Pirate Noir | Prairie Artisan Ales
Brewed by:
Prairie Artisan Ales
Oklahoma, United States
prairieales.com
Style: American Imperial Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 12.00%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
Imperial Stout aged in Jamaican Rum Barrels
Reviews: 151
| Ratings: 690
4.12/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had poured from 12-oz. bottle, stamped “PIRATENOIR TH1 2017,” gift from friend, into snifter.
I confess I don’t understand mixing rum and beer or rum barrels and beer. Yet this beer is so big, malty, flavorful and already alcoholic, the rum barrel merely complements rather than overwhelms.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had poured from 12-oz. bottle, stamped “PIRATENOIR TH1 2017,” gift from friend, into snifter.
I confess I don’t understand mixing rum and beer or rum barrels and beer. Yet this beer is so big, malty, flavorful and already alcoholic, the rum barrel merely complements rather than overwhelms.
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4.27/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
L – Pours a thick black color from a 12 oz bottle into a snifter. No head to speak of except for a 1/8” fine bubble head just on the edges. Looks like sticky lacing on the sides.
S – Sweet boozy barrel smell, vanilla, sweet fruits, molasses.
T – Strong vanilla with the rum barrels coming through, molasses, and boozy barrel holds on for quite a bit
F – Medium to thick body and very sticky body with hardly any carbonation.
O – A really good barrel-aged stout with strong barrel flavor. You know this is a high ABV stout.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
L – Pours a thick black color from a 12 oz bottle into a snifter. No head to speak of except for a 1/8” fine bubble head just on the edges. Looks like sticky lacing on the sides.
S – Sweet boozy barrel smell, vanilla, sweet fruits, molasses.
T – Strong vanilla with the rum barrels coming through, molasses, and boozy barrel holds on for quite a bit
F – Medium to thick body and very sticky body with hardly any carbonation.
O – A really good barrel-aged stout with strong barrel flavor. You know this is a high ABV stout.
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4.25/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A: Poured into a snifter to a black beer topped by a finger of dense tan head which fades quickly to a collar around the edge of the glass with minimal lacing.
S: Smells of lots of rum barrel with some molasses notes and roasted malts with a hint of chocolate
T: Taste is strong rum barrels and some oak up front with some molasses and a hint of light woodspice. Hints of chocolate and coffee while the funky rum remains strong throughout. On the swallow this beer is a huge blast of rum and molasses with some oak, chocolate, roasted malts and slight lingering coffee.
M: This beer is full in body with a slightly creamy mouthfeel. Carbonation is low but adequate for the style while the beer has a drying finish.
O: Overall this is a great beer. It has really nice flavors and complexity which makes it a fun drink. There's some flavors that are very subtle and hide in the background. The rum notes are a little strong but the other flavors are up to the task. This one is definitely worth a try if you like rum barrels.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A: Poured into a snifter to a black beer topped by a finger of dense tan head which fades quickly to a collar around the edge of the glass with minimal lacing.
S: Smells of lots of rum barrel with some molasses notes and roasted malts with a hint of chocolate
T: Taste is strong rum barrels and some oak up front with some molasses and a hint of light woodspice. Hints of chocolate and coffee while the funky rum remains strong throughout. On the swallow this beer is a huge blast of rum and molasses with some oak, chocolate, roasted malts and slight lingering coffee.
M: This beer is full in body with a slightly creamy mouthfeel. Carbonation is low but adequate for the style while the beer has a drying finish.
O: Overall this is a great beer. It has really nice flavors and complexity which makes it a fun drink. There's some flavors that are very subtle and hide in the background. The rum notes are a little strong but the other flavors are up to the task. This one is definitely worth a try if you like rum barrels.
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4.16/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Prairie Pirate Noir - 12% ABV - ? IBUs.
Date: 2017 - enjoyed on 09/13/18.
Appearance: Pitch black, no light, used motor oil looking, with an practically nonexistent dark mocha colored head.
