Abraxas
Perennial Artisan Ales

 

 

2021
11.5 ABV

L: Poured from a 750ml bottle into a snifter - heavy black pour with very little dark foam risen to the surface.
S: Notes of chocolate, coffee, dark fruits, vanilla, cinnamon. Very on point with the description and it’s awesome because you can smell the chili in there as well.
T: Wow. Definitely getting the bakers/ milk chocolate upfront along with some vanilla, cinnamon, dark fruits, chili peppers and malts. This is so good!
F: Thick, syrupy, heavy bodied, easy to drink. The abv hides very well in this.
O: I knew once I read chili it would be a hit or miss because sometimes with other beers you can’t taste it as much but this hits it on point. Great job!

 

 

2021 vintage:

Poured from a 750ml bottle into a snifter.

Look- Black, opaque, no visible particulate, dark brown frothy head, slightly below average lacing, average head retention.

Smell- Cacao, vanilla, chili pepper, slight Ceylon cinnamon, medium strength of scent.

Taste- Cacao, vanilla, chili pepper, Ceylon cinnamon, moderately sweet, mildly spicy, high strength of flavor.

Feel- Medium body, highly silky, slightly below average carbonation, highly mouth warming, moderately mouth coating, moderately sweet, mildly spicy.

Overall- Black and opaque with average head retention. Bouquet was a fantastic mix of cacao, vanilla, chili pepper and Ceylon cinnamon with medium strength. Taste was a high strength blend of cacao, vanilla, chili pepper and Ceylon cinnamon that was truly delightful. This beer had medium body with high silkiness and mouth warming properties. Overall this beer provided a fantastic experience and is one of the best Stouts I have ever had!

 

2022 Vintage

CONTAINS: Lactose


Way too sweet and unbalanced, with some off flavors.

 

 

Poured into a tulip. Very modest head. Zero lacing. Very dark brown, but not quite black. Essentially opaque. Not as viscous as some of the style.

Very pleasant and melded aromas. Chocolate, coffee, cinnamon, vanilla, and cashew.

Roasty but sweet malts on the tip of the tongue. Coffee and nutty/vanilla notes in midstream. Bitterness boosts here to the end. The cinnamon gives way to the ancho warmth at the finish. Hides the booze well.

Medium-full bodied but not quite chewy. Modest carbonation but not sticky or cloying.

This brew and Bomb! are sixes and sevens for me, and that's a high compliment. This is a more restrained take, with a bit less sweetness and heat and more nutty goodness.

On draught at the Beer Study in Chapel Hill, NC. Served in a tulip glass. It pour a very dark walnut color approaching black with a modest, medium-color head and thin coating of lacing. A lovely smell of roasted malt, fresh coffee, nuts, and a strong scent of cinnamon. This is really delicious! The taste is a mellow blend of chocolate, fresh coffee, earthy malt, and cinnamon with a slightly peppery finish. The flavors are bold but extremely mellow and well-balanced. The mouth feel is soft and velvety with low/moderate carbonation, and the 11.5% ABV is not distracting in the least. Overall, Abraxas is stellar; one of the best American Imperial Stouts I've had. The BA version must be amazing!

 

 

Im sampling a cellar temp 750 ml bottle poured into my snifter. Beer is part of a BIF winnings from the NFL BIF 33, I think.
Beer was received last fall (2021) and has been in my cellar till today. I think it is a 2019 vintage.
The beer pours a jet black color with a fluffy tan head foaming up 2 cm even with a gentle pour. This foam slowly fades to a sturdy edge layer after the pour.
Aroma on this brew is rich dark chocolate, fudge brownie, cinnamon notes and some earthy slightly spicy pepper notes. No hint of hops nor the ABV of this beer.
First sip from the glass reveals a medium body with fine tingly carbonation and a silky texture. The mouthfeel is a little less full than I expected, but this seems a nice stout on physical traits.
Flavor is roasted malts, dark chocolate, and fudge. I then get some cinnamon and peppery notes, with very mild tingly warmth buried in the background. This warmth does show up again on the burps on the beer. I never get any hint of the ABV and hops are absent on flavor profile too.
Very glad to have tried this one as its been on my wants for a bit. Would gladly drink again.

2019 vintage bottle. Black pour, miniscule ring of head. Dark, roasty aroma. Taste is a straightforward roasty stout, peppers show up in a small way, adding some heat. Deep and rich. A true classic.

2021 Variant - did this back to back with the BA version - was badly missing the peppers, which was a big disappointment for me - had the 2019 variant on tap a few years back, and just remember it being fantastic - this was good - not fantastic - I dont' want to make it sound like I didn't enjoy this, but the thing that makes Abraxas great, that perfect mix of the cinnamon, chilis, etc...it just wasn't there on this bottle.

