Dark Arts
Wicked Weed Brewing

Dark ArtsDark Arts
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From:
Wicked Weed Brewing
 
North Carolina, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
ABV:
15%
Score:
92
Avg:
4.12 | pDev: 14.08%
Reviews:
20
Ratings:
175
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 04, 2021
Added:
Sep 30, 2014
Wants:
  50
Gots:
  44
Dark Arts is a Wild Imperial Stout and North Carolina's first beer to reach the 15% ABV legal cap. Aged since 2013 in Bourbon Barrels, this ale is the fulfillment of a goal we set for ourselves in the beginning: It wasn't enough to merely strive for the cap, we had to craft a culmination beer, reflective of our love of all beer styles. Here we humbly offer you a little piece of history, and a large part of our heart for this craft we call beer.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by xdtfx:
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Rated by xdtfx from Illinois

3.85/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Mar 02, 2015
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.25 by Gkruszewski from New York

Nov 04, 2021
Photo of puck1225
Reviewed by puck1225 from Texas

4.54/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I really like this beer! It has all the qualities I like in a slightly sour dark beer. Funky, rich and comforting.

Bought this bottle at the Asheville location in July. Pours an oily dark brown color into a tulip glass. Thick creamy beige head and excellent curtain lacing. Smell and taste of tart dark cherries and blackberries. Dark chocolate cordial with cherries, German chocolate cake, licorice, bourbon. Love the funky background flavor of the Brett’s. Pleasant warming booziness. Silky smooth feel. I look forward to having it again!
Sep 11, 2021
 
Rated: 4.5 by AngusOg from North Carolina

Jul 27, 2021
 
Rated: 4.21 by StoutAtTheDevil from Alabama

Jul 07, 2021
 
Rated: 4.4 by robotic_being from Illinois

Jun 10, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by jschott75 from Illinois

Nov 11, 2019
 
Rated: 3.88 by GarrettBoots from Georgia

Dec 28, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by stortore from Illinois

Dec 27, 2018
 
Rated: 3 by PprBurke from Virginia

Oct 28, 2018
Photo of agreenman19
Reviewed by agreenman19 from Connecticut

4.55/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Label says Dark Arts Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stout Fermented with Brettanomyces & Espresso. Pretty sure this is the right beer since the bottle says "This year's version of Dark Arts..."

L - pours a cola-looking brown into the glass. Looks a lot thinner and clearer than I'd expect for 14%. Loud crackling head fizzes and dissipates like cola too!

S - woof. Big red wine sour twang right out of the gates. Let's dive deeper. Brief vanilla and oak up front that is quickly consumed by a vinous bourbon medley of coffee and dark chocolate. Fermented apples? All with that familiar Brett backbone. Kinda smells like EBF. Just has that aroma that screams craziness. Shame about the acquisition and consequent boot from future EBFs tho.

T - incredibly warm and inviting campfire marshmallow toastiness. Sweet caramel-drizzled regular coffee. Wow, there's a lot going on here. Heavy cream lactose, drying bourbon grain, milk chocolate brownies, and orange peel acidity. For better or for worse, the Brett lingers in the background. On the plus side, it cuts into the decadence prior and hits hard with a sobering bite to balance out the rich flavors. It almost feels out of place, even though I know that's WW's thing. This could've been a downright sinfully sweet stout without the Brett, which makes it surprisingly drinkable. A sugary residue coats the mouth, quickly absorbed by the red wine acidity.

F - I thought this was gonna be thin, but it exhibits a nice velvet body, helped along by low carb. A few bubbles toward the end put a small dent in the cream.

O - I like this. I can see how some might think it's a bastardization of two styles, but each one can hold its own. The decadent, bourbony espresso is wonderfully-executed and tamed by the Brett twang. It tastes heavy, but doesn't feel heavy, and even though there is some clashing going on, the taste is enjoyable, and that's what counts, right?
Jun 06, 2018
Photo of rudzud
Reviewed by rudzud from Massachusetts

2.88/5  rDev -30.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
Thanks to JLindros for sharing this bottle.

A - Poured into a Kate the Great a nice dark black hue with a thin head that fades quickly to leave light wisps and no real legs.

S - Aromas of stale malts, soured malts. Very light barrel notes.

T - Taste is similar to the nose spoiled chocolate milk galore, really hard acidity. Light barrel and vanilla.

M - Mouthfeel is lightly carbonated, flemmy, alcohol hidden well.

O - Overall this was a very very poor beer. Utter mess of a stout with no redeeming qualities.

Serving Type: bottle
Mar 24, 2018
Photo of jlindros
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts

2.88/5  rDev -30.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
Share with rudzud, not sure if from me or him

NO head, very light legs kinda lame, pitch black beer

Nose basically sour chocolate, weird chocolate shavings and sour malt, like I had chocolate milk that some weird acid splashed into it and it went sour. Bourbon, not really, imperial stout, maybe but meh, wild yeah but not good.

taste is maybe marginally better, some chocolate syrup, fluffy marshmallow that went sour and acidic, not like smashing my mouth sour but def there, and bad acid, a touch of bourbon, bitter spicy hop and roasty, sour dark bleh

Mouth is med to heavier bod syrupy acidic flemmy messy just bad, a touch of carbonation, some booze

Overall this was, I don't even know what to say.
Mar 24, 2018
 
Rated: 4.75 by Mack357 from North Carolina

Dec 21, 2017
 
Rated: 3.9 by oline73 from Maryland

Jul 01, 2017
 
Rated: 3.83 by kylehay2004 from Illinois

May 09, 2017
 
Rated: 3.95 by Zazzi82 from Tennessee

Jan 08, 2017
 
Rated: 3.92 by Mikexw from New York

Jan 01, 2017
 
Rated: 4.56 by spycow from Illinois

Dec 26, 2016
 
Rated: 4.05 by RPM3334 from South Carolina

Dec 25, 2016
Dark Arts from Wicked Weed Brewing
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 175 ratings