K-Hole
Ei8ht Ball Brewing

 

 

With a focus on roasted sweetness and a propensity for booze, the imperial stout of northern Kentucky's Ei8ht Ball is basically a high gravity roasted marshmallow.

K-Hole is a lavishly black elixir, dense like espresso and topped with a dense swath of mocha-laced foam. And those espresso comparisons carry over to flavor along with scorched sugars, burnt toast, cocoa and bold nuttiness. Savory and sweet, the early palate is awash with molasses, brown sugar, dark chocolate, dark roast coffee and roasting walnut.

Retaining its sweeter and maltier tone, the starchiness that the stout reserves is marshmallowy and smooth. Heavy whipping cream and scorched milk lie just behind the growing roast. Burnt grains dominate the middle palate as the beer pushes the roasted flavors about as far as they can without extending into smoke or ash. Broad woodsy bitterness seems coffee and cocoa-like while the taste ends just as savory as it starts.

Full, lavish and devilishly smooth, the robust taste is intense but creamy like milkshake. With a kaluha and espresso finish, the taste is soothed by the velvety creaminess of those marshmallowy malts. Simmering warmth trails into a roasty aftertaste with hints of pepper and smoky chocolate.

New and improved November 2016 version: a 15% Imperial Stout with cocoa, lactose, and coffee laid to rest for 2 years in bourbon barrels. Billed as a "Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Mocha Stout".

Pours a black, opaque liquid with a teenie beige head which dissipates to nothing rather quickly. A waft of bourbon and deep, dark malts, and more bourbon hits the nose on the pour without even bringing the glass to the face. The taste is much the same, but with cocoa joining the party in large numbers; as it warms, the coffee begins to join in.

Lactose really makes the mouthfeel enjoyable- in my experience it seems resting an Imperial Stout for this length of time creates a "watery" feel. The lactose resist that here.

Overall, this is a very enjoyable libation. In my opinion, the coffee is muted a little more than I would've liked as the cocoa overpowers it. Make no mistake however, the bourbon is the star of the show here. Since it's initial release, K-Hole is now entering the realm of a "world class" brew. Hopefully in it's next iteration, via either more coffee or less cocoa, this beer will live up to it's "Mocha Stout" moniker. Anyhow, at $14.99 for 750mL, this is a drink that a Beer Advocate should not miss out on!