Aroma: Sweet cheap spiced rum, big roasted malts, some dark fruits, chocolate brownie batter, vanilla, and finally touches of sugar ranging from caramelized to more marshmallow. There is a lot going on here.
Taste: No surprises here, the rum hits first followed by a large amount of sweet milk chocolate and vanilla sweetness, additionally there is some sweetened coconut. Yeah, this is a pastry stout if there ever was one, the sugariness really runs wild. The fairly massive 12% is extremely well hidden, no doubt by the sugar, with no hints of ethanol whatsoever. The finish appears to be more about roasted malts and coffee flavors, but the aftertaste switches it up and leaves a lingering lactose note. After the beer has gotten close to room temperature some raisin like dark fruits begin to come out. The mouthfeel is thick and chewy as expected but is also creamy. This is a clearly a quality beer but it is just too sweet for me and as a result, I am unlikely to drop another $13 on a future bottle.
Biased comments: Annnnnnnd diabetes. This is one of the better beers from sugar loving Prairie, a brewery whose beers are a mixed bag in my opinion as I often find the majority of them to be entirely too sweet but so clearly produced with passion. Somewhat enjoyable, second perhaps only to their Bomb series, though 6oz would be more than plenty.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Prairie Pirate Noir - 12% ABV - ? IBUs.
Date: 2017 - enjoyed on 09/13/18.
Appearance: Pitch black, no light, used motor oil looking, with an practically nonexistent dark mocha colored head.
Aroma: Sweet cheap spiced rum, big roasted malts, some dark fruits, chocolate brownie batter, vanilla, and finally touches of sugar ranging from caramelized to more marshmallow. There is a lot going on here.
Taste: No surprises here, the rum hits first followed by a large amount of sweet milk chocolate and vanilla sweetness, additionally there is some sweetened coconut. Yeah, this is a pastry stout if there ever was one, the sugariness really runs wild. The fairly massive 12% is extremely well hidden, no doubt by the sugar, with no hints of ethanol whatsoever. The finish appears to be more about roasted malts and coffee flavors, but the aftertaste switches it up and leaves a lingering lactose note. After the beer has gotten close to room temperature some raisin like dark fruits begin to come out. The mouthfeel is thick and chewy as expected but is also creamy. This is a clearly a quality beer but it is just too sweet for me and as a result, I am unlikely to drop another $13 on a future bottle.
Biased comments: Annnnnnnd diabetes. This is one of the better beers from sugar loving Prairie, a brewery whose beers are a mixed bag in my opinion as I often find the majority of them to be entirely too sweet but so clearly produced with passion. Somewhat enjoyable, second perhaps only to their Bomb series, though 6oz would be more than plenty.
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4.32/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
For big oatmeal stouts, I think I like the base for Perennial's Prodigal better, but Noir is definitely worthy of consideration. Thick and oily, consistent with many of Prairie's big stout offerings. Good barrel character, more on the palate than the nose, with a lot of vanilla, apple, rum booziness, and oak. Some chocolate and coffee emerge as it starts to warm.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
For big oatmeal stouts, I think I like the base for Perennial's Prodigal better, but Noir is definitely worthy of consideration. Thick and oily, consistent with many of Prairie's big stout offerings. Good barrel character, more on the palate than the nose, with a lot of vanilla, apple, rum booziness, and oak. Some chocolate and coffee emerge as it starts to warm.
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4.13/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12oz bottle into snifter.
A: Pours a think inky black with dark brown edges. A short lived head foamed up with the pour but quickly faded leaving a few spots of soapy lace down the glass.
S: Sticky sweet rum filled nose mixed with molasses, caramel and raisin.
T: Follows the nose with sugary sweet flavors of molasses and caramel up front, followed by notes of vanilla, raisin, toffee, tobacco leaf, and a kiss of chocolate syrup. There’s a blast of bitterness in the middle that gives was to a dessert-like sweetness in the finish. The aftertaste has a lingering hint of roast and coffee. Flavors are intense.
M: Double digit booze is hidden very well, with just a kiss of soft warmth near the finish. Full body, thick, sticky, sugary mouthfeel with strong and sweet flavors. Low, smooth carbonation.
