Angels With Filthy Souls (2018)
Bissell Brothers Brewing Co.

From can in a tulip glass February 2021.
Pours pitch black with a dense tan head. Aroma is heady and divine. Maple, caramel malt, almond and hints of chocolate. The bourbon alchohol notes are present but not nearly as strong as when this beer was fresh in 2018.
Palate strongly reflects the nose. The sweet maple and malt flavors are beautifully balanced by the dark chocolate and slightly acidic raisin notes. The bourbon aging is masterfully integrated and the 11% alchohol deceptively concealed.
Mouthfeel is thick and unctous without being at all cloying. Very long and pleasant aftertaste with a hint of port wine and coffee on the finish.
This is my favorite vintage of this beer and, sadly, my last can. I loved this beer when it was fresh and have enjoying its evolution over the 3 years. A fantastic beer for sipping and savouring on a winter night and one only a few other barrel aged beers can match.

 

Pours used motor oil black color with a 2+ finger brown colored foamy head that crackled as it dissipated on the slow to average side, leaving minimal spotty lacing that slid down the glass and back into the brew. This 2018 version states on the can that this is 11% and a blended barrel-aged maple porter.

Nice aroma of booze, toffee, bourbon, maple syrup, brown sugar, cocoa powder, dark chocolate, molasses, roasted grains and caramel. Flavor follows suit but with more chocolate-y sweetness and some heat from the booze, along with additional complexities like chocolate syrup, light soy sauce, brownie batter and burnt coffee grinds. Really rich and very tasty, this is what all imperial porters should inspire to be.

 

 

 

Ink black with a nice finger full of khaki, foamy head in a tulip glass on tap at the brewery. Smells of maple, dark chocolate (slightly) and a whole lotta roastiness ( simply intoxicating aroma). Mouth feel is thick but not chewy (like say BCBS), soft and viscous. Flavors of maple syrup to the front, balanced by bitter, dark chocolate, and roasty malt so the beer isn't cloyingly sweet, ever so slight whiskey after-taste on the back of the tongue finishes it nicely before swallowing. This could be easily 'pounded down" as it's very smooth, but to truly enjoy the complex flavors, sipping is best, especially considering the higher ABV, which is masterfully hidden. Cheers!

Enjoyed with a couple of awesome tacos from Locally Sauced next door. This one is full of chocolate malt flavors, accented with maple and a hint of smokiness. It is strong, super strong, best fitted for slow sipping in front of an open fire and probably we’ll paired with s’mores. Overall, an excellent big beer, one I feel lucky to have experienced given its rarity.

12/23/18 on tap at the brewery. An easy drinking pitch black dark chocolate maple cocktail. Despite the high abv and maple syrup the sweetness is just right- not cloying. I love a roasty porter but Bissell Bros. manages NOT to “burn” the malts. Smooth’and silky loved it.

Tasted in a Rastal Teku from a one pint can on June 15, 2018. Brewed with 2-Row, Munich, Dark Munich, Brown Malt, Dark Crystal, Chocolate and Midnight Wheat.