Well i traveled north to a beer joint i'd never been to before but i knew they had good ratings and were a well liked store. Mack's Beverage in Parma, Ohio. Well yes, the place was very cool and had a lot to choose from. But i was really surprised to see multiple vintages of Abraxas on the shelf. The different years were different prices so i just bought the oldest and most expensive one which was a 2020. $25. Worth a try. Poured into a snifter and man that head just disappeared as soon as i poured it. Color was dark brown. The smell is sweet like cocoa and coffee, with a tinge of spiciness to it that tingles the nose a bit. Taste is rich and velvety, warm smooth melting chocolate and a slight bitterness of coffee. Yes the cinnamon is also there enriching the experience. I'm looking for more chili pepper in the beer. It's slight but not nearly strong enough to get my top marks. I like it when the beer bites back. Mouthfeel is thick, rich, and full, bubbling only the slightest bit. Another reviewer compared this to Christmas Bomb and Xocoveza, and having had both those beers, I would say this rates pretty highly up there with both of those brews. Overall this is an awesome beer, and definitely one of the better stouts i've tried. There's nothing spectacularly unique about it, but as far as a stout goes, this sets the bar pretty high, manifesting what a stout can be if it's done well and done right. Cheers!

 

L: Pitch black . An abyss . Carefully poured into a 12oz snifter glass . Absolutely no head or lacing . Straight motor oil .

S: Vanilla , Cinnamon , and chocolate .

T: Vanilla , Chocolate , and coffee upfront . Chocolate on the finish too , as well as cinnamon , and peppers . Warm and spicy on the finish . Somewhat sweet.

F: Thick , silky mouthfeel . A good tinge of mild to low carbonation on the finish .

Overall I think this beer is fantastic . I’m a big fan of stouts . It’s expensive , but I would definitely buy this again .

 

 

 

 

 

Got this bottle in December 2017 and the age mellowed out the alcohol burn. It poured as black as ink with a small brown head that faded slowly and left basically zero lacing. It smells of cinnamon, dark chocolate, burnt coffee grinds and roasted peppers up front, followed by cocoa powder, brown sugar, charred wood and cooking spices. The ABV was quite subdued in the nose.

Tastes of dark chocolate and smoked chili peppers up front, followed by cinnamon, milk chocolate, burnt coffee grinds, roasted grains, cocoa powder, brown sugar, molasses, red wine, charred wood and cooking spices. The flavor has a lot of smoky, charred aspects but still does down easy like a well aged bourbon. The char and oaky components give it some hints of vanilla and campfire smoke, while covering up the ABV. Pretty smooth drinking for a heavy stout, this was quite enjoyable.

Minimalist dark khaki colored lopsided froth... Minimal retention... Color is an inky black... Huge aroma that can be detected without bringing nose near the glass... Cinnamon... Vanilla... Peppers... Cocoa... Loads of depth and complexity on the nose make this a delight... The complexity follows through to the palate... All the expected characters are present... Nothing dominates... They all ebb and flow lending to the richness and complexity... Full bodied... Sleek... A touch of chalkiness on the finish... World class exquisite brew... Well rounded... Complex... Challenging yet enjoyable... Wonderful beer and wonderful experience...

 

Crowler filled at Half Time in Mamaroneck on 3/26/22, unknown vintage but presumably the latest release from 2021

Yet another legendary Stout acquired at Half Time yesterday! The difference in rankings between this and the barrel aged version of it is shocking to me, at #245 vs #3, respectively. Still, I’m expecting a quality beer with this one. Let’s get into it

Pours jet black with a finger of dark tan head that fades to a thin cap and leaves minimal lacing

The peppery spice in the nose is really nice, it combines well with everything. I’m picking up on aromas of chipotle pepper, earthy cinnamon, roasty coffee, milk chocolate, spicy whiskey, light raisin, and vanilla

The balance carries over into taste, with the pepper adding a nice but firm spice. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting milk chocolate, cocoa powder, sweetened coffee, chili pepper, dates, and vanilla. The swallow brings notes of earthy cinnamon, cocoa powder, vanilla, spicy whiskey, roasty coffee, and toasted oak

A medium body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a silky beer. Finishes mostly dry with a nice sweetness

This is a very good beer. The balance is really nice and nothing is overwhelming. I can’t wait to try the BA version

 

 

 

Perennial Abraxas Imperial Stout 2021, 11.5% ABV. Pours black and thick with a one-finger medium brown head that left no lacing but the cap lingered. Nose is chocolate, cinnamon, and faint peppers. Taste follows, weak pepper, plus vanilla. The more it warmed, the cinnamon really popped, nose and taste. Excellent smooth and thick mouthfeel, overall world class. Way better than Prairie Bomb or Stone Xocoveza.

 

great mixture of flavors - can't taste the chill peppers mostly cocoa flavor comes thru