Velvet Glove | Iron Fist Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Iron Fist Brewing Company
California, United States
ironfistbrewing.com
Style: American Double / Imperial Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 9.00%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
You know the expression, "A Velvet Glove and an Iron Fist"? It was coined to refer to a regime that used a soft exterior to hide its punishingly unforgiving nature. This seems an apt description for our Velvet Glove. Its placid appearance and unparalleled smoothness hide the truth; this is one fiendishly strong stout. Rich, chocolaty espresso dominates the flavor profile, with a velvety smooth texture that will haunt your senses.
Added by Sideswipe on 01-15-2011
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Ratings: 348 | Reviews: 101
2/5 rDev -49.1%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Solid stout drinks pretty well nothing outstanding but it's solid
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look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Solid stout drinks pretty well nothing outstanding but it's solid
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2.2/5 rDev -44%
I let this beer age in my cellar for about 6 months. Something was really off with this beer. A sourness in there. Maybe infected? Not sure, but it was one of the worst imperial stouts I've ever had. No woder it was way cheaper than most other options (I think I paid $6.99 for a big bottle). I had about 4 oz tops and had to drainpour the rest.
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I let this beer age in my cellar for about 6 months. Something was really off with this beer. A sourness in there. Maybe infected? Not sure, but it was one of the worst imperial stouts I've ever had. No woder it was way cheaper than most other options (I think I paid $6.99 for a big bottle). I had about 4 oz tops and had to drainpour the rest.
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2.65/5 rDev -32.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2
Pours an inky abysmal black with a good amount considering the ABV) of tan head around the rim and a thin layer over the top. Some soapy bubbles stick to the glass. The first thing I notice is a weird CO2 smell. Maybe it's not CO2, but it definitely smells like a gas or something similar. Dark chocolate and thick caramel are in there somewhere. Milk chocolate sums the taste up well. It's chocolatey and smooth. Some nuttiness, easily drinkable. Hints of vanilla. Lingering bitterness is mild, especially considering the ABV. Smooth and creamy, the mouthfeel is flirting with watery. Dry finish.
This was one weird beer. It was borderline watery and didn't show its ABV at all. very chocolatey without any alcohol burn. This is all fine, but the gassy smell really put me off. Hopefully I had a bad batch because it's really distracting.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2
Pours an inky abysmal black with a good amount considering the ABV) of tan head around the rim and a thin layer over the top. Some soapy bubbles stick to the glass. The first thing I notice is a weird CO2 smell. Maybe it's not CO2, but it definitely smells like a gas or something similar. Dark chocolate and thick caramel are in there somewhere. Milk chocolate sums the taste up well. It's chocolatey and smooth. Some nuttiness, easily drinkable. Hints of vanilla. Lingering bitterness is mild, especially considering the ABV. Smooth and creamy, the mouthfeel is flirting with watery. Dry finish.
This was one weird beer. It was borderline watery and didn't show its ABV at all. very chocolatey without any alcohol burn. This is all fine, but the gassy smell really put me off. Hopefully I had a bad batch because it's really distracting.
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2.71/5 rDev -31%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5
Bottle, thanks Mark. Pours black with a decent amount of carbonation and a medium head. Nose is metal, sour malts, light roast, char. Flavor opens with a toasted malt and erupts with a very abrasive tinny quality that comes across as medicinal and sour. Window cleaner and metal on the finish. Obviously, not good. I don't know if this particular bottle had a problem or if this beer is grossly over rated.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5
Bottle, thanks Mark. Pours black with a decent amount of carbonation and a medium head. Nose is metal, sour malts, light roast, char. Flavor opens with a toasted malt and erupts with a very abrasive tinny quality that comes across as medicinal and sour. Window cleaner and metal on the finish. Obviously, not good. I don't know if this particular bottle had a problem or if this beer is grossly over rated.
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2.73/5 rDev -30.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5
Poured from a 750 ml bottle into a tasting glass.
A: Opaque black color with less than one finger of beige foam head. Scant lacing remains on the glass.
