Origin of Darkness - Cloudwater
Collective Arts Brewing

 

 

I have been traveling and I found Wine Warehouse I Charlottesville, VA and this beer. SO glad I did. I’ve had a couple of Collective Arts brews before and they are well worth buying. This is no exception. It’s my favorite style and if you like this style and can find this beer BUY IT!

 

355 mL can purchased from the brewery a long time ago; dated Aug 25 2022 and served barely chilled.

Pours pitch black with roughly one finger of foamy brown-coloured head gathered atop; it lasts for the better part of five minutes, inevitably worn down to a soapy collar and sparse cap. The aroma is decidedly 'grapey' - the ice wine and port have definitely put their stamp on this stout. However, there's also hints of blueberry, raspberry, raisin and cherry, backed by notes of dark chocolate, oak, vanilla and ethanol - wonderfully complex and endlessly intriguing to sniff.

It's delicious, but there's a lot to unpack here. Roasted grains and dark chocolate off the hop, with flavours of port wine, oak, raisin and spice not far behind; notes of raspberry, ice wine, cherry and plum develop by mid-sip. Hints of vanilla and fudge on the back end, with honey sweetness, port wine and spiciness lasting through the finish; the aftertaste is boozy, slightly roasty, rather sweet and fairly persistent. Thick, full mouthfeel with low carbonation; feels slick and oily, coating the tongue with each sip. Limited drinkability, but it's a fine sipper and a fantastic dessert beer.

Final Grade: 4.33, an impressive A grade. I bought this can of Origin of Darkness (Cloudwater) at least a year ago, and am slightly ashamed of myself for sitting on it, and several other OoD variants, for far too long. Fortunately, it seems that this beer ages gracefully, at least in the short term. For me, the highlight was the nose: it still tastes great, of course, but that vinous bouquet really steals the show. This is still available in Collective Arts' online shop.... not sure if it's old stock, or if they cooked up another batch recently, but honestly I don't think it matters either way - this is an outstanding stout even after sitting around for 1½ years. Strongly recommended - I might need to order some more...

Another special brew from Collective Arts...

I think of this brewer as a specialty brewer of stouts - and this one is nothing short of special. It pours out like motor-oil, thick like it on your tongue, and it has a great look, deliciously roasted smell, and definitely a boozy flavorful experience...

 

 

 

12oz can poured into a snifter

A- pours jet black in color with a one-finger creamy khaki head that has great retention and leaves some lacing behind

S- plenty of port barrel on the nose gives aromas of stewed berries, dark cherries, figs & raisins. Undertones of wet oak, chocolate, candied pecans, red apple & a hint of mocha coffee. Theres also a vinous fruity note that I assume is the ice wine

T- rich dark chocolate and charred malt up front quickly give way to plenty of port barrel, adding flavors of black cherry, stewed red berries, raisins & figs. Mid-palate gives notes of cherry pipe tobacco, as the onslaught of jammy berry notes continue. The finish gives some charred malt and bitter chocolate, with the port barrel lingering long after

M- medium body with moderate carbonation leads to a creamy mouthfeel that continues into a silky and velvety warming finish, smooth as silk

O- if you're a fan or port, you'll like this one, very good

Bit of a fizzy pour; be careful!

Aroma is quite strong from the port barrel aging, carrying strong notes of cherry, red grape, prune, oak, and cotton candy.

Flavor shockingly follows the aroma. Barrel aging looms large, with a bit of an alcohol bite, along with notes of cherry, raspberry, cotton candy, and oak, to go along with prune, chocolate, caramel, toast, nuts, honey, and coffee.

Smooth mouthfeel.

This is a really creative and interesting concoction. I'm not 100% sure it works on all levels, but it's a really interesting experience.

Poured at just warmer than fridge temp. Pours motor oil black with little head. Really interesting nose. I think the icewine dominates here. Not a ton of port. Some burnt wood, apricots, licorice, and a floral note.

The taste is equally interesting. Some toffee, apples, apricot, slight soy sauce, icewine, slight port, some roasted malts, milk, and a slight fruity sweetness. Not my favorite, but it's pretty good.

 

Canned 8/25/22

I’m having this beer as part of a side-by-side tasting with the Burial variant. For being the “same beer”, the adjuncts lead me to believe these will be two wildly different experiences. Port barrel aged with Vidal Ice Wine vs Madeira whiskey barrel aged with pecans and coffee? It sounds like a huge difference. Let’s dive in

Pours a very dark brown with 3 fingers of creamy dark tan head that slowly fades to a thin cap and leaves minimal lacing

The aroma between the 2 could not be more different, this one being hugely influenced by the wine. I'm picking up on aromas of red grape, apricot jam, black cherry, cocoa powder, toasted oak, blackberry sorbet, apple skin, light leather, and port wine. Absolutely unique

While I was vibing with the aroma on this one much more than the Burial version, the taste here is almost a bit too out there, the wine really dominates. On the front end of the sip I'm tasting black cherry, blackberry sorbet, cocoa powder, vanilla bean, caramel, toasted oak, port wine, peach pit, and light coffee. The swallow brings notes of tannic white wine, apricot jam, peach pit, dark chocolate, acidic coffee, burnt caramel, toasted oak, light molasses, apple skin, and a touch of fusel alcohol. Enjoyable, but super strange

A medium full body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a slick and boozy beer. Finishes dry with a serious boozy punch. Definitely more booze than the Burial version

While this one isn't quite as good, I have to respect its ambitions, especially given that aroma. Damn, if the whole beer kept up that same level of quality this would be amazing. Still, I'm happy I tried it

 

Really different and pretty good to boot. Odd. Seems to bring some more woody and drying vinous port notes forward rather than the richer dark fruit characteristics but then the ice wine takes it in another direction entirely. Nice mid weight creamy feel. I love these collaborations and the chances they’re taking in the process and while
Not every beer came out great I am all for more port and more port barrel! Glad I got to try this one.

 

Look: It pours black with a brown head. Head retention is medium.

Smell: It has sweet aromas that are candy like with peach. There are some roasted elements in the background with a bit of port. There are wine like notes as well.

Taste: The roast is more balanced in the flavor with peach and wine like flavors. It has a candy like element in the flavor with some port elements with a touch of honey and vanilla.

Feel: It has a full body with a bitter sweet finish.

Overall, the flavor and taste are unique of beers that I have had and it's a pleasant uniques. Don't think of style when tasting this, just thing of the flavors and aromas.

 

Collective Arts/Cloudwater collab 'Origin of Darkness' @ 10.8% , served from a 355 ml can , second of four
A-pour is black from the can to glass with a small size tan head , dissipating into a fine lace ring along the tulip
S-potent , barrel aged Port
T-big tasting barrel aged Port Imperial stout , Icewine is an interesting adjunct
MF-mild carbonation , feels full bodied , warming
Ov-real interesting Icewine barrel aged Imperial stout
prost LampertLand