Darkest Hour
Anchorage Brewing Company

Darkest HourDarkest Hour
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From:
Anchorage Brewing Company
 
Alaska, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
ABV:
13%
Score:
93
Avg:
4.19 | pDev: 9.79%
Reviews:
74
Ratings:
372
Status:
Active
Rated:
Sep 21, 2021
Added:
Jun 03, 2013
Wants:
  89
Gots:
  88
Ale brewed with Summit hops. Triple fermented: First with a Belgian yeast, second in Pinot Noir and rye whiskey barrels. And finally in the bottle with a wine yeast for natural carbonation.

40 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BEERchitect:
Photo of BEERchitect
Reviewed by BEERchitect from Kentucky

4.35/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I worry about Belgian stouts and the friction that's caused by the highly roast character and the acidic puckering that, in tandem accelerates each flavor and throws them both way out of balance. But because its "Anchorage" at the helm, I've got to feel confident that they'll pull it off well. Right?

Upon the pour, the ale foregoes its exuberant Belgian character and sides mightily with traditional Imperial Stout. Its rich black body slowly releases a creamy and delicately frothy mocha foam that dissolves back into the glass, but a gentle swirl rejuvenates its dense frothy character. Light on lace, the ale shows how it struggles with its immense body beneath.

Sour on the nose, the scent of tart cherries, burnt fruit, grape must all lead the way. A slow rise of chocolate, toast, and coffee eventually support the sour tinge but remains in the backdrop of aroma.

But to taste, the flavors erupt! Stout everywhere- the fudgey chocolates, smooth espresso, walnut, and overall robust roast taste is balanced superbly with burnt caramel and toffee. -and that's just the start. Upon these firm dessert-like underpinnings spring the savory notes of sherry wine, savory near-balsamic notes, a meaty element and some light salt to bring the flavor to live. Vinous acidity plays on the finish with pino noir and oak spices for a semi-clean closure of earth and rum.

Full bodied, yet nowhere near the level that's expected from a 13% beer. The malts hide its strength well and without over-sweetening the beer. The wine and whisky heat never exaggerate the tone- the smooth warmth weaves into the ale like fine tawny port wines will.

Darkest Hour turned into darkest minutes for the few who shared this bottle. Its simply irresistible to leave the glass alone for much time at all as those savory and robust notes strike the perfect balance and invites a return to the glass much quicker than at 13% beer should.
Jul 20, 2013
More User Ratings:
Photo of BourbonForBeer
Rated by BourbonForBeer from Illinois

5/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Thick, balanced, nice malts, tasty in short.
Sep 21, 2021
 
Rated: 4.23 by WDJersey from Colorado

Jul 12, 2021
 
Rated: 4.04 by Duncian from Pennsylvania

Jun 21, 2021
Photo of beergoot
Reviewed by beergoot from Colorado

4.13/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Dark, dark body; thin yet lasting light brown head. Woody, roasted char smell; dull, dark chocolate and cocoa presence; malted milk balls; roasted nuts. Dialed up taste flavors noted in the smell; a bit of fire roasted nut character; darker, bitter chocolate; bright whiskey note; earthy sweetness; moderate bitterness throughout. Thick and oily body; sludgy; big residual sugar presence offset with some warm booziness.

The beer's construction seems unique. I might admit to detecting some Belgian yeast qualities, but certainly nothing with wine yeast (probably a neutral sort of strain). Regardless, this is a fine example of a big, imperial styled stout. It's rich and complex, has some great flavor with it's triple fermentation and the mouthfeel has some real depth and meat to it.

Poured out at 57° F; no dating information seen.
Jun 20, 2021
Photo of DarkLordScott
Reviewed by DarkLordScott from Wisconsin

4.99/5  rDev +19.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
This is an amazing brew! There are few beers like this one. Pours deepest black and only a meager head. The aroma is heavenly; oak, dark malt and a faint hint of smoke. The taste is one of the most complex out there. Deep oak, smoky malt, chocolate and notes of vanilla. A smoothness that few can match. You will travel the world over before you find anything else remotely like this beer.
May 31, 2021
 
Rated: 4.23 by smithj4 from New York

May 20, 2021
 
Rated: 4.44 by TheWolf from Delaware

Mar 28, 2021
 
Rated: 4.09 by BarrelAgedG from California

Feb 19, 2021
 
Rated: 4.19 by vrbulldog22 from Ohio

Jun 28, 2020
 
Rated: 4.23 by psweendogg from Connecticut

Apr 26, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by morrowd3 from Vermont

Feb 08, 2020
Photo of clayrock81
Reviewed by clayrock81 from Florida

4.03/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured a black body with minimal head and dark tan lace that dies quick. Smell is roasted/burnt chocolate, some woody booze and touches of other malts. Smooth like velvet, a boozy heat passes over a warm chocolate sensation with a touch of dry, roasted malts and a slight bitterness in the finish. Don't really get the vinous aspect, but I really like this beer as it is easy to drink and mellows as it warms and has great balance.
Jan 18, 2020
Photo of Treyliff
Reviewed by Treyliff from West Virginia

4.33/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
750ml bottle poured into a tulip
Batch 2, bottled December 2014

A- pours jet black in color with a one-finger creamy dark brown head that eventually reduces to a ring around the edge

S- aroma opens with chocolate, cocoa powder and vanilla, followed by sharp notes of black cherry, red wine, blueberries, molasses, tootsie rolls, chocolate icing & a light undertone of woody and peppery barrel

T- sweet malt notes of cocoa, chocolate cream, vanilla and caramel up front. Mid-palate brings out equal parts of whiskey barrel, adding a peppery rye element, as well as sharp oak. The finish gives dark fruit notes of red cherries, blueberries and dried cranberries. Lingers of chocolate and more barrel

M- medium body with moderate carbonation leads to a creamy mouthfeel that continues into a slightly warming finish

O- after five years, this is drinking just fine. Hardly any signs of oxidation, lots of dark fruity notes throughout
Dec 14, 2019
 
Rated: 4.82 by jason_nwx from Oregon

Sep 22, 2019
 
Rated: 4.49 by 7irondave from Massachusetts

Aug 18, 2019
 
Rated: 4.25 by Dactrius from Netherlands Antilles

Jul 25, 2019
 
Rated: 3.99 by Diura from New York

Jul 14, 2019
 
Rated: 4.38 by BirdsandHops from Oregon

Jun 27, 2019
 
Rated: 4.02 by Raziel313 from California

Feb 09, 2019
Darkest Hour from Anchorage Brewing Company
Beer rating: 93 out of 100 with 372 ratings