S: Spirituous chocolate liqueur exhibits malt in a very refined state. Dark fruit is also featured prominently, with a vinous quality suggestive of earthy Merlot.
T: Begins sweet, with early fruit that is dark but over-ripe and even cheesy. Acidity is intermediate in intensity but brief in duration, as husky roasted malt emerges into the middle along with vitamin-tincture minerality. Roast turns to burnt malt toward the finish, which ends with a boozy, drying, and scorched bitter pall.
M: Medium to thick viscosity, syrupy on the palate, with medium carbonation.
D/O: This imperial stout represents a clumsy attempt at the style, effectively cultivating a handful of appropriate qualities but then utterly failing in the effort to weave them together. Dark grain goes overboard, leaving the palate a scorched wasteland where burnt flavors linger cloyingly. The smell is pleasant by comparison, with chocolate and booze featured in decadent, dessert-like combination.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5
Poured from a 750 ml bottle into a tasting glass.
A: Opaque black color with less than one finger of beige foam head. Scant lacing remains on the glass.
S: Spirituous chocolate liqueur exhibits malt in a very refined state. Dark fruit is also featured prominently, with a vinous quality suggestive of earthy Merlot.
T: Begins sweet, with early fruit that is dark but over-ripe and even cheesy. Acidity is intermediate in intensity but brief in duration, as husky roasted malt emerges into the middle along with vitamin-tincture minerality. Roast turns to burnt malt toward the finish, which ends with a boozy, drying, and scorched bitter pall.
M: Medium to thick viscosity, syrupy on the palate, with medium carbonation.
D/O: This imperial stout represents a clumsy attempt at the style, effectively cultivating a handful of appropriate qualities but then utterly failing in the effort to weave them together. Dark grain goes overboard, leaving the palate a scorched wasteland where burnt flavors linger cloyingly. The smell is pleasant by comparison, with chocolate and booze featured in decadent, dessert-like combination.
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3.02/5 rDev -23.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
This is just pedestrian stuff. Totally meh. Don't waste your time.
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look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
This is just pedestrian stuff. Totally meh. Don't waste your time.
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3.08/5 rDev -21.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
On tap at Brew-ligion.
thick black. Very smooth mouthfeel. Some roasty notes. Not a ton of chocolate or coffee notes. Maybe some cocoa on the finish. Espresso aroma becomes more apparent as the beer warms. Overall a very easy to drink beer that I recommend for stout fans. The 9% is well hidden.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
On tap at Brew-ligion.
thick black. Very smooth mouthfeel. Some roasty notes. Not a ton of chocolate or coffee notes. Maybe some cocoa on the finish. Espresso aroma becomes more apparent as the beer warms. Overall a very easy to drink beer that I recommend for stout fans. The 9% is well hidden.
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3.23/5 rDev -17.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
My wife picked up this bomber at Holiday Wine Cellar in Escondido, CA, to serve at our tasting last night. Poured a dark brown color with a small lingering brown head. Aromas of black licorice, roasted malt, chocolate and light vanilla. On the palate, this one was medium bodied and smooth, with flavors of roasted malt, currants and chocolate. Not bad, but a huge disappointment at its price point ($11/750).
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
My wife picked up this bomber at Holiday Wine Cellar in Escondido, CA, to serve at our tasting last night. Poured a dark brown color with a small lingering brown head. Aromas of black licorice, roasted malt, chocolate and light vanilla. On the palate, this one was medium bodied and smooth, with flavors of roasted malt, currants and chocolate. Not bad, but a huge disappointment at its price point ($11/750).
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Velvet Glove from Iron Fist Brewing Company
3.93
out of 5
based on 348 ratings.
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1
Instant foam everywhere, oh no looks infected! Finally settles down to a light headed black beer with no lacing or retention.
Smells like sour cherries and burnt rubber.
The taste is very astringent with a big burnt flavor and a long lingering medicinal rubber quality. Not good, tastes very off, and looking like a drain pour.
The mouthfeel is very thin and under carbonated for a beer that almost exploded at opening. Not much viscosity for a beer of this size.
Bad, just bad, I hope this an isolated problem with this bottle as its not even drinkable.
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