Torment Dark Belgian-Style Ale | Heretic Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Heretic Brewing Company
California, United States | website
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 10.00%
Availability: Winter
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by JohnGalt1 on 10-30-2012
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Reviews: 23 | Ratings: 88
4.04/5 rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours into a chalice a full deep amber with a sticky light beige head atop.Aromas of dark fig,brown sugar,and yeasty phenols,the phenols are no joke.Love the rich dark fruit and brown sugar flavors with enough earthiness in the finish to keep it in balance for such a big beer.I like that the sweetness is kept in check...a little but it keeps it's richness,a very good beer.
★ 375 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours into a chalice a full deep amber with a sticky light beige head atop.Aromas of dark fig,brown sugar,and yeasty phenols,the phenols are no joke.Love the rich dark fruit and brown sugar flavors with enough earthiness in the finish to keep it in balance for such a big beer.I like that the sweetness is kept in check...a little but it keeps it's richness,a very good beer.
★ 375 characters
4.35/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Since I heard about this brewery and the guys who created it, I've been aching to try their beer. Finally got my hands on some. Hopefully this is what I was hoping for. Bottled 11/20/15, so 10 months old, but par for the style.
Pours a decent fizzy foamy 1/2 finger darker head that fades at a quicker pace, dark hazy auburn mahogany color.
Nose is really interesting, lots of Belgian malts, caramel crystal toffee malt very biscuity, big caramel candied raisin, lots of Special B malt, a touch of a wet cardboard so perhaps a little oxidation unfortunately, but that fades quickly as I swirl it, bringing more sweet candy, fig and date, candied raisin, caramelized candi sugar and a little creme brulee, nice ester profile.
Taste brings a lot more of the same, tons of raisin, brandy soaked raisin and candied dates, fig paste, dried fruits, nice ester profile with all that. Plenty of sweet like malts, caramel all over, caramelized brown sugar, candi sugar, a little toffee, caramel creams candy, nice biscuit toffee like, plenty of Special B malts. A touch of warming booze with a little phenol character which brings nice Belgian spices. Finish is sticky, a bit sweet, tons of lingering caramel, toffee biscuit candy, mild booze warmth and a bit of phenols still.
Mouth is fuller bod, a bit creamy rich, decent carb, lighter but decent carb.
Overall quite nice, def hits that spot for a Belgian strong dark ale, mild warming booze, nice phenols and little ester profile, great sweet caramel biscuity toffee candy malts and tons of great raisin date profile. Other than the mild oxidation on the nose that seemed to disappear quickly, this was a very nice Belgian.
★ 1,674 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Since I heard about this brewery and the guys who created it, I've been aching to try their beer. Finally got my hands on some. Hopefully this is what I was hoping for. Bottled 11/20/15, so 10 months old, but par for the style.
Pours a decent fizzy foamy 1/2 finger darker head that fades at a quicker pace, dark hazy auburn mahogany color.
Nose is really interesting, lots of Belgian malts, caramel crystal toffee malt very biscuity, big caramel candied raisin, lots of Special B malt, a touch of a wet cardboard so perhaps a little oxidation unfortunately, but that fades quickly as I swirl it, bringing more sweet candy, fig and date, candied raisin, caramelized candi sugar and a little creme brulee, nice ester profile.
Taste brings a lot more of the same, tons of raisin, brandy soaked raisin and candied dates, fig paste, dried fruits, nice ester profile with all that. Plenty of sweet like malts, caramel all over, caramelized brown sugar, candi sugar, a little toffee, caramel creams candy, nice biscuit toffee like, plenty of Special B malts. A touch of warming booze with a little phenol character which brings nice Belgian spices. Finish is sticky, a bit sweet, tons of lingering caramel, toffee biscuit candy, mild booze warmth and a bit of phenols still.
Mouth is fuller bod, a bit creamy rich, decent carb, lighter but decent carb.
