Celestial Death
River North Brewery

 

It’s fantastic. Big and dark and black.
The immediate note to me is banana.
Not super carbonated. For a 10% beer it complete hides the alcohol. Im really impressed.

Dark brown, clear pour, appears black and opaque in the glass; thick, near-creamy textured, light tan head, long-lasting. Rich cocoa powder and brownie nose. The taste amplifies the nose; rich, dark chocolate sweetness; brownies; slow-building booziness that lingers into the finish. Heavy body; dense and sludgy; rich velvet texture; mild stickiness on the palate; simmering alcohol warmth.

This vibrant dark beer tastes more like a robust porter or thick barrel-aged stout than a barleywine. Regardless, this thing is massive on all fronts. A must try if you enjoy big, dark beers with a boozy edge.

ABV: 10.3%; pouring temperature: 50.6 °F; bottling info: n/a
Source: local purchase (Coaltrain Fine Wine, Craft Beer & Spirits)

Look - Pours a dark black with a very thick head that sticks around. This is actually a great-looking beer!

Smell - Malt and chocolate, as described, but nothing special.

Taste - Taste follows the nose - malt and chocolate. It doesn't taste like a barleywine to me, it seems more akin to a stout. Even so, I find it to be a rather ordinary stout flavor.

Feel - Has a good carbonation to it, and I have no substantial criticism on the feel.

Overall - I just found this to be a bit too "ordinary". There was nothing special going on to my taste.

Dark brown murky pour with a light mocha brown head, spotted lazy lacing. Aromas of baker's chocolate big time, with caramel, barley, and earth supporting. Taste continues the theme of big chocolate in the old school no sweet way which is great, but it overpowers the barley, with caramel, earth, tobacco and slight leather accenting. Feel is malty and thick, very warm but again want more barley and dryness