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Darkstar November
Bottle Logic Brewing
- From:
- Bottle Logic Brewing
- California, United States
- Style:
- Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #15 - ABV:
- 15.3%
- Score:
- 99
Ranked #237 - Avg:
- 4.48 | pDev: 5.8%
- Reviews:
- 112
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 05, 2024
- Added:
- Oct 25, 2014
- Wants:
- 191
- Gots:
- 186
Imperial Russian stout with rye and molasses, aged in Buffalo Trace bourbon barrels
2023 - ABV increased to 15.3%
2023 - ABV increased to 15.3%
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by ChicagoJ:
Reviewed by ChicagoJ from Illinois
4.25/5 rDev -5.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev -5.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
11/17/18 (Chicago): 2 oz 14.1% ABV pour at FOBAB into taster glass. Black pour, thin tan lacing. Malt, chocolate and coconut aroma, whiskey faint. Chocolate and whiskey the predominate taste, light coconut, balanced. Creamy mouth feel, smooth. Overall very good offering!
Nov 19, 2018More User Ratings:
Reviewed by dafla67 from Pennsylvania
4.6/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.6/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours jet black. Aroma is sweet with a well balance of molasses, bourbon and dark chocolate. Taste is quite complex with tons of flavor. Dominate flavor is molasses with significant presence of spicy rye, dark chocolate, brown sugar, vanilla and some dark fruitiness. Full bodied as you'd expect. Incredible RIS.
Jan 21, 2024Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts
4.28/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.28/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
2023 vintage
This is one of those awkward beers that floats in and out of the BA top 250 but I picked up for the tick anyways. Bottle Logic Stouts have been impressing me recently as well so I figured this one was worth a shot. Let’s pop it open and find out if it’s any good
Pours completely pitch black with 2 fingers of dreamy dark tan head that fades to a thin cap and leaves decent lacing
The molasses is very forward in the nose, odd since I was expecting the rye to dominate but I can’t complain. I’m picking up on aromas of blackstrap molasses, chocolate fudge, sweet whiskey, vanilla bean, rye bread, earthy cinnamon, light raisin, and a touch of tonka bean
It’s more balanced in taste but the molasses is still super loud. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting toasted oak, sweet whiskey, rye spice, molasses, brown sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla bean, and light rasin. The swallow brings notes of blackstrap molasses, brown sugar, rye bread, maple syrup, vanilla bean, cocoa powder, tobacco, sweet whiskey, and raisin
A medium body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a slick beer. Finishes mostly dry and drinks significantly below its abv
This is yet another great one from Bottle Logic. I’m not sure if it’s top 250 material, but still damn good
Jan 11, 2024This is one of those awkward beers that floats in and out of the BA top 250 but I picked up for the tick anyways. Bottle Logic Stouts have been impressing me recently as well so I figured this one was worth a shot. Let’s pop it open and find out if it’s any good
Pours completely pitch black with 2 fingers of dreamy dark tan head that fades to a thin cap and leaves decent lacing
The molasses is very forward in the nose, odd since I was expecting the rye to dominate but I can’t complain. I’m picking up on aromas of blackstrap molasses, chocolate fudge, sweet whiskey, vanilla bean, rye bread, earthy cinnamon, light raisin, and a touch of tonka bean
It’s more balanced in taste but the molasses is still super loud. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting toasted oak, sweet whiskey, rye spice, molasses, brown sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla bean, and light rasin. The swallow brings notes of blackstrap molasses, brown sugar, rye bread, maple syrup, vanilla bean, cocoa powder, tobacco, sweet whiskey, and raisin
A medium body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a slick beer. Finishes mostly dry and drinks significantly below its abv
This is yet another great one from Bottle Logic. I’m not sure if it’s top 250 material, but still damn good
Rated by pathman from Ohio
5/5 rDev +11.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +11.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
12/24/23 bottle @ home
Dec 24, 2023Reviewed by TreyIsWilson from Michigan
4.49/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.49/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A - Pour jet black with a thin tan head. Light soapy lacing.
S - Aroma is dark chocolate, molasses and borubon.
T - The taste is dark chocolate, molasses, vanilla, spicy rye and some light bourbon heat.
M - Full body with medium carbonation. Soft syrupy mouthfeel with a slick drying finish.
O - Top notch BA stout.
Sep 16, 2023S - Aroma is dark chocolate, molasses and borubon.
T - The taste is dark chocolate, molasses, vanilla, spicy rye and some light bourbon heat.
M - Full body with medium carbonation. Soft syrupy mouthfeel with a slick drying finish.
O - Top notch BA stout.
Reviewed by stortore from Illinois
4.45/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.45/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
500 ml bottle into a snifter. 2022 edition, had 1/14/23.
