Abraxas
Perennial Artisan Ales

16 oz. Cup (From On-Tap/Beer To Go)
From: The Ale House
2020 Vintage

The 2020 Vintage is closer to the 2018 in spicyness both in smell/taste (ancho chili peppers, and cinnamon). Also the best pour of the three (thicker/creamier head, and more of it), and more sticky lacing. Highly Recommended!

Poured into a Tree House glass a very nice dark brown/black color, with some very nice carbonation, with a very nice thick/creamy one-finger tan head, which also leaves a medium-size island, and some pretty nice sticky lacing behind. The nose is very nice, malty, hoppy, with a very nice touch of chocolate/toffee, vanilla, licorice, ancho chili peppers, cacao nibs, cinnamon. The taste is very nice, malty, hoppy, with a very nice touch of chocolate/toffee, vanilla, licorice, ancho chili peppers, cacao nibs, cinnamon. Full Body, ABV is hidden very nicely, with a pretty nice dry/bitter finish, a very nice big sipper. Overall, this is a very tasty brew. Glad to see it around here.

16 oz. Cup (From On-Tap/Beer To Go)
From: The Ale House
2019 Vintage

Less pronounced than the 2018 Vintage, both in smell/taste, spicyness (ancho chili peppers, cinnamon). Still an awesome brew, though. Highly Recommended!

Poured into a Tree House glass a pretty nice dark brown/black color, with some pretty nice carbonation, with a pretty nice thick/creamy one-finger tan head, which also leaves a medium-size oil slick, and some minimal sticky lacing behind. The nose is very nice, malty, hoppy, with a very nice touch of chocolate/toffee, vanilla, licorice, ancho chili peppers, cacao nibs, cinnamon. The taste is very nice, malty, hoppy, with a very nice touch of chocolate/toffee, vanilla, licorice, ancho chili peppers, cacao nibs, cinnamon. Full Body, ABV is hidden very nicely, with a slight dry/bitter finish, a very nice big sipper. Overall, this is a very tasty brew. Glad to see it around here. I believe the 2018 was definitely different/better, more pronounced all the way around, spicier (ancho chili peppers, cinnamon), especially, in both smell/taste.

20 oz. Cup (From On-Tap/Beer To Go)
From: The Ale House
2018 Vintage

Poured into a Tree House glass a pretty nice dark brown/black color, with some pretty nice carbonation, with a pretty nice thick/creamy one-finger tan head, which also leaves a medium-size oil slick, and some minimal sticky lacing behind. The nose is very nice, malty, hoppy, with a very nice touch of chocolate/toffee, vanilla, licorice, ancho chili peppers, cacao nibs, cinnamon. The taste is very nice, malty, hoppy, with a very nice touch of chocolate/toffee, vanilla, licorice, ancho chili peppers, cacao nibs, cinnamon. Full Body, ABV is hidden very nicely, with a slight dry/bitter finish, a very nice big sipper. Overall, this is a very tasty brew. Glad to see it around here. Hopefully the 2019 and 2020 will still be available.

 

 

 

 

750 ml bottle. 10.5% 2025 dated

Pours a pitch black color with a small bubbly head. No retention or lacing. Normal for a BA stout but this isn't that.

The aroma is surprisingly light. There's notes of cinnamon and vanilla with a hint of chocolate.

The flavor is again, surprisingly muted. Cinnamon, vanilla and chocolate with an idea of spicy chillies. Good but far too light.

Full bodied with low carbonation. Syrupy and chewy. Slightly boozy. About right for the style.

This is a solid stout, but I can't help but think there's something off with this particular bottle. There aren't any flaws per se, but the muted aroma and flavors as well as the complete lack of head on the appearance leads me to think this isn't the beer at its best. It's almost like the date is wrong and it's actually 5+ years old.

750mL bottle, 10.5% ABV
L: syrupy, near-black body; foamy brown head overflows the glass
S: cinnamon, vanilla, dark cocoa, roast, peppers
T: very full, thick body, ample carbonation, sweet from start to finish with the alcohol and peppers modestly cutting the sweetness
O: I’ve had the coffee version of this. Both are incredible!

(review from October 2023, 2022 version) Exceptionally well balanced imp stout w/good mouthfeel; subtle chile/cocoa/choco/cinnamon/vanilla/malty flavor & a lovely mouthcoating, lingering aftertaste. Not nearly hot enough to satisfy pepperheads & sweet but not enough to kill a diabetic at ten paces. Incredibly smooth fooler of an 11.5%er but as it warms up (& you along with it) most of the flavors fade to barely-there.

Motor oil black with a light tan head that dissipates quickly. Both the smell and taste are mostly chocolate, with a bit of cinnamon…and the entire experience is remarkably smooth.

 

L- Pitch black, slight mocha head. Minimal lacing.

S-Chocolate nibs followed by the vanilla with a hint of the anchos. Cinnamon is hanging in the periphery.

T-Lots of cinnamon up front. Chocolate and ancho follow. Vanilla is hiding in the shadows. Some roastiness. There is a lingering cinnamon sweetness that detracts from the experience. Would like to try this barrel aged. Cinnamon seems to overpower the other flavors.

F- Thick and creamy. Quite viscous. Perfect for the style.

O-Good beer a bit too much cinnamon sweetness for it to be great. Sweetness deprives it of its drinkability.

750 ml bottle labelled 2022

Pours black with scant fine tan head, rapidly dissipates to a surface island and partial ring.
Cinnamon and peppers dominated the aroma when first poured, with chocolate and vanilla arriving as the glass warmed.
Smooth chocolate pepper integration on the tongue initially, then roasted malt and cinnamon. Little alcohol heat considering the ABV. Still a good ancho chili flavor after three years. Substantial coating mouthfeel, but very drinkable. Light sweetness that I enjoy. Worth the price in my opinion.

From a bottle poured into beer glasses.
A dark pour with a tan head, and slippery tan lacing.
Rich caramelized malt dominates, cocoa nibs, vanilla, cinnamon, chile peppers, and hints of spices.
The 80 IBU hops bitterness holds back the cloying, masks the 11.5 ABV booziness somewhat.
A savory beer with complexity, mellow smoothness, and lingering flavor.

 

 

Black color. Thin, beige head. Chocolate, cinnamon, vanilla, and light peppery notes in the aroma. Taste follows. Malty, sweet with a warming finish and roasted bitterness.

 

I've heard a lot about this beer so I was eager to try it!.. disappointed. It's good, pretty tasty for what it is, but it's nothing special and quite frankly it's rather forgettable. I had a chance to buy bottles of this recently and I passed. It's good but not great.

Look - Pours a very dark clear reddish black color with a nice head that quickly disappears.

Smell - Cinnamon, malt, light chili pepper, and light vanilla.

Taste - Taste follows the nose with cinnamon, malt, light chili pepper, and some vanilla. Decent, but I'm not finding it as good as others.

Feel - It has a nice feel to it. Nicely carbonated and easy drinking at 10.5% with a pleasant aftertaste.

Overall - This is a decent stout. Maybe I've been spoiled by too many other great ones lately to rate this higher.