Erebus
Martin House Brewing Company

Canned 12/6/19. Drank 2/25/23
Pour is black with a lingering deep khaki head. Decent lacing
Nose is coffee, peat, scotch, roasted malt, vanilla
Taste is coffee mixed nicely with lightly peaty scotch. Roasted malt, subtle dark fruity character. Smooth, roasty bitterness. Woody, earthy. Toffee

In somewhat a reversal of roles, Martin House looks to Scotland for a strong ale and then to the U.S. for a quintessential whisky spice. The result is a booze bomb with a malt forward sweetness and sense of Scottish drinkability.

Very dark brown and easily mistaken for stout, a dainty creme swirls on the brim before Erebus leans in for a toasty sweet, robust smokey perfume laced with dark fruit and strong spice. But its the malts that have full influence early and often. Molasses, brown sugar, horehound candy, cola and maple all come to the delight of the sweet tooth.

Once the middle palate acclimate to the beer's lavish sweetness, other and more earthen nuances of coffee, cocoa, oak, peppercorn, light peat and tobacco that peak out from behind the malts. As the ale turns to the barrel influence the session shares flavors of coconut, caramel, vanilla and peppery heat. Low in bitterness, a woodsy hop bite steps in to aid the barrel in an oaken finish.

Full bodied but with an incredible sense of dryness and drinkability for such strong ale, this is the charm of well made Scottish ale and Martin House nailed that mouthfeel masterfully. But the prickling heat provides a distraction for flavor in a numbing finish and a long linger of pepper and oak.

Did someone say BOOZIE? This beer is just that. Pours dark like a stout should with a light brown head. Nose is OMG, lots of booze in that nose. Taste is chocolate with overtones of vanilla and a slight scotch flavor. Good to great would be my descriptors.

 

Poured into a fancy Founders Barrel Aged Series glass from a 12 ounce canned on date of 12/09/19 although it says it was brewed on Aug. 26. The beer is dark as night, like black coffee and has a good mocha colored head. Smells like dark chocolate and a hint of coffee. The taste follows the nose and it really does have a dark chocolate and coffee taste that is excellent. At 13.1% ABV, I was looking for some of that Scotch Whisky flavor. Maybe before I'm through. It has enough bitterness as does the dark chocolate I eat. So this beer is fantastic to me. The mouthfeel is thin enough to really accent this beer as it doesn't come across as "heavy". It lays on the tongue and is really nice. You'll be lickin' your lips. Overall a lust worthy brew from Fort Worth. Martin House continues to impress me with their offerings when it comes to their barrel aged stouts. I will buy all these I find as BA reports these are retired. I've seen them around. They come in a fancy box with two twelve ounce cans. Way to go Martin House. 5 stars y'all!!

 

12oz can into a goblet. 2019 release, apparently a one-off. Tavour shipment.

Looks very good. Black body, light carbonation. Pancake on a griddle head which shrinks to a ring. No lacing.

Light aromas of scotch and coffee.

On tasting, it's nicely balanced, all the flavors end up in the back of the throat. Scotch, coffee, medium roasted malt and a little Smokey. As it warms, the coffee fades away

Mouth close to full, Smokey whisky finish.

Overall, a fair amount going on here, and quite well balanced. Nice drink.

 

 

 

Solid black moderate creamy tan head to persistent blanket curled collar.

Roasty, smoky and nutty, this features notes of cacao, licorice and molasses, and thankfully not overly potent of any Scotch or peat overtones. It has a mild, balanced barrel presence that provides more heat than peat, as the medium body's frothy carb finishes dry. A mild coffee character provides more woody bitterness than anything, but this is a strong sipper either way.

One of the better Scotch barrel aged beers I've had, but I'm not holding my breath for any better ones to come along.