Overall quite nice, def hits that spot for a Belgian strong dark ale, mild warming booze, nice phenols and little ester profile, great sweet caramel biscuity toffee candy malts and tons of great raisin date profile. Other than the mild oxidation on the nose that seemed to disappear quickly, this was a very nice Belgian.
★ 1,674 characters
4.1/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
22 picked up Friday/Saturday night for about $10.... Finally getting around to it tonight.. Pours a very nice clear chestnut amber... tan head had decent retention and good lacing.
The nose is pretty good... apples stewed with some brown sugar.. hints of clove.. light toffee.. maybe something that I can associate as citrus zest.. The aroma dries out with warmth and that reveals even more complexities... a bit figgy and some peppery notes.. EtOH is there, but soft and perfumy.
Flavor mirrors the nose... but there is a bit of cocoa there mid palate that accentuates the toffee and fruitiness... on the tongue, more pear than apple.. maltiness becomes thicker and more clinging with a lot of warmth... it helps really tie things together.. figgy/raisin box notes.. no real stone fruits is a little bit surprising, though not a big deal... a bit sweet IMHO, but the drier finish makes up ground.
Could stand to have a bit more bubble.. the palate though is damn good.. medium with a medium carbonation.
Overall... I hate being the first review on something like this... but I will say that I really dig it... Maybe a touch expensive; but for a nice treat, I will buy again for sure.
4/4/4/4/4.5
★ 1,211 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
22 picked up Friday/Saturday night for about $10.... Finally getting around to it tonight.. Pours a very nice clear chestnut amber... tan head had decent retention and good lacing.
The nose is pretty good... apples stewed with some brown sugar.. hints of clove.. light toffee.. maybe something that I can associate as citrus zest.. The aroma dries out with warmth and that reveals even more complexities... a bit figgy and some peppery notes.. EtOH is there, but soft and perfumy.
Flavor mirrors the nose... but there is a bit of cocoa there mid palate that accentuates the toffee and fruitiness... on the tongue, more pear than apple.. maltiness becomes thicker and more clinging with a lot of warmth... it helps really tie things together.. figgy/raisin box notes.. no real stone fruits is a little bit surprising, though not a big deal... a bit sweet IMHO, but the drier finish makes up ground.
Could stand to have a bit more bubble.. the palate though is damn good.. medium with a medium carbonation.
Overall... I hate being the first review on something like this... but I will say that I really dig it... Maybe a touch expensive; but for a nice treat, I will buy again for sure.
4/4/4/4/4.5
★ 1,211 characters
4/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Clear reddish brown colored ale with a small khaki colored head.
Very aromatic ale from the moment you pop it open. Scents of malt, molasses, brown sugar, coriander, cardamom, and allspice. Little bit of cinnamon apple scent here. Alcohol not detected.
Starts out sweet with a molasses after taste. After you get past the molasses it tastes a lot like it smells. Very much on the sweet side with spices but the sweetness isn't excessive.
Mouthfeel is good.
Overall a good Belgian Dark Ale with no real faults. Not a match for Terrible though.
★ 546 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Clear reddish brown colored ale with a small khaki colored head.
Very aromatic ale from the moment you pop it open. Scents of malt, molasses, brown sugar, coriander, cardamom, and allspice. Little bit of cinnamon apple scent here. Alcohol not detected.
Starts out sweet with a molasses after taste. After you get past the molasses it tastes a lot like it smells. Very much on the sweet side with spices but the sweetness isn't excessive.
Mouthfeel is good.
Overall a good Belgian Dark Ale with no real faults. Not a match for Terrible though.
★ 546 characters
4.04/5 rDev +1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
From the wax topped 650 ml. bottle dated 11/20/15. Sampled on March 14, 2016 at about 47-48 degrees.
The pour is an attractive looking ruby red color for the most part with a long lasting foamy tan head.