Pours near black and opaque, with no head and a little oily cling. Aromas of bourbon, rye, chocolate, vanilla, roasted malt. Has a bit of a sweet and spicy aroma. Mostly the same flavors: bourbon, rye, chocolate, malt, vanilla, some molasses. Has a fairly spicy taste and a light sweet note. Smooth, a little creamy, a solid full body, appropriately carbonated.
Strong barrels and lots of rye is a pretty good recipe. It’s a little sweeter than expected, but this is pretty delicious.
RFOB122718 0425
Jun 29, 2023Pours near black and opaque, with no head and a little oily cling. Aromas of bourbon, rye, chocolate, vanilla, roasted malt. Has a bit of a sweet and spicy aroma. Mostly the same flavors: bourbon, rye, chocolate, malt, vanilla, some molasses. Has a fairly spicy taste and a light sweet note. Smooth, a little creamy, a solid full body, appropriately carbonated.
Strong barrels and lots of rye is a pretty good recipe. It’s a little sweeter than expected, but this is pretty delicious.
RFOB122718 0425
Reviewed by Ozzylizard from Pennsylvania
4.5/5 rDev +0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Darkstar November (2021) from Bottle Logic. 16.9 fl oz bottle from @2beerdogs in NBS BIF #17. Reviewed 17/06/23 (Review 3125). Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Bottom of label stamped “2021” and “Batch *008*”. Stored at 34 degrees at home. Served at 61.2 degrees F (Recommended on label 58 degrees F) in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature was 66.3 degrees F.
Appearance – 4.5
First pour – Ruby Brown (SRM 24), slight light penetration.
Body – Ruby Brown (SRM 24), opaque. Under direct light, opaque. When rear lite, opaque except for light penetrating at the edges, ruby.
Head: Average (Maximum 1.8 cm, aggressive center pour), bronze, high density, quickly diminishing to a 0.15 – 0.35 cm undulating crown with no cap.
Lacing – None.
Aroma – 4.5 – Bourbon and rye whiskies, moderate chocolate, and some roasted malt. No yeast, no hops. No ethanol (14 % ABV according to the label).
Flavor – 4.5 – Chocolate and bourbon, some rye spiciness, light molasses sweetness and non-oppressive molasses flavor. No yeast, no hops. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl. No ethanol flavor – well-hidden until an unscheduled belch. Pleasant gastric warming.
Palate – 4.5 – Full; distinctly creamy; soft carbonation.
Final impression and summation: 4.5 Damn, this is good! I’m a freak for rye bread, IPAs, stouts, whiskeys. I don’t think I’ve ever had an average beer from Bottle Logic – they are superb!
Jun 17, 2023Bottom of label stamped “2021” and “Batch *008*”. Stored at 34 degrees at home. Served at 61.2 degrees F (Recommended on label 58 degrees F) in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature was 66.3 degrees F.
Appearance – 4.5
First pour – Ruby Brown (SRM 24), slight light penetration.
Body – Ruby Brown (SRM 24), opaque. Under direct light, opaque. When rear lite, opaque except for light penetrating at the edges, ruby.
Head: Average (Maximum 1.8 cm, aggressive center pour), bronze, high density, quickly diminishing to a 0.15 – 0.35 cm undulating crown with no cap.
Lacing – None.
Aroma – 4.5 – Bourbon and rye whiskies, moderate chocolate, and some roasted malt. No yeast, no hops. No ethanol (14 % ABV according to the label).
Flavor – 4.5 – Chocolate and bourbon, some rye spiciness, light molasses sweetness and non-oppressive molasses flavor. No yeast, no hops. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl. No ethanol flavor – well-hidden until an unscheduled belch. Pleasant gastric warming.
Palate – 4.5 – Full; distinctly creamy; soft carbonation.
Final impression and summation: 4.5 Damn, this is good! I’m a freak for rye bread, IPAs, stouts, whiskeys. I don’t think I’ve ever had an average beer from Bottle Logic – they are superb!
Reviewed by Phyl21ca from Canada (QC)
4.35/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.35/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottle: Poured a pitch-black color stout with a dark brown foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of nice bourbon notes with some vanilla and woody notes, nice black chocolate malt notes with some rye notes also perceptible. Taste is also dominated by bourbon and vanilla notes with some rich black chocolate notes with some rye barrel notes also perceptible. Body is full with a nice creamy texture and good carbonation with no apparent alcohol. Well executed barrel-aged stout with some good drinkability.
Mar 26, 2023Reviewed by evanwoertz from California
4.85/5 rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
4.85/5 rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
bourbon and rum. very heavy in taste, body and on the nose. it hides the high ABV exceptionally well. almost like a distilled dark red or port. the feel suffers a little but the smell and taste are unreal.
Feb 18, 2023
Darkstar November from Bottle Logic Brewing
Beer rating:
99 out of
100 with
766 ratings
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