Colossal Six
Port City Brewing

Black color. One finger thick, tan head. Aroma of dark fruits and coffee. Moderate sweetness in taste. Flavor of dark fruits and chocolate. Moderate, roasted bitterness.

Pours a very dark color with nice head and lacing
Aroma has chocolate and roasted malt hints
Taste has a chocolate and roasted mat flavor
A medium bodied decently carbonated beer
A good Russian Imperial Stout

Jet black, deep great color.

Pleasant nose. Nothing too strong comes out.

Delicious. Rich, smooth and tasty. Like a really great RIS should taste.

Had this in Feb 2024, it was bottled Jan 2017.

I hope I can find more.

Aged almost two years.

 

 

 

 

Pours a little thick, as expected. No head on this, only the slightest khaki ring. Aroma is coffee, malt, and dark fruit. Wow, very nice. We're getting lacing on the glass when I swirl.

Taste is charred malt (almost burnt), I got bitter coffee, slight cherries, pipe tobacco, and a bitter from hops coming in. Warming (hey, it's 10.2%) but not boozy at all. Sticky at the end. As it warms, I'm getting a more soda mouthful. Sweet, almost cream on top of the general roastiness. And molasses, yeah, that's it. Slightly burnt molasses.

A little cloying for a Russian. Still quite drinkable.

I was lucky enough to try this straight from the teet. Had this on a tour at the impressive Virginia brewing facility. The beer is just a wonderful example of a straightforward Imperial Stout. The chocolate notes play well with the roasted coffee. The beer has a lovely lingering smokiness. All and all a winner.

 

 

2017-11-01
12oz bottle served in a snifter. I don't see a date. Probably as a 6th anniversary, it's a one-off batch.

Pours black with a tiny head. Moderate carbonation for a RIS. Smell is coffee and anise. Maybe a hint of chocolate.

Taste is actually quite nice -- more noticeable chocolate, more of a roasty bitterness, just enough sweetness (maybe a molasses character to it). It's above average for sure.

Mouthfeel is thick, rich, dry. Overall, nice beer.

On Tap.

A - Dark brown to black pour with an inconsistent caramel colored lacing ring with nice density.

S - Nose is on the lighter side for a stout this big. Dark chocolate roast, light char, and a little bit of cream.

T - The taste makes up for the weak nose. Starts out with light notes of chocolate and some light smokiness. The flavor builds across the entire sip and at the end builds momentum like a freight train and finishes strong with long lingering dark chocolate roast, char/smokiness, nice roast, some alcohol, cream, and dark chocolate bitterness.

M - Big bodied and thick with a charcoal dry finish.

O - Pretty darn good and worth a try. This one sits in the middle of the pack for me but definitely worth trying.

 

 

 

Poured from a 12 oz brown bottle into a clear glass tulip. 2017 vintage.

A: Black with 1/2-finger beige head with short retention and no lacing.

S: Fudge aroma with raisins and black licorice. Dark bread toast with some candied prunes.

T: Loads of fudge and dark chocolate with light coffee and medium caramel notes, and more bready Munich like character. Dark malts provide some prune and raisin fruitiness. Moderately bitter but no harsh roasted notes.

M: Very lush and full-bodied but not cloying or hard to drink at all. Low carbonation.

O: I may or may not cellar this not for too long if I do -- 2-3 years max as it is excellent now and not boozy at all. Great beer from unsung Port City.