Bark Lord
Transient Artisan Ales
Beer Geek Stats
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- Style:
- Stout - American Imperial
Ranked #561 - ABV:
- 13.5%
- Score:
- 94
Ranked #2,649 - Avg:
- 4.26 | pDev: 7.04%
- Reviews:
- 16
- Ratings:
- From:
- Transient Artisan Ales
- Michigan, United States
- Avail:
- Rotating/Seasonal
- Wants
- 17
- Gots
- 13
SCORE
94
Outstanding
94
Outstanding
Notes:
Imperial Breakfast Stout with Tugboat coffee, vanilla, maple syrup, and cinnamon.
Reviews: 16
| Ratings: 87
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Reviews by thebeers:
thebeers from Pennsylvania
4.24/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Ruby tinted black with half finger of soupy mocha head. Quickly dissipates into a soupy crown.
Strong cinnamon and some black coffee and vanilla show most in the nose. There’s a hint of maple and booze in there, too. It leaves a strong coffee cake impression.
Much bigger maple in the taste, blends with the strong cinnamon and strong alcohol. Clear black coffee backbone and nice roasted malts. Notes of cherry and other pitted dark fruits. A nice vanilla addition shows again, too.
Viscous, slick, oily feel with just enough background-level fizz.
This is a real treat. The cinnamon is a tad too strong for my personal preferences, but the coffee, maple, vanilla and alcohol burn play beautifully off one another. It really is reminiscent of a high-quality coffee cake. One of the best breakfast stouts I’ve ever had.
Jun 09, 2019
4.24/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Ruby tinted black with half finger of soupy mocha head. Quickly dissipates into a soupy crown.
Strong cinnamon and some black coffee and vanilla show most in the nose. There’s a hint of maple and booze in there, too. It leaves a strong coffee cake impression.
Much bigger maple in the taste, blends with the strong cinnamon and strong alcohol. Clear black coffee backbone and nice roasted malts. Notes of cherry and other pitted dark fruits. A nice vanilla addition shows again, too.
Viscous, slick, oily feel with just enough background-level fizz.
This is a real treat. The cinnamon is a tad too strong for my personal preferences, but the coffee, maple, vanilla and alcohol burn play beautifully off one another. It really is reminiscent of a high-quality coffee cake. One of the best breakfast stouts I’ve ever had.
Jun 09, 2019
More User Reviews:
MTKATL from Georgia
4.25/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
May 21, 2019
4.25/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
May 21, 2019
mjpolzin from Wisconsin
4/5 rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Nov 08, 2020
4/5 rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Nov 08, 2020
Buck_Jones from Michigan
4.13/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Dec 24, 2020
4.13/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Dec 24, 2020
szmnnl99 from Michigan
4.31/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
May 27, 2019
4.31/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
May 27, 2019
beersampler6 from Michigan
3.99/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Mar 01, 2021
3.99/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Mar 01, 2021
superspak from Ohio
4.47/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
8700th review! 500 ml bottle into snifter, 2019 vintage. Pours dense pitch black color with a small fairly dense and fluffy tan head with solid retention, that reduces to nothing eventually. Minimal spotty lacing on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of huge milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, dark roasted coffee, cinnamon, maple syrup, caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, toffee, fudge, brownie batter, roasted nuts, toasted biscuit, and dark bread/crust; with light notes of licorice, molasses, raisin, prune, cherry, fig, date, smoke, char, herbal, grass, wood, pepper, and yeast/roast/toasted earthiness. Incredible aromas with amazing balance and complexity of dark/black/roast/bready malts, vanilla, maple syrup, coffee, cinnamon, and light fruity yeast/earthy hop notes; with big strength. Taste of huge milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, dark roasted coffee, cinnamon, maple syrup, caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, toffee, fudge, brownie batter, roasted nuts, toasted biscuit, and dark bread/crust; with light notes of licorice, molasses, raisin, prune, cherry, fig, date, smoke, char, herbal, grass, wood, pepper, and yeast/roast/toasted earthiness. Very mild herbal, grassy, roast, char bitterness; and cinnamon spiciness on the finish. Lingering notes of milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, dark roasted coffee, cinnamon, maple syrup, caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, toffee, fudge, brownie batter, roasted nuts, toasted biscuit, dark bread/crust, licorice, molasses, dark fruit, smoke, char, herbal, grass, wood, pepper, and yeast/roast/toasted earthiness on the finish for a while. Insane complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/black/roast/bready malts, vanilla, maple syrup, coffee, cinnamon, and light fruity yeast/earthy hop flavors; with a solid roasted bitter/sweet and cinnamon spiciness balance; with zero cloying, acrid, astringent flavors after the finish. Slightly increasing dryness from lingering bitter/spiciness. Light-medium carbonation and very full body; with a very smooth, creamy/silky/velvety/bready, and slightly slick/sticky/chalky mouthfeel that is fantastic. Mild increasing warmth of 13.5% after the finish. Overall this is an insane spiced coffee stout! All around amazing complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/black/roast/bready malts, vanilla, maple syrup, coffee, cinnamon, and light fruity yeast/earthy hop flavors; insanely smooth and dangerously easy to sip on for the huge ABV, with the mildly bitter/spicy/drying finish; amazingly soft feel for the ABV. Insanely rich malts with perfectly balanced maple, cinnamon, vanilla, and fruity/nutty coffee complexity; with mild earthy hops and fruity yeast. Not overly sweet/heavy from lingering dryness. An mind blowing offering, and world class style example as I had hoped. Literally cinnamon toast crunch as a stout.