O: Sticky, sweet, but complex and integrated flavors. Flavors are not cloying, but this is definitely a sweet rum/molasses bomb. Delicious to sip on, but even 12 ounces became a chore after a while.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12oz bottle into snifter.
A: Pours a think inky black with dark brown edges. A short lived head foamed up with the pour but quickly faded leaving a few spots of soapy lace down the glass.
S: Sticky sweet rum filled nose mixed with molasses, caramel and raisin.
T: Follows the nose with sugary sweet flavors of molasses and caramel up front, followed by notes of vanilla, raisin, toffee, tobacco leaf, and a kiss of chocolate syrup. There’s a blast of bitterness in the middle that gives was to a dessert-like sweetness in the finish. The aftertaste has a lingering hint of roast and coffee. Flavors are intense.
M: Double digit booze is hidden very well, with just a kiss of soft warmth near the finish. Full body, thick, sticky, sugary mouthfeel with strong and sweet flavors. Low, smooth carbonation.
O: Sticky, sweet, but complex and integrated flavors. Flavors are not cloying, but this is definitely a sweet rum/molasses bomb. Delicious to sip on, but even 12 ounces became a chore after a while.
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4.43/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2017 vintage
Pitch black, nice mocha head
Nice notes of barrel aging, vanilla, coconut, cocoa, nice rum presence
Hot from the rum, nice balance, thick sweetness, cocoa, espresso, boozy. Old amber rum flavors
Very nice mouthfeel, thick, low carbonation
A real rummy treat. A drink to sip with a straw in a coconut shell
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2017 vintage
Pitch black, nice mocha head
Nice notes of barrel aging, vanilla, coconut, cocoa, nice rum presence
Hot from the rum, nice balance, thick sweetness, cocoa, espresso, boozy. Old amber rum flavors
Very nice mouthfeel, thick, low carbonation
A real rummy treat. A drink to sip with a straw in a coconut shell
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4.71/5 rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Poured into a tulip from a 12oz bottle. Creamy, near-black with little head retention. The nose is heavy coconut and fruity rum, a bit of alcohol, but blends nicely with the base beer. Beautiful, creamy mouthfeel, and flavors of rum, coconut, some chocolate, dark fruit. The alcohol is prominent, but blends nicely with the beer. This is a nice sipper, but you have to like rum to get behind this beer. Overall, another fantastic offering from Prairie.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Poured into a tulip from a 12oz bottle. Creamy, near-black with little head retention. The nose is heavy coconut and fruity rum, a bit of alcohol, but blends nicely with the base beer. Beautiful, creamy mouthfeel, and flavors of rum, coconut, some chocolate, dark fruit. The alcohol is prominent, but blends nicely with the beer. This is a nice sipper, but you have to like rum to get behind this beer. Overall, another fantastic offering from Prairie.
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4.24/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
12 ounce bottle, unreadable date. Poured into tulip. Pours just about black, thin mocha head that quickly receded. At first whiff, just a ton of licorice and molasses comes through. Maybe some fig newton too and raisin.
Upon taste, smooth and chewy stout. Roasty and mellow coffee. Bitter cocoa powder, coconut, what I can only describe as “fruit”. Very tiny and subtle white rum characteristics. . The mouthfeel is where Prairie stouts win with me-big and chewy but goes down velvety smooth. This is a big beer but not sure the rum barrel adds enough influence to the beer.
Accidentally paired with chocolate chip cheesecake and it was an awesome accident. Recommended with rich, creamy dessert!
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
12 ounce bottle, unreadable date. Poured into tulip. Pours just about black, thin mocha head that quickly receded. At first whiff, just a ton of licorice and molasses comes through. Maybe some fig newton too and raisin.
Upon taste, smooth and chewy stout. Roasty and mellow coffee. Bitter cocoa powder, coconut, what I can only describe as “fruit”. Very tiny and subtle white rum characteristics. . The mouthfeel is where Prairie stouts win with me-big and chewy but goes down velvety smooth. This is a big beer but not sure the rum barrel adds enough influence to the beer.
