 2023
 
Rated: 4.56 by stmoorea from Illinois

Dec 09, 2023
 
Rated: 4.69 by Jimmylikesbeer from Michigan

Dec 07, 2023
 
Rated: 4.5 by Dope from Massachusetts

Dec 05, 2023
Photo of jb_4226
Rated by jb_4226 from Texas

4.9/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
#193, yummy!
Nov 26, 2023
 
Rated: 4.75 by JonB25 from Delaware

Nov 23, 2023
 
Rated: 5 by ThaKennster from Texas

Jul 18, 2023
 
Rated: 4.75 by cp45 from New Jersey

Jul 13, 2023
 
Rated: 4.49 by SayBoom from Ukraine

May 05, 2023
Photo of JohnnyHopps
Reviewed by JohnnyHopps from Indiana

4.79/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Appearance - The beer was an inky black color with a dark head clinging to the sides of the glass.

Smell - Dark malts and barrel were the primary parts of the nose.

Taste - Initially, the profile was thick boozy dark chocolate. The profile with sweet, but nowhere close to being cloying. Notes of raisin, tobacco, and a hint of vanilla followed. The chocolate goodness lingered in the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel - The feel was thick and sticky, clinging to the sides and top of the tongue.

Overall - This beer was definitely hype worthy.
Apr 24, 2023
 
Rated: 4.65 by Chuckg93 from Oregon

Apr 12, 2023
Assassin from Toppling Goliath Brewing Company
Beer rating: 100 out of 100 with 1516 ratings