Jun 30, 2019
4.47/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
8700th review! 500 ml bottle into snifter, 2019 vintage. Pours dense pitch black color with a small fairly dense and fluffy tan head with solid retention, that reduces to nothing eventually. Minimal spotty lacing on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of huge milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, dark roasted coffee, cinnamon, maple syrup, caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, toffee, fudge, brownie batter, roasted nuts, toasted biscuit, and dark bread/crust; with light notes of licorice, molasses, raisin, prune, cherry, fig, date, smoke, char, herbal, grass, wood, pepper, and yeast/roast/toasted earthiness. Incredible aromas with amazing balance and complexity of dark/black/roast/bready malts, vanilla, maple syrup, coffee, cinnamon, and light fruity yeast/earthy hop notes; with big strength. Taste of huge milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, dark roasted coffee, cinnamon, maple syrup, caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, toffee, fudge, brownie batter, roasted nuts, toasted biscuit, and dark bread/crust; with light notes of licorice, molasses, raisin, prune, cherry, fig, date, smoke, char, herbal, grass, wood, pepper, and yeast/roast/toasted earthiness. Very mild herbal, grassy, roast, char bitterness; and cinnamon spiciness on the finish. Lingering notes of milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, dark roasted coffee, cinnamon, maple syrup, caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, toffee, fudge, brownie batter, roasted nuts, toasted biscuit, dark bread/crust, licorice, molasses, dark fruit, smoke, char, herbal, grass, wood, pepper, and yeast/roast/toasted earthiness on the finish for a while. Insane complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/black/roast/bready malts, vanilla, maple syrup, coffee, cinnamon, and light fruity yeast/earthy hop flavors; with a solid roasted bitter/sweet and cinnamon spiciness balance; with zero cloying, acrid, astringent flavors after the finish. Slightly increasing dryness from lingering bitter/spiciness. Light-medium carbonation and very full body; with a very smooth, creamy/silky/velvety/bready, and slightly slick/sticky/chalky mouthfeel that is fantastic. Mild increasing warmth of 13.5% after the finish. Overall this is an insane spiced coffee stout! All around amazing complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/black/roast/bready malts, vanilla, maple syrup, coffee, cinnamon, and light fruity yeast/earthy hop flavors; insanely smooth and dangerously easy to sip on for the huge ABV, with the mildly bitter/spicy/drying finish; amazingly soft feel for the ABV. Insanely rich malts with perfectly balanced maple, cinnamon, vanilla, and fruity/nutty coffee complexity; with mild earthy hops and fruity yeast. Not overly sweet/heavy from lingering dryness. An mind blowing offering, and world class style example as I had hoped. Literally cinnamon toast crunch as a stout.
Jun 30, 2019
rare_bird from Michigan
4.5/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Dec 02, 2019
4.5/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Dec 02, 2019
JohnnyHopps from Indiana
3.93/5 rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Appearance - The beer poured black thickness
with a mocha head.
Smell - The nose had cinnamon, but was not a cinnamon bomb.
Taste - The cinnamon leads the way with an earthy spice. The profile was not overly spicy, but was still very smooth. It just seemed rather one-