Acheron
Martin House Brewing Company

AcheronAcheron
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From:
Martin House Brewing Company
 
Texas, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
Ranked #427
ABV:
12%
Score:
94
Ranked #1,624
Avg:
4.33 | pDev: 6.47%
Reviews:
22
Ratings:
78
Status:
Active
Rated:
Tuesday at 02:38 AM
Added:
Mar 08, 2016
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  11
In Dante's Inferno, the Acheron river forms the border of Hell. At MHBC, Acheron is our deeply dark and ravishing imperial stout. Aged six months in whiskey barrels and unblended for maximum barrel flavor, this 12% abv stout will satiate your sinuous desires for something bold, burly, boozy, and barbarous. Acheron is brewed with black malts, black barley, chocolate malts, Crystal malts and oats. Its finished with brown sugar and Columbus hops to balance its leviathan body. Drinking this beer will help Charon determine your fate.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of colts9016
Reviewed by colts9016 from Idaho

4.15/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
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.
Tuesday at 02:38 AM
 
Rated: 4.15 by Sparky44 from Illinois

Mar 16, 2025
 
Rated: 4.49 by vander54 from Texas

Nov 28, 2024
Photo of HardTarget
Reviewed by HardTarget from Texas

4.34/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
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.
Apr 13, 2024
 
Rated: 4.43 by kkarimi from Texas

Mar 23, 2024
Photo of Thomas_Wikman
Reviewed by Thomas_Wikman from Texas

4.42/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
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
Dec 28, 2023
Photo of Pegasus
Reviewed by Pegasus from Texas

4.66/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
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.
Dec 22, 2023
 
Rated: 4.58 by bigpoppa67 from Wisconsin

Dec 08, 2022
 
 
Rated: 4.25 by Dope from Massachusetts

Jun 15, 2022
Photo of REVZEB
Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois

3.86/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
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.
Jun 09, 2022
 
Rated: 4.18 by Wisconsin_IPA_Lover from Wisconsin

Mar 11, 2022
Photo of agedbeers
Reviewed by agedbeers from California

4.58/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
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.
Feb 15, 2022
Photo of puck1225
Reviewed by puck1225 from Texas

4.43/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
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.
Jan 30, 2022
Photo of ilikebeer03
Reviewed by ilikebeer03 from Texas

4.32/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
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
Jan 30, 2022
 
Rated: 4.27 by Agriverbear from Texas

Jan 17, 2022
 
Rated: 4.67 by crobinso from Colorado

Apr 11, 2020
 
Rated: 3.75 by zbooks from Texas

Feb 29, 2020
 
Rated: 4.52 by JamesStreet from Louisiana

Feb 18, 2020
Photo of MutuelsMark
Reviewed by MutuelsMark from Kentucky

4.52/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
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!
Dec 09, 2019