Accidentally paired with chocolate chip cheesecake and it was an awesome accident. Recommended with rich, creamy dessert!
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4.76/5 rDev +12.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Served in a over sized (red wine) glass from the bottle.
Appearance: Thick dark black coming off like an espresso poured hard into te glass with a dark tan head roughly a notch below a fingers length. Settles smoothly with even lacing.
Smell: Deep mocha and rum, has a sweet raisin tone to the brew. You can literally inhale it and lust like it was an addictive drug.
Taste: Sweet chocolate with a slight toned down spiciness to the beer. Molasses and deep dark chocolate with a rum after taste. It's incredibly weel finished which is one of the best tasting imperial stouts I have had in a while.
Mouth: Sticky brew, the molasses take a different tone to the beer. Comes off a bit dry with a toffee finish.
Overall: Awesome beer, pricey but incredible beer. Complex and tasty, and one more thing...don't share it, be greedy, only a select few would appreciate it it. Salud!
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Served in a over sized (red wine) glass from the bottle.
Appearance: Thick dark black coming off like an espresso poured hard into te glass with a dark tan head roughly a notch below a fingers length. Settles smoothly with even lacing.
Smell: Deep mocha and rum, has a sweet raisin tone to the brew. You can literally inhale it and lust like it was an addictive drug.
Taste: Sweet chocolate with a slight toned down spiciness to the beer. Molasses and deep dark chocolate with a rum after taste. It's incredibly weel finished which is one of the best tasting imperial stouts I have had in a while.
Mouth: Sticky brew, the molasses take a different tone to the beer. Comes off a bit dry with a toffee finish.
Overall: Awesome beer, pricey but incredible beer. Complex and tasty, and one more thing...don't share it, be greedy, only a select few would appreciate it it. Salud!
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4.36/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
The beer pours a nice brown head that dissipates quickly while the beer itself is a delicious chocolate black with a nice shiny and syrupy texture to it. It's definitely very good looking.
The smell is good. The rum comes out strongly and mixes well with the milk chocolate as it warms up a bit. The taste has a sharper and sweeter rum note that contrasts well with the sightly more bitter chocolate to contrast with it. The taste has a nice rum finish that lingers.
The feel is pretty good. It's a heavy bodied beer but a thin and slightly viscous, molasses like feel to it. Very light carbonation.
Overall, a pretty delicious beer once it's had some time to cool off a little bit.
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look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
The beer pours a nice brown head that dissipates quickly while the beer itself is a delicious chocolate black with a nice shiny and syrupy texture to it. It's definitely very good looking.
The smell is good. The rum comes out strongly and mixes well with the milk chocolate as it warms up a bit. The taste has a sharper and sweeter rum note that contrasts well with the sightly more bitter chocolate to contrast with it. The taste has a nice rum finish that lingers.
The feel is pretty good. It's a heavy bodied beer but a thin and slightly viscous, molasses like feel to it. Very light carbonation.
Overall, a pretty delicious beer once it's had some time to cool off a little bit.
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4/5 rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured a black body with no head and the aroma is essentially rum/booze and vanilla. Thick, sweet body with vanilla rum sweetness and a woody smoothness. Hints of raisins and plums (dark fruits) poke around and a pretty enjoyable beer but it feels dominated by the rum/booze notes.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured a black body with no head and the aroma is essentially rum/booze and vanilla. Thick, sweet body with vanilla rum sweetness and a woody smoothness. Hints of raisins and plums (dark fruits) poke around and a pretty enjoyable beer but it feels dominated by the rum/booze notes.