The aroma brings out a pear, apple, and fruity quality for sure with Belgian roasted malts and sweetness. The 10% booze is definitely not on my nose.
Medium to better than medium body.
Like the aroma the taste is more fruit-forward than malt forward but both are there and both are quite sweet. No booze in the flavor either. But at the end of the bottle my head told me it was there.
★ 595 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
From the wax topped 650 ml. bottle dated 11/20/15. Sampled on March 14, 2016 at about 47-48 degrees.
The pour is an attractive looking ruby red color for the most part with a long lasting foamy tan head.
The aroma brings out a pear, apple, and fruity quality for sure with Belgian roasted malts and sweetness. The 10% booze is definitely not on my nose.
Medium to better than medium body.
Like the aroma the taste is more fruit-forward than malt forward but both are there and both are quite sweet. No booze in the flavor either. But at the end of the bottle my head told me it was there.
★ 595 characters
4.5/5 rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Big 650ml bottle to drink on my own. Purchased from Slowbeer in Melbourne.
Pours a pleasant russety red colour, with a very fine head of yellow-white, leaving some bubbling around the edges of the glass. Solid streaking lace. Carbonation is nice and fine, and slides smoothly through the thick but fine body. Looks very good.
Nose is round and sweet, with raisin overtones and a slight spicy tannic bite. Some preserved orange sharpness comes through, along with some vanilla and port. It's like a big, rich, boozy fruitcake. Good stuff.
Taste is smooth and rich, with plenty of fine burnt sugar sweetness, and a layered spicy overtone. Hints of spicy Shiraz and fragrant clove gives a light dancing sharpness, but the sweetness is always rich and solid enough to back it up—this gives dark caramel, gooey mud cake and young spicy port. The finish gives some chocolate and more lingering burnt sugar. Lovely stuff.
Feel is exceptionally smooth, but with a beautiful fineness to it.
Wow, this is really excellent stuff. Most of all, it's dangerous. The 10% ABV is barely noticeable apart from providing a depth and structure to the complexity, and it's really quite scary how smooth it is and how easy it goes down.
★ 1,221 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Big 650ml bottle to drink on my own. Purchased from Slowbeer in Melbourne.
Pours a pleasant russety red colour, with a very fine head of yellow-white, leaving some bubbling around the edges of the glass. Solid streaking lace. Carbonation is nice and fine, and slides smoothly through the thick but fine body. Looks very good.
Nose is round and sweet, with raisin overtones and a slight spicy tannic bite. Some preserved orange sharpness comes through, along with some vanilla and port. It's like a big, rich, boozy fruitcake. Good stuff.
Taste is smooth and rich, with plenty of fine burnt sugar sweetness, and a layered spicy overtone. Hints of spicy Shiraz and fragrant clove gives a light dancing sharpness, but the sweetness is always rich and solid enough to back it up—this gives dark caramel, gooey mud cake and young spicy port. The finish gives some chocolate and more lingering burnt sugar. Lovely stuff.
Feel is exceptionally smooth, but with a beautiful fineness to it.
Wow, this is really excellent stuff. Most of all, it's dangerous. The 10% ABV is barely noticeable apart from providing a depth and structure to the complexity, and it's really quite scary how smooth it is and how easy it goes down.
★ 1,221 characters
3.79/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
Pours dark brown with a fading off-white head.
Nose shows brown sugar, golden syrup, candi sugar, dried fruit and sultanas.
More golden syrup as a flavours along with candied ginger, bready malt, dried orange peel and hot booze.
Too much carbonation.
★ 250 characters
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
Pours dark brown with a fading off-white head.
Nose shows brown sugar, golden syrup, candi sugar, dried fruit and sultanas.
More golden syrup as a flavours along with candied ginger, bready malt, dried orange peel and hot booze.
Too much carbonation.
