Dark Forces
Bottle Logic Brewing
- From:
- Bottle Logic Brewing
- California, United States
- Style:
- Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #35 - ABV:
- 17.3%
- Score:
- 95
Ranked #1,660 - Avg:
- 4.54 | pDev: 3.74%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 6
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jan 19, 2026
- Added:
- Nov 23, 2024
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 2
SCORE
95
World-Class
95
World-Class
Dark Forces is the high-octane evolution of Darkstar November, a bourbon barrel-aged rye and molasses monster imperial stout that pushes brewing to its very limits. Sugar-fed with 3,000 pounds of dextrose to stoke the fermentation inferno, this 17.3% ABV leviathan is both a tribute and a challenge—a force to be reckoned with.
Originally conjured for last year's DSN TEN celebration, this imperial stout refused to be rushed. For two full years it grew darker and deadlier, leeching power from a series of legendary bourbon casks—Eagle Rare, Heaven Hill, Buffalo Trace and Woody Creek. Now, the time has finally come to summon it into the world.
Darkness descends with each sip: a flood of baking spice, rich dried fruits, velvety chocolate and the haunting echoes of oak and leather. Its fiery exhale brands itself into your senses, leaving an intense warmth in your chest that lingers like a warning: the darkness is here, and it is unyielding.
Originally conjured for last year's DSN TEN celebration, this imperial stout refused to be rushed. For two full years it grew darker and deadlier, leeching power from a series of legendary bourbon casks—Eagle Rare, Heaven Hill, Buffalo Trace and Woody Creek. Now, the time has finally come to summon it into the world.
Darkness descends with each sip: a flood of baking spice, rich dried fruits, velvety chocolate and the haunting echoes of oak and leather. Its fiery exhale brands itself into your senses, leaving an intense warmth in your chest that lingers like a warning: the darkness is here, and it is unyielding.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by mschrei:
Reviewed by mschrei from Illinois
4.63/5 rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.63/5 rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
I love having a first batch from these guys. Pours dark, thick, oily. Strong smell of bourbon barrel that hit me from a foot away, notes of chocolate, molasses, and dark fruit. Taste is similar, the bourbon is very prevalent, sweet. Medium bodied, mouth watering finish, boozy. This beer has an asserive personality, and I like it. Great with a cigar, but letting it warm thickens it a bit too much. It’s a booze bomb, and anything to help subtle it is welcome.
Jan 11, 2025More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Luscious_Malfoy from Illinois
4.56/5 rDev +0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.56/5 rDev +0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a 500mL bottle into a Mikerphone tumbler. Pours thick and gooey black. No foam head. Strong bourbon and molasses notes in the nose. A little chocolate and dark fruit. Tastes mostly follows but I like the nose a little more. It doesn’t drink anywhere near its abv. Full mouthfeel. Pretty damn good I really like Dark Star for its simplicity and this follows while also amping up the intensity. Glad to have tried.
Nov 10, 2025
Reviewed by dafla67 from Pennsylvania
4.59/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.59/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours deep dark brown. Aroma is strong & intense. Very complex -- well balance of molasses, chocolate, dark fruit & bourbon. Taste follows nose - intense sweet flavors -- molasses, chocolate, dark fruits & bourbon. Mouthfeel is medium. Incredible stout.
Jul 07, 2025
Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois
4.35/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.35/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pitch black body, oatmeal colored thinner head. Taste is obviously sweet from the molasses but the barrels, especially rye, balance really well all things considered, huge dark fruit especially raisin and date, brown sugar, boozy malts. Feel is sugary and warm with a cooler edge than expected, smooth. The nose though is fascinating with how the barrels are content to be a very strong support but do give the molasses, dark fruit especially date, chocolate, brown sugar, and a kiss of baking spice the spotlight.
Mar 26, 2025
Rated by pathman from Ohio
5/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
01/31/25 bottle @ home
Feb 01, 2025
Reviewed by q33jeff from New Jersey
4.56/5 rDev +0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.56/5 rDev +0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
**
12/07/24
Sample on tap from Other Half Stout Season Festival.
Super smooth, but also a touch hot.
Roasted Barley, Coffee, Bourbon, vanilla, cocoa.
Would love to age a bottle.
**
Dec 11, 202412/07/24
Sample on tap from Other Half Stout Season Festival.
Super smooth, but also a touch hot.
Roasted Barley, Coffee, Bourbon, vanilla, cocoa.
Would love to age a bottle.
**
Reviewed by mothman from Minnesota
4.5/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
On tap. Black color. Not much head.
I don’t think there are any adjuncts, beyond molasses. This is a big beer, but in a good way. Best thing I’ve had from t
BL in the last few years. Charred barrel, oak, bourbon, rye, vanilla, fudge, raisins, molasses, figs. Dark fruits. Big imperial stout, with great barrel flavors. Absolutely delicious. Warming, strong.
Nov 29, 2024I don’t think there are any adjuncts, beyond molasses. This is a big beer, but in a good way. Best thing I’ve had from t
BL in the last few years. Charred barrel, oak, bourbon, rye, vanilla, fudge, raisins, molasses, figs. Dark fruits. Big imperial stout, with great barrel flavors. Absolutely delicious. Warming, strong.
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