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4.4/5 rDev +4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Poured from fridge temp. Pitch black with tan head. Nose is chocolate, rum, cherries, roasted malts, licorice. Taste is incredible - detecting rum immediately, which is perfectly integrated with the rest of the flavors. Sweet chocolate, molasses, licorice, dark fruit, bread, coffee. This is a perfectly balanced beer. Mouthfeel is thick and creamy. Overall, a fantastic beer from Prairie.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Poured from fridge temp. Pitch black with tan head. Nose is chocolate, rum, cherries, roasted malts, licorice. Taste is incredible - detecting rum immediately, which is perfectly integrated with the rest of the flavors. Sweet chocolate, molasses, licorice, dark fruit, bread, coffee. This is a perfectly balanced beer. Mouthfeel is thick and creamy. Overall, a fantastic beer from Prairie.
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4.37/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
12 ounce bottle into a snifter. Had 3/9/18.
Pours dark and opaque, with a short, quickly dissipating head of darker foam and sparse, spotty lacing. Aromas of rum, vanilla, medium roast malts, chocolate, vanilla, fudge, raisins, dates, some molasses and oak. Smells great. Tastes great, too: malt, rum, cocoa, vanilla, raisins, molasses, oak, some chocolate and caramel, a light smokiness. Smooth, a solid full body, well carbonated.
Well developed and expressive aromas and flavors, great rum barrels. The mouthfeel is not quite up to the usual Bomb/Noir standards, but it’s not a real negative. Well worth a purchase, but it comes with the normal Prairie high price point.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
12 ounce bottle into a snifter. Had 3/9/18.
Pours dark and opaque, with a short, quickly dissipating head of darker foam and sparse, spotty lacing. Aromas of rum, vanilla, medium roast malts, chocolate, vanilla, fudge, raisins, dates, some molasses and oak. Smells great. Tastes great, too: malt, rum, cocoa, vanilla, raisins, molasses, oak, some chocolate and caramel, a light smokiness. Smooth, a solid full body, well carbonated.
Well developed and expressive aromas and flavors, great rum barrels. The mouthfeel is not quite up to the usual Bomb/Noir standards, but it’s not a real negative. Well worth a purchase, but it comes with the normal Prairie high price point.
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4.76/5 rDev +12.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
L: Motor oil pitch black. A small foamy brown head quickly fizzes down into a thin brown ring, leaving some spotty lacing.
S: Incredibly decadent and rich. Brown sugar, toasted coconut, dark chocolate, cocoa, chocolate syrup, vanilla, licorice, star anise, some soy sauce. Smells like snickerdoodles and macaroons with chocolate and booze.
T: Huge dark chocolate, fudge, and chocolate syrup, followed by toasted coconut and vanilla. General brown/burnt sugar caramel sweetness, with hints of date, fig, and raisin. Some savory soy sauce character with a lot of licorice, molasses, and star anise spice. Lots of warming alcohol, with chili spice on the finish. Quite sweet.
F: Big, but not super thick and chewy. Creamy, slick, oily; thought it thins out a bit more on the finish. Sticky with residual sugars. Leaves the tongue tingling for several minutes.
O: An amazing stout. Despite a few minor flaws, this still tastes incredible.
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look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
L: Motor oil pitch black. A small foamy brown head quickly fizzes down into a thin brown ring, leaving some spotty lacing.
S: Incredibly decadent and rich. Brown sugar, toasted coconut, dark chocolate, cocoa, chocolate syrup, vanilla, licorice, star anise, some soy sauce. Smells like snickerdoodles and macaroons with chocolate and booze.
T: Huge dark chocolate, fudge, and chocolate syrup, followed by toasted coconut and vanilla. General brown/burnt sugar caramel sweetness, with hints of date, fig, and raisin. Some savory soy sauce character with a lot of licorice, molasses, and star anise spice. Lots of warming alcohol, with chili spice on the finish. Quite sweet.
F: Big, but not super thick and chewy. Creamy, slick, oily; thought it thins out a bit more on the finish. Sticky with residual sugars. Leaves the tongue tingling for several minutes.
O: An amazing stout. Despite a few minor flaws, this still tastes incredible.
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4.43/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
12 oz bottle poured into a teku
A- Black with a two finger mocha head.
S- Dark chocolate, fudge, vanilla, molasses, some rum, oak.