★ 250 characters
4.01/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Bottle enjoyed in a lopsided snifter.
a - brew poured a watery brown. Settled darker in the glass with ruby highlights to the light. Thin khaki bubbly head that bubbled away fairly quick leaving small patches of bubble on the surface.
s - nose is grape juice
t - taste is dark fruit, grape mostly. Quite tasty...not your typical American Belgian strong dark. Nice creamy feel but not like the authentic Belgians' feel. Something different. Really easy to drink...spiked grape juice. Pleasant surprise.
★ 511 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Bottle enjoyed in a lopsided snifter.
a - brew poured a watery brown. Settled darker in the glass with ruby highlights to the light. Thin khaki bubbly head that bubbled away fairly quick leaving small patches of bubble on the surface.
s - nose is grape juice
t - taste is dark fruit, grape mostly. Quite tasty...not your typical American Belgian strong dark. Nice creamy feel but not like the authentic Belgians' feel. Something different. Really easy to drink...spiked grape juice. Pleasant surprise.
★ 511 characters
3.69/5 rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
Pours a half finger of light tan head on a dark brown body.
The aroma is caramel, burnt caramel, ripe plum and alcohol.
The taste is quite sweet, a little boozy, lots of fruits and chocolate.
The texture is medium with nice fizz.
It's rich.
★ 240 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
Pours a half finger of light tan head on a dark brown body.
The aroma is caramel, burnt caramel, ripe plum and alcohol.
The taste is quite sweet, a little boozy, lots of fruits and chocolate.
The texture is medium with nice fizz.
It's rich.
★ 240 characters
3.82/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a cherry red hue with a two finger creamy head and similar lacing,the smell is berries,sherry,a touch of booze,brown sugar and dried fruits,the mouthfeel is medium bodied and well carbonated with tastes of sherry,brown sugar,dried apricot,the slightest touch of booze,candy sugar and finished with a sweet dryness and overall yeah its alright,easy to drink and above average but was expecting way more cheers.
★ 415 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a cherry red hue with a two finger creamy head and similar lacing,the smell is berries,sherry,a touch of booze,brown sugar and dried fruits,the mouthfeel is medium bodied and well carbonated with tastes of sherry,brown sugar,dried apricot,the slightest touch of booze,candy sugar and finished with a sweet dryness and overall yeah its alright,easy to drink and above average but was expecting way more cheers.
★ 415 characters
3.8/5 rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3
Bottle dated 12/1/2014:
(review mostly stolen from NBS post)
Pours a deep, slightly ruby brown, with off white head, as shown. Head sticks to sides after receding. Nose definitely has some sugary notes: molasses, rock candy, cola, some rooty notes. A bit warmer, some fig comes through. Feel is a tad light, prickly carbonation perhaps hiding a bit of alcohol bite.
Taste of a cold brew starts out with those sweet notes coming through. The flavors that come in after the dark/candy notes are a bit wet cardboard-like, maybe I can view them as woody in nature in a certain light. I let it warm a bit and those flavors subsided a bit, and I could get some or the flavors the bottle and other reviews suggested (candied pear, for one).
When all is said and done, I am going to have to chalk it up to the fact that this beer probably just didn't work for me as well as it did for others.
★ 887 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3
Bottle dated 12/1/2014:
(review mostly stolen from NBS post)
Pours a deep, slightly ruby brown, with off white head, as shown. Head sticks to sides after receding. Nose definitely has some sugary notes: molasses, rock candy, cola, some rooty notes. A bit warmer, some fig comes through. Feel is a tad light, prickly carbonation perhaps hiding a bit of alcohol bite.
Taste of a cold brew starts out with those sweet notes coming through. The flavors that come in after the dark/candy notes are a bit wet cardboard-like, maybe I can view them as woody in nature in a certain light. I let it warm a bit and those flavors subsided a bit, and I could get some or the flavors the bottle and other reviews suggested (candied pear, for one).
When all is said and done, I am going to have to chalk it up to the fact that this beer probably just didn't work for me as well as it did for others.
