Acheron
Martin House Brewing Company

Review: 2370
Name: Acheron
Brewery: Martin House Brewing Company
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Style: Barrel Aged Imperial Stout
ABV: 12%
Canned: 31 August 2021
Date:21 April 2025
I bought this in Amarillo, TX, on my way to get my child because his mom made some terrible choices. I am using a tulip glass and serving the beer at 50 degrees. The pour created an airy, two-fingered, dark tan head with average retention. The quick dissipation left no lacing on the glass, only a ring around the liquid. The color is inky black with dark rusty red hues and opaque charting at SRM 38. This beer's appearance is average.
Nosing the glass, I smelled molasses, dark-roasted malts, char, raisins, toffee, caramel, chocolate, whiskey, treacle, dark-roasted coffee, and earthiness. Smelling the glass again, I noticed tobacco, malty sweetness, dark toasted bread crust, leather, floral, and grassy.
Sipping the beer, I taste toasted dark bread crust, toffee, anise, soy sauce, raisins, Maillard, toffee, caramel, oaky, whiskey, dark chocolate, treacle, flower bouquet, tobacco, leather, dark roasted malts, medium-roasted coffee, malty sweetness, and earthiness.
The mouthfeel is smooth and warm, finishing with some bitterness. The body is heavy and low in carbonation.
The best way to describe this beer is as a big, boozy, oaky, dark-roasted beer with lots of char and Maillard. The brewers wanted to create Acheron, and they succeeded. I reveal the beer harsher than my preference for bold imperial barrel-aged stouts.

 

 

Aroma: A bit of citric hop on a deep malty bed. Roasted barley, some earthiness, and a lot of slightly sour whisky barrel.

Appearance: Black as night, holds a dark tan halo that leaves ropy lacing.

Taste: Barrel is up front and punchy, very wooden like a fresh barrel with a whisky sour finish. Hints of underlying heavy malt beer poke through, but the barrel notes are a little too heavy handed for my tastes.

Mouthfeel: Heavy body, low carbonation, viscous, full chew, light oil in the finish but fairly clean.

Overall: Big 'un. They threw all the resources as it, malt, whisky barrel, hops, and it delivers all of that, but I would adjust the knobs a bit to dial down the barrel, and up the hops. Personal preference, I can see people really liking this, and me ordering it at the bar when I want to lick a whisky stave.

 

Look: black with a thick mocca colored head

Aroma: roasted malts, molasses, chocolate, bourbon/whiskey

Flavor: dark roasted malts, molasses, chocolate, bourbon/whiskey, a tad sweet

Body/Overall: full body, it is very good

Appearance: Murky deep brown in color, with a small, somewhat coarse tan head, which fairly quickly fades to a dusting of foam on the surface. The lacing forms a thin, finely-beaded sheet on the glass wall. Not even a hint of a highlight can be seen before a strong light at the stem of the glass.

Aroma: Rich notes of molasses, whiskey, bitter coca, brown sugar, vanilla, dark fruit and wood are quite beguiling. The alcohol notes, while prominent, offer a pleasant spiciness, without any harshness.

Taste: Opens with a mellow, pleasant whiskey note, with a gentle warmth and moderate spiciness. Dark fruits form the undercurrent of the taste, but there is also wood, vanilla, dark fruit, and bitter cocoa, As the taste advances, there is a brief surge of molasses and brown sugar. Late in the taste whiskey and wood notes prevail, bringing the taste to a gracious and elegant close.

Mouth feel: Very rich and full, soft, with delicate carbonation and a body like that of whole milk

Drinkability/notes: Wonderfully elegant and decadent, it would serve as a lovely accompaniment to a rich chocolate dessert, or served alone, as a fitting dessert.

Presentation: Packaged in a standard twelve-ounce aluminum can, served in a La Fin du Monde tulip.

 

 

 

Pitch black pour complete with a brown finger of foam. Very sweet brown sugar and whiskey lead the nose, chocolate, vanilla, and malt support. The taste has these elements in two separate camps: the super sweet brown sugar, whiskey, molasses, and vanilla vs the malt, dark chocolate and slight roast. The problem is these factions clash, stealing depth from one another. Thinner bodied and warmer but not all the way to hot, but very smooth and the sweetness rounds out well into the maltwork.

 

Two can box brewed 08/31/21. Enjoyed using snifter. Rich dark color. A rich aroma of chocolate, dark roasted malt, and molasses. Very sweet smelling. Faintly alcoholic. Taste is strong molasses and dark fruit like raisins, dates, figs and prunes with bourbon finishing notes. Only slight hint of bitterness. A smooth brew with slight heat and quiet alcohol. Super sipping beer. The taste is fruity complex, satisfying and very tasty. Will be looking for more repeats of this great beer.

I had this very tasty beer at a local pub while visiting with a friend. It was poured from tap into a snifter. Rich dark brown color with a creamy brown head and good curtain lacing. Pleasant smell and taste of dark chocolate. Taste of molasses and a hint of cherry cordial. Dark fruit, raisins and prunes. Smooth rich feel. A beer to sip and savor.

Pour is jet black with a nice finger of cinnamon head that fades to a ring around the glass
Nose is bourbon, vanilla, coconut, roasted malt, oak, plum
Taste is chocolate, dark roasted malt, hint of vanilla, coffee, latte, fudge, hint of sweet bourbon on the finish. Great beer. Lingering creamy dark chocolate

 

 

 

 

Black as coal with a tan head. Nose is initially overwhelming with whiskey, but that fades somewhat with time. Initial taste is chocolate nibs, slight coconut and whiskey. ABV does not over take the bear nor is it fatiguing on the palate. Great beer!