Origin of Darkness - CR/AK
Collective Arts Brewing

I drank this when it was 5 years past the bottling date, so take that for what it's worth. It had been stored in an actual root cellar, so that wasn't a problem.
The only "loss" maybe was carbonation, there was hardly any at all. This may have contributed to the almost cloying sweetness just a bit by not providing that edge. The feel matched the taste; not syrup by any stretch, but the slick, viscous liquid could maybe claim syrup as a not to distant relative.
The taste was excellent, chocolate on chocolate, some vanilla and a touch of pistachio. Early pastry stout? Maybe. Quite enjoyable, rather sad it's retired.

Pours an oily black. Nose is nuts, chocolate, toffee, and coffee. Taste follows suit. Simple flavor profile but very well executed. Overall, excellent.

Three year old bottle stored a cellar temp - ~60 F.
Pours very dark brown pushing to black with scant rim of reddish brown head.
Aroma distinctly chocolate forward, vanilla and some baking spice notes - ?pistachio - not clear I know what pistachio smells like frankly.... Bourbon rounds out.
Tastes of sweet chocolate, bready pastry like malt, vanilla and spice - notes of the bourbon barrel dance at the edges with a bit of boozy heat.
Medium full mouthfeel with decent carbonation - punches a bit above the 8.4% ABV (would not have been surprised 10+).
Perhaps the best of the series I have had so far.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Very dessert-like, 8.4% abv but rich - lots of chocolate syrup with boozy vanilla tones - the pistachio imparts an appreciable element - at times, nutty, at times very pistachio-tasting, and at times almost mint-like... Full-bodied and relatively dense - a sippable sweet treat...

Pours very dark, minimal bubbly head that fades quickly. Fantastic chocolate and pistachio aroma. Almost citrusy. Flavor is mainly pistachio, chocolate, barrel aging melds the flavors together very nicely. Love the pistachio. Canolli cream comes through nicely as well. A bit on the thin side considering the abv, carbonation is a bit weak. Overall I love the flavor that they packed in here, could use some work on the body. Would buy again.

2/3/21
500 ml bottle, no date
4.5 rating

Dark brown pour with soapy tan lacing. Creamy chocolate roast with pistachio on the nose. Taste starts well balanced with roasted cocoa, pistachio, and chocolate roast but builds like a freight train through the sip. Ends with a strong lingering chocolate roast and pistachio that blends very well. Thick silky body with a semi-dry finish.

Recommended.

 

 

Pours black with a 1 inch tan head. Moderate lacing.

Aroma of nuts, oak bourbon, molasses, chocolate. Sweetish.

Taste is molasses, bourbon, oak, dark chocolate, nuts, figs, vanilla. A bit of alcohol warmth.

Full bodied, light carbonation. Thick and creamy. Sweet, oily finish.

Another bourbon barrel aged stout to try before you die. Masterful.

One of the best bourbon barrel aged stouts that I've ever had. The Abyss and Eclipse (Woodford Reserve) are probably my two favorites of all time...but this is right up there. Definitely sweeter but not overly.

 

 

 

From the 2019 bottle release. Sampled on April 16, 2020.

Opaque and handsome near jet black pour with slowly fading brown head.

Wow! Check out those chocolate notes on the nose! Other sensations include wood, chocolate cream, and some booze from the Bourbon barrel aging I expect.

Full and smooth body.

Sweet roasted character in the flavor with mild floral character and more booze. Not a warming finish but delightful nonetheless.