★ 887 characters
3.98/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
This pours a dark malty color. It has a Belgo-y estery aroma, very floral. The flavor has a malty caramel-forward flavor with an estery and somewhat unbalanced finish.
★ 167 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
This pours a dark malty color. It has a Belgo-y estery aroma, very floral. The flavor has a malty caramel-forward flavor with an estery and somewhat unbalanced finish.
★ 167 characters
4/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance - Pours a deep copper brown with two fingers of creamy tan head.
Smell - bready malts with caramel notes, fruity esters, dark fruits (plum, raisin, and fig), candied sugar, hint of spicy hops.
Taste - Moderate level of bready malt flavour supported by notes of caramel, dark fruits, fruity esters, and candied sugar. Very little to no alcohol taste. Finishes with lingering sweetness from fruit and some spiciness.
Mouthfeel - Medium bodied with light-to-moderate carbonation. Touch of warmth from the alcohol and a little dryness.
Overall - A very well crafted Belgian Strong Dark Ale with an excellent mix of malts, fruity esters, and dark fruit. A little more carbonation would make this spot on.
★ 715 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance - Pours a deep copper brown with two fingers of creamy tan head.
Smell - bready malts with caramel notes, fruity esters, dark fruits (plum, raisin, and fig), candied sugar, hint of spicy hops.
Taste - Moderate level of bready malt flavour supported by notes of caramel, dark fruits, fruity esters, and candied sugar. Very little to no alcohol taste. Finishes with lingering sweetness from fruit and some spiciness.
Mouthfeel - Medium bodied with light-to-moderate carbonation. Touch of warmth from the alcohol and a little dryness.
Overall - A very well crafted Belgian Strong Dark Ale with an excellent mix of malts, fruity esters, and dark fruit. A little more carbonation would make this spot on.
★ 715 characters
3.06/5 rDev -23.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Drank from my Duvel tulip
A - Pours a dark, clear mahogany colour with an off white head that reduces quickly.
S - Has aromas of bread yeast, sweet caramel.
T - Nice vanilla and caramel notes with a sticky sweet like flavour that dominates through the taste until completion. No sign of the ABV. The bread and yeast are also present with some fig and mild dark fruits.
M - Medium to full body with low carbonation
O - I Like this brew. As far as a BSDA goes it is near the mark, but the residual sweetness lessens the authenticity of it and is a little off puting. Lacks the authenticity of an BSDA. The Belgian examples are generally a lot better.
★ 653 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Drank from my Duvel tulip
A - Pours a dark, clear mahogany colour with an off white head that reduces quickly.
S - Has aromas of bread yeast, sweet caramel.
T - Nice vanilla and caramel notes with a sticky sweet like flavour that dominates through the taste until completion. No sign of the ABV. The bread and yeast are also present with some fig and mild dark fruits.
M - Medium to full body with low carbonation
O - I Like this brew. As far as a BSDA goes it is near the mark, but the residual sweetness lessens the authenticity of it and is a little off puting. Lacks the authenticity of an BSDA. The Belgian examples are generally a lot better.
★ 653 characters
4.73/5 rDev +18.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Bottle: big 650mL dark brown bottle, funky and funky, 'dark' label. A good package.
Appearance: pours an outstanding, vibrant crimson red-copper. Fine carbonation throughout the profile, with a beige one-finger head that drops to a solid ring and cap. A fantastic-looking beer - particularly against the light.
Aroma: as soon as I lifted the lid I was hit with an aroma of various malts - caramels, biscuits and molasses - and some heavy fruits - plums and raisins at the foremost. Most impressive - it's not often I lift a glass of beer to take another sniff - only this and Gouden Carolus.
Taste: follows the nose quite closely - plenty of those sweet malts and fruits with sherry and port backing. A most outstanding brew - I could hardly believe this was 10%
Aftertaste: the flavours linger for a time then drop away completely. A very easy-drinking beer.
