The Inkwell 2005
Offshore Ale Company

 

Pours dark, murky brown with faint hints of mahogany, with a perfect dark tan head that leaves sticky lacing.

Aromas of malt out front, and hints of chocolate.

Tastes of smooth, malty goodness. Dark chocolate, hints of malted milk and vanilla. Absolutely no alcoholic heat.

Smooooth and creamy, full bodied but not heavy.

Immensely Poundable!! ;-)

Poured into my Offshore Ale pint glass.

I no longer work for Offshore, so I am finally able to review their beers. :)
'05 vintage, aged in Jack Daniels casks.

Pours one of the deepest browns I've ever seen. Dark and menacing. 1 finger head of dark tan foam with very nice lacing.
Ok, the smell. Dark chocolate, malt and a slight bourbon nose. Marinated figs with vanilla and a faint alcoholic punch. Very inviting nose.
Minimal carbonation. Nice big mouthfeel. Sticks to the palate. Malt is eclipsed by the tasted of bourbon, chocolate, oak, vanilla, raisins and deep dark fruit. Gorgeous mix of tastes. I've had this beer many, many times before and I still can't get over how drinkable it is for 10.5 %. Alcohol really never makes itself known too much. And when your drinking them on July 4th, that may not be the best thing ;)
I could go on and on, but I won't. I love this beer. One of the best stouts I've ever had.

1/2 Growler filled at the brewery. 2006 vintage.

Poured into a heavy glass chalice, formed a 1/4" brown head over the opaque dark brown/black brew. Head lasts and lasts, with lots of gluey lace. Aroma is hearty dark maltiness. Taste continues the attitude, heavy rich coffee, with bitter and sweet battling, finally ending with hops tipping the scale toward the bitter for the close. Mouthfeel is creamy and smooth, with scary drinkability for the style and abv. This is one that forces you to enjoy the ride.

On tap at the Linwood in Boston. Poured into a 16oz plastic cup (probably plastic due to the baseball game that afternoon).

This beer is very, very good. While it is a little rough upfront, it smoothes into a winderful finish, with fruity notes to go alone with the slightly chocolately taste. It is the most drinkable Double Stout that I have ever tried, just a joy.

Served on-tap at Redbones on April 4.

Cannot get enough of this beer. Black with some ruby glimmers poking through. Thin head that valiantly holds up throughout the time it takes to drink this beer. Nose is surprisingly mild unlike som eamples opf the style. Just subtle tones of bittersweet chocolate.

Flavor is rich without any one flavor overpowering. All nicely balanced between dark chocolate, vanilla, prunes/raisins and dark-roasted coffee beans. Lots of heavily roasted malts provide a slight non-hoppy bitterness. The ABV is camoflaged nicely and makes this beer a danger to drink. Thick and heavy mouthfeel that is just all too smooth. However, not sloying in the cheeks. Cannot get enough of this beer and will need to stick my nose into Redbones a bit more often to see if it is on-tap again.

Hmmm....had a glass after work last night, another at the Offshore dinner at the Linwood late yesterday evening and here I find myself unable to pass Redbones without having another glass of this one today.
Solid black in color with a 1/4 finger of tan head that fades except for a fine layer...decent lacing as I work my way thru the 10.5 ounces served in a snifter.
Aroma is decent with a generous amount of semi-sweet chocolate and roasted malt...not detecting much else, but the aroma becomes much more pleasureable as it warms to room temp...bringing out much more of a sweetness.
The taste is where this one simply takes off...again, perfectly balanced. Huge chocolate profile with a hint of espresso, vanilla bean, and just enough sweetness to fit the style.
Dont know how you can mask almost 10% abv entirely, but it is achieved with this one...no heat, no burn, no alcohol period.
The mouthfeel is velvety smooth and the carbonation is just enough to make this one highly drinkable.
By far, one of my favorite Double Stout/Imperial Stouts I have had the immense pleasure in consuming, and now that it is starting to become available on tap at some of my favorite watering holes is a very, very scary thing.
Bring on the bottled Inkwell!