T- Vanilla, rum, fudge, oak, chocolate, some roasted malts.
M- Smooth, full body.
O- A great barrel aged stout, very easy to drink. Worth seeking out.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
12 oz bottle poured into a teku
A- Black with a two finger mocha head.
S- Dark chocolate, fudge, vanilla, molasses, some rum, oak.
T- Vanilla, rum, fudge, oak, chocolate, some roasted malts.
M- Smooth, full body.
O- A great barrel aged stout, very easy to drink. Worth seeking out.
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4.72/5 rDev +11.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
A near perfect beer. Black, virtually no head.
Aroma of rum, vanilla, and chocolate.
The taste expands on the aroma. Rum, vanilla, sweet chocolate. Each stands out and compliments the others.
My mouth feels like it has been coated with a magic elixir.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
A near perfect beer. Black, virtually no head.
Aroma of rum, vanilla, and chocolate.
The taste expands on the aroma. Rum, vanilla, sweet chocolate. Each stands out and compliments the others.
My mouth feels like it has been coated with a magic elixir.
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4.13/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Undated bottle into pint glass. Pours a very dark but not quite opaque brown, with essentially no head. Initial impression is very smooth, very boozy, with molasses, vanilla, and a goodly shot of rum. Flavors are definitely muted when cold, but become more apparent as it warms. Mouthfeel is slippery-smooth, with just a touch of carbonation. Alcohol is evident but not overwhelming. Might be a good candidate for cellaring, but a) I only got one bottle, and b) I never had enough patience/self restraint to cellar anything for long. Finish is smooth an molasses-sweet. At 12% ABV, a definite sipper.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Undated bottle into pint glass. Pours a very dark but not quite opaque brown, with essentially no head. Initial impression is very smooth, very boozy, with molasses, vanilla, and a goodly shot of rum. Flavors are definitely muted when cold, but become more apparent as it warms. Mouthfeel is slippery-smooth, with just a touch of carbonation. Alcohol is evident but not overwhelming. Might be a good candidate for cellaring, but a) I only got one bottle, and b) I never had enough patience/self restraint to cellar anything for long. Finish is smooth an molasses-sweet. At 12% ABV, a definite sipper.
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4.47/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pirate Noir is, quite likely, my very favorite rum barrel-aged beer to date - it was my first, and it's certainly my fondest. It's sort of my gold standard for rum barrel-aging.
Pirate Noir pours a rich, deep, oily black. The head presence is quite minimal - just a light ring of medium brown around the edge of the glass. I did not pour particularly lightly, so the beer is just very lightly carbed - this is a significant plus in my book. The nose is ripe with rum, vanilla, and chocolate - it's incredibly fresh and clean. The taste delivers, similarly - the rum itself is particularly remarkable, being very present but still clean and quality (as opposed to Central Water's rum barrels, which taste like Parrot Bay or some other cheap, overly sweet variety of rum). As with all rum barrel-aged beers, it's slightly thinner, but still quite rich.
Love this stuff. I do my best to hoard it every single year, and will continue to do so.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pirate Noir is, quite likely, my very favorite rum barrel-aged beer to date - it was my first, and it's certainly my fondest. It's sort of my gold standard for rum barrel-aging.
Pirate Noir pours a rich, deep, oily black. The head presence is quite minimal - just a light ring of medium brown around the edge of the glass. I did not pour particularly lightly, so the beer is just very lightly carbed - this is a significant plus in my book. The nose is ripe with rum, vanilla, and chocolate - it's incredibly fresh and clean. The taste delivers, similarly - the rum itself is particularly remarkable, being very present but still clean and quality (as opposed to Central Water's rum barrels, which taste like Parrot Bay or some other cheap, overly sweet variety of rum). As with all rum barrel-aged beers, it's slightly thinner, but still quite rich.
Love this stuff. I do my best to hoard it every single year, and will continue to do so.
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4.04/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Appearance - The beer was an oily black color in appearance with a dark mocha colored head.
Smell - The alocohol and dark malts were apparant in the nose.
