The Black Knight
Queen City Brewery

 

Bottled on: 2024 Batch

A - Dark brown pour that's borderline black with dense, bubbly, toffee colored lacing.

S - Chocolate roast, char, light Whiskey, and some oak. The overall aroma is not overbearing and allows the roast to really come out.

T - Chocolate roast, roasted cocoa, char, oak, and light Whiskey. (along with a little bit of dark fruit). Nice lingering toasted cocoa char with hints of dark fruit and Whiskey.

M - Silky with light warming in the back of the throat with some stickiness on the lips.

O - Very well balanced and not over-bearing at all. For 13.2%, this beer is incredibly deceptive which makes it impressive and well-brewed.

 

Alewife and I stopped by the Queen City brewpub in late May during a short vacation in Northern Vermont. Picked up a 375ml bottle at the time; diving in tonight while out in The 'Zebo....

Poured into my Smutty snifter, it's a dark, opaque, oily brown color. Has a thin, fine, creamy beige head. Has a bit of decent lacing sticking around. Aroma is big on the whiskey action, along with plenty of dark choco. Also has rich, molasses-like notes. Very enticing! It is exceedingly smooth, and medium-plus, bordering on being chewy.

Flavor is lovely, with more dark choco, cocoa powder, some mocha, a touch of roastyness, and an ever-present layer of whiskey lurking just behind the curtains... This is a very nice brew; quite tasty. Should you encounter this Black Knight, you should not pass... Cheers!!

4.25/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

2093

L- The beer pours black with little light allowed through. The head is a modest 3/4 finger of tiny mocha bubbles. The head disperses pretty quickly leaving a thin film behind. No lacing is present.
S-The nose is pretty even mix of chocolate, roast, and whiskey. Rather than layers it comes together in a pleasant mix.
T-The chocolate is strongest up front. Then it transitions to a touch of roast. This doesn't last long however before the big whiskey finish. All of that 13.2% is evident in finish and the beer gives you that warming finish.
F-Mouthfeel overall is medium. Not the thickest you'll ever have, but at 13.2% its not to surprising. Carbonation is light and a little prickly.
O-This is a solid locally made whiskey barrel stout. The barrel presence is pretty strong so you better like whiskey. I do so I'd have it again. I wouldn't mind it a touch lighter in the alcohol department, maybe in the 11.5% range.