Mouth feel: a thick, almost syrupy feel that slides down very easily. A little too easily, at 10% ABV.
Overall: one of the best beers I have had to date. The complex flavours mix well to produce an outstanding brew. It is one of the most expensive beers I have had, but it is also one of the best - well worth one every now and then. The only slight problem is the drinkability of this beer - there is little hint of the 10% alcohol. I fine way to get plastered if one is not careful.
★ 1,350 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Bottle: big 650mL dark brown bottle, funky and funky, 'dark' label. A good package.
Appearance: pours an outstanding, vibrant crimson red-copper. Fine carbonation throughout the profile, with a beige one-finger head that drops to a solid ring and cap. A fantastic-looking beer - particularly against the light.
Aroma: as soon as I lifted the lid I was hit with an aroma of various malts - caramels, biscuits and molasses - and some heavy fruits - plums and raisins at the foremost. Most impressive - it's not often I lift a glass of beer to take another sniff - only this and Gouden Carolus.
Taste: follows the nose quite closely - plenty of those sweet malts and fruits with sherry and port backing. A most outstanding brew - I could hardly believe this was 10%
Aftertaste: the flavours linger for a time then drop away completely. A very easy-drinking beer.
Mouth feel: a thick, almost syrupy feel that slides down very easily. A little too easily, at 10% ABV.
Overall: one of the best beers I have had to date. The complex flavours mix well to produce an outstanding brew. It is one of the most expensive beers I have had, but it is also one of the best - well worth one every now and then. The only slight problem is the drinkability of this beer - there is little hint of the 10% alcohol. I fine way to get plastered if one is not careful.
★ 1,350 characters
4.55/5 rDev +13.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
A- Root beer like in color, with red/brown tones that have some copper undertones....quasi opaque and there is a syrupy texture to it around the side of the glass....not much for lacing and/or a head, but there is a thin ring around the glass. Carbonation is somewhat hard to see but it is in many columns when looked upon straight down from the top.
S- Sweet rum and plenty of fruit, such as peach, apple, plum, apricot, figs, and a strong sweet cotton candy that seems to be derived from Belgian candy syrup/sugar....I also enjoy the cinnamon spice right on the finish! There is plenty of malt goodness, toffee and caramel are all noted....very nice overall....robust and rich to boot!
T- Chalk full of thick sticky sweet flavors! Sticky caramel, toffee, apple, orange zest, plum, Belgian candy sugars, melted brown sugar, milk chocolate, pear/peach/apricot, beer nuts, prunes, cotton candy, malted barley, buttery yeast....this is rummy and slightly boozy at the same time....hints of vanilla....just amazing in the flavor!
M/O- This is medium/full bodied and the carbonation is smooth smooth smooth! This has dessert like qualities and is a delectable brew that is rich and flavorful....drinkability is nice and I would rather enjoy a sitting of this over an evening! This changes and mellows out well as it warms and I'd love to explore this one again! Cheers!!
★ 1,375 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
A- Root beer like in color, with red/brown tones that have some copper undertones....quasi opaque and there is a syrupy texture to it around the side of the glass....not much for lacing and/or a head, but there is a thin ring around the glass. Carbonation is somewhat hard to see but it is in many columns when looked upon straight down from the top.
S- Sweet rum and plenty of fruit, such as peach, apple, plum, apricot, figs, and a strong sweet cotton candy that seems to be derived from Belgian candy syrup/sugar....I also enjoy the cinnamon spice right on the finish! There is plenty of malt goodness, toffee and caramel are all noted....very nice overall....robust and rich to boot!
T- Chalk full of thick sticky sweet flavors! Sticky caramel, toffee, apple, orange zest, plum, Belgian candy sugars, melted brown sugar, milk chocolate, pear/peach/apricot, beer nuts, prunes, cotton candy, malted barley, buttery yeast....this is rummy and slightly boozy at the same time....hints of vanilla....just amazing in the flavor!