Taste - At the front came the chocolate, with the sting of rum following. Maybe I just don’t like rum, but I feel like it takes away from the richness os the chocolate. The overall profile was like anticeptic chocolate. The rum was not hot, it just was not tasty.
Mouthfeel - Like most prairie stouts, this had a wonderful mouthfeel.
Overall - This did not impress me a ton
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Appearance - The beer was an oily black color in appearance with a dark mocha colored head.
Smell - The alocohol and dark malts were apparant in the nose.
Taste - At the front came the chocolate, with the sting of rum following. Maybe I just don’t like rum, but I feel like it takes away from the richness os the chocolate. The overall profile was like anticeptic chocolate. The rum was not hot, it just was not tasty.
Mouthfeel - Like most prairie stouts, this had a wonderful mouthfeel.
Overall - This did not impress me a ton
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4.34/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Pours dark black with a small light brown head with ample alcohol legs.
Aroma is super rum and barrel toward. There is some spice... like nutmeg and allspice. A bit of coffee, green pepper, and a bit of a butter-like character.
Taste again is pretty boozy with lots of rum. A bit of cherry and dried dark fruits. Unfortunately, my first thoughts were of soy sauce, but as the beer warms this did start to diminish. Some brown sugar with an alcohol burn on the finish. Good mouthfeel however.
Overall, the beer to me is not worth the investment. Good barrel character but some off flavors were noted. I see it pairing well with rum soaked raisin cake. It gets a 87/100.
671 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Pours dark black with a small light brown head with ample alcohol legs.
Aroma is super rum and barrel toward. There is some spice... like nutmeg and allspice. A bit of coffee, green pepper, and a bit of a butter-like character.
Taste again is pretty boozy with lots of rum. A bit of cherry and dried dark fruits. Unfortunately, my first thoughts were of soy sauce, but as the beer warms this did start to diminish. Some brown sugar with an alcohol burn on the finish. Good mouthfeel however.
Overall, the beer to me is not worth the investment. Good barrel character but some off flavors were noted. I see it pairing well with rum soaked raisin cake. It gets a 87/100.
671 characters
3.94/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
A 12 fl. oz. bottle with a Julian bottled on date of 18815, meaning that it was bottled on 7th July 2015. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Black in colour with a very thin tanned head that dissipated quickly and left pretty much no lacing.
Aroma: Rum, molasses, chocolate, coffee and roasted malts with a light char.
Taste: Similar to the aroma with sweet rum, molasses, chocolate, raisin, prunes and booze.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, medium to full bodied with low carbonation.
Overall: Flavours were nice and interesting although its on the edge of being too sweet and boozy for me to fully relax and enjoy.
614 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
A 12 fl. oz. bottle with a Julian bottled on date of 18815, meaning that it was bottled on 7th July 2015. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Black in colour with a very thin tanned head that dissipated quickly and left pretty much no lacing.
Aroma: Rum, molasses, chocolate, coffee and roasted malts with a light char.
Taste: Similar to the aroma with sweet rum, molasses, chocolate, raisin, prunes and booze.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, medium to full bodied with low carbonation.
Overall: Flavours were nice and interesting although its on the edge of being too sweet and boozy for me to fully relax and enjoy.
614 characters
4.44/5 rDev +5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Bottle poured into chalice
Black motor oil in appearance topped by deep brown espresso pencil thin foam layer
Aroma of rum, spices, peppery, tobacco
Taste of rum , cocoa ,caramelized sugar
Velvety smooth
Delicious beer
224 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Bottle poured into chalice
Black motor oil in appearance topped by deep brown espresso pencil thin foam layer
Aroma of rum, spices, peppery, tobacco
Taste of rum , cocoa ,caramelized sugar
Velvety smooth
Delicious beer
224 characters
4.41/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from 12oz bottle into glass. Stamping on bottle neck indicates bottling date in '2017'.
Black, nearly opaque colored body, with just the tiniest reddish edge when presented to light. Less than a finger of mocha colored head upon pouring, but the cap is persistent. Some scattered strings of lacing, but quite minor.
The barrel (rum/oak) and the base stout (dark roasted malt) present together in the aroma (rum barrel is not dominating), with contributing burnt sugar, dark chocolate/vanilla, and a whiff of dark fruits.
Taste profile is quite complex, with individual taste components swirling through rather a sequence of one to another to another. Definitely expresses the rum/oak barrel (more towards the middle and end), with sweet chocolate at the beginning, with vanilla and dates/apricots/figs certainly contributing.
Medium with some palate coating mouth feel, which contributes positively to the beer experience.
High ABV comes through in the aroma but not in the taste profile. Confident and well balanced barrel aged imperial stout. The rum barrel, which is different from the taste influence of a bourbon barrel, is used well here, but considerable appreciation for rum is required for this beer.
1,216 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from 12oz bottle into glass. Stamping on bottle neck indicates bottling date in '2017'.
Black, nearly opaque colored body, with just the tiniest reddish edge when presented to light. Less than a finger of mocha colored head upon pouring, but the cap is persistent. Some scattered strings of lacing, but quite minor.
The barrel (rum/oak) and the base stout (dark roasted malt) present together in the aroma (rum barrel is not dominating), with contributing burnt sugar, dark chocolate/vanilla, and a whiff of dark fruits.
Taste profile is quite complex, with individual taste components swirling through rather a sequence of one to another to another. Definitely expresses the rum/oak barrel (more towards the middle and end), with sweet chocolate at the beginning, with vanilla and dates/apricots/figs certainly contributing.
Medium with some palate coating mouth feel, which contributes positively to the beer experience.
High ABV comes through in the aroma but not in the taste profile. Confident and well balanced barrel aged imperial stout. The rum barrel, which is different from the taste influence of a bourbon barrel, is used well here, but considerable appreciation for rum is required for this beer.
1,216 characters
4.35/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Quick note: I'm super bored with reviewing Prairie Stouts because they all perform the same way (not taste the same) and they are all generally about equally excellent so there.
A: Pours an opaque black with smooth, one-finger, khaki head, standard prairie stout looks great.
S: Smells immediately of Rum, Coffee, Chocolate, molasses (or general burnt sugar), and Peppers.
T: Tastes immediately of Rum, Coffee, Chocolate, molasses (or general burnt sugar), and Peppers. You do get some dark fruit coming through here but I think you might be starting to notice a pattern here.
M: Thick, but not painfully so.
O: It doesn't really matter which Prairie Stout you buy, they're all great. I've had Bomb!, Christmas Bomb!, Paradise, and now Pirate Noir and here's what I notice about Prairie Stouts: They all taste exactly as their described to the letter, they are in no way subtle or nuanced beers and they are all damn fine beers in their own way. So pick this one if you like the idea of rum, it works, but then again, it's a prairie stout, so...of course it does.
1,063 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Quick note: I'm super bored with reviewing Prairie Stouts because they all perform the same way (not taste the same) and they are all generally about equally excellent so there.
A: Pours an opaque black with smooth, one-finger, khaki head, standard prairie stout looks great.
S: Smells immediately of Rum, Coffee, Chocolate, molasses (or general burnt sugar), and Peppers.
T: Tastes immediately of Rum, Coffee, Chocolate, molasses (or general burnt sugar), and Peppers. You do get some dark fruit coming through here but I think you might be starting to notice a pattern here.
M: Thick, but not painfully so.
O: It doesn't really matter which Prairie Stout you buy, they're all great. I've had Bomb!, Christmas Bomb!, Paradise, and now Pirate Noir and here's what I notice about Prairie Stouts: They all taste exactly as their described to the letter, they are in no way subtle or nuanced beers and they are all damn fine beers in their own way. So pick this one if you like the idea of rum, it works, but then again, it's a prairie stout, so...of course it does.
1,063 characters
Pirate Noir from Prairie Artisan Ales
Beer rating:
4.23 out of
5 with
690 ratings
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