M/O- This is medium/full bodied and the carbonation is smooth smooth smooth! This has dessert like qualities and is a delectable brew that is rich and flavorful....drinkability is nice and I would rather enjoy a sitting of this over an evening! This changes and mellows out well as it warms and I'd love to explore this one again! Cheers!!
★ 1,375 characters
4.22/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
650ml bottle. Poured into tulip.
A: Dark brown. Poured with 2 finger high head with moderate retention.
S: Intense caramel aroma. Toffee. Malty sweet. Little alcohol.
T: Malty. Sweet but not too sweet. Toffee & chocolate. Bittering finish.
M: Medium bodied despite its strong flavors.
O: Quite good for the style. Not way too sweet.
★ 333 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
650ml bottle. Poured into tulip.
A: Dark brown. Poured with 2 finger high head with moderate retention.
S: Intense caramel aroma. Toffee. Malty sweet. Little alcohol.
T: Malty. Sweet but not too sweet. Toffee & chocolate. Bittering finish.
M: Medium bodied despite its strong flavors.
O: Quite good for the style. Not way too sweet.
★ 333 characters
3.45/5 rDev -13.8%
look: 2.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25
Pours reddish, brown, dull with minimal head and minor lacing: not terribly appealing to look at. Smell on the other hand is very, very good. Very malty and sweet up front, brown sugar, raisin, and a hint of citrus funk. Taste is also very malt forward, rich and very sweet. Some boozey warmth. Vanilla, caramel, raisin, spice. Feel is lighter than expected, but sticky from the sugar. Low carbonation.
Overall, very good flavor and the huge malt was a nice juxtaposition to the very hop-forward beers I've been drinking lately. A little too much sugar is my real complaint: masked some of the lighter notes and made it sticky on the palate.
★ 642 characters
look: 2.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25
Pours reddish, brown, dull with minimal head and minor lacing: not terribly appealing to look at. Smell on the other hand is very, very good. Very malty and sweet up front, brown sugar, raisin, and a hint of citrus funk. Taste is also very malt forward, rich and very sweet. Some boozey warmth. Vanilla, caramel, raisin, spice. Feel is lighter than expected, but sticky from the sugar. Low carbonation.
Overall, very good flavor and the huge malt was a nice juxtaposition to the very hop-forward beers I've been drinking lately. A little too much sugar is my real complaint: masked some of the lighter notes and made it sticky on the palate.
★ 642 characters
4.71/5 rDev +17.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
not for the weak taste buds. This was fantastic. I recommend working your way up to it.
we split a galaxy white ipa, a duvel, aderson valley hoppn ottin, then a stone IPA then this. so by the time we got to it we thought we were ready and bazinga... this was a real mans beer. Had it in a tall flute type glass to really check out the color. awesome dark browns , some reds, and mixed in color. ( we were in front of a fire , so it might have skewed it a bit.).
IT had very little sweetness to it but I could taste some caramel. Next time I have it I'll add more detail right away.
★ 583 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
not for the weak taste buds. This was fantastic. I recommend working your way up to it.
we split a galaxy white ipa, a duvel, aderson valley hoppn ottin, then a stone IPA then this. so by the time we got to it we thought we were ready and bazinga... this was a real mans beer. Had it in a tall flute type glass to really check out the color. awesome dark browns , some reds, and mixed in color. ( we were in front of a fire , so it might have skewed it a bit.).
IT had very little sweetness to it but I could taste some caramel. Next time I have it I'll add more detail right away.
★ 583 characters
4.89/5 rDev +22.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Wonderful color, rich feel in the mouth. Excellent finish with lingering flavor that is reminiscent of previous beers I've had the pleasure of tasting. Warmth of flavors including bourbon tones, carmel flavor, and a finality that makes me want more. This beer will be purchased again as soon as possible.
★ 304 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Wonderful color, rich feel in the mouth. Excellent finish with lingering flavor that is reminiscent of previous beers I've had the pleasure of tasting. Warmth of flavors including bourbon tones, carmel flavor, and a finality that makes me want more. This beer will be purchased again as soon as possible.
★ 304 characters
4/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Reminds me a lot of Malheur 12--a bit more viscous though. Label description is pretty spot-on. Candied apples, pears, figs. Really masks the alcohol @ 10%. Tough to take down the whole 350mL solo. Solid dessert beer to share.
Syrupy mouthfeel. Taste follows the nose just like other reviewers have pointed out. Real light lacing, and minimal foam cling. Smells even better as it warms.
Impressed. Pittsburg's (CA) got a gem in Heretic. Definitely looking forward to the hazelnut chocolate porter.
★ 499 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Reminds me a lot of Malheur 12--a bit more viscous though. Label description is pretty spot-on. Candied apples, pears, figs. Really masks the alcohol @ 10%. Tough to take down the whole 350mL solo. Solid dessert beer to share.
Syrupy mouthfeel. Taste follows the nose just like other reviewers have pointed out. Real light lacing, and minimal foam cling. Smells even better as it warms.
Impressed. Pittsburg's (CA) got a gem in Heretic. Definitely looking forward to the hazelnut chocolate porter.
★ 499 characters
4.12/5 rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Look: Deep dark brown with a 1.5 finger of head in a tulip glass.
Smell: Caramel, dark fruits, bready. Slightly sweet with a twinge of alcohol left on the nose.
Taste: Malty sweetness. Dark fruits and esters shine through. A slight spice at the finish to balance out the sweetness.
Feel: Medium body with fine carbonation.
Overall: A pretty decent BSDA. I let my glass warm slightly bringing out some of the fig notes. I also found that some of the initial woodiness of the esters faded with some warmth.
★ 508 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Look: Deep dark brown with a 1.5 finger of head in a tulip glass.
Smell: Caramel, dark fruits, bready. Slightly sweet with a twinge of alcohol left on the nose.
Taste: Malty sweetness. Dark fruits and esters shine through. A slight spice at the finish to balance out the sweetness.
Feel: Medium body with fine carbonation.
Overall: A pretty decent BSDA. I let my glass warm slightly bringing out some of the fig notes. I also found that some of the initial woodiness of the esters faded with some warmth.
★ 508 characters
Torment Dark Belgian-Style Ale from Heretic Brewing Company
4
out of 5
based on 88 ratings.
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
22oz, dark red wax sealed bottle, one of the easier iterations of said presentation to actually open that I've come upon of late.
This beer pours a slightly hazy, dark red-brick amber colour, with two chubby fingers of puffy, loosely foamy, and bubbly beige head, which leaves some broad land bridge lace around the glass as it slowly fades away.
It smells of bready, doughy caramel malt, musty toffee, earthy yeast, dark candi sugar, mixed orchard fruit (plums, bruised apples, bananas and pears), and somewhat hot and phenolic alcohol. The taste is gritty, grainy caramel malt, hard toffee candies, laid-back yeast, brown sugar, sweet, syrupy pear and apple fruit notes, indistinct earthy spice, and light leafy, kind of perfumed hops, the only real sign of the elevated ABV.
The bubbles are quite soft and lilting in their genial frothiness, the body a solid medium-heavy weight for the style, and plainly smooth, with a pleasant creaminess evolving as things warm up a tad. It finishes off-dry, but not too sweet, as the fruity and spicy esters give it the ol' college try at conceiving a sense of balance, sort of.
An interesting and tasty BSDA, the normal metrics all there, with a well-concealed 20-proof booze factor. The variable mustiness lends some old-school credence as well, but it comes off as being layered on just a wee bit too thickly in places. At any rate, worthy of checking out, if you're into big, bold Belgian-style brews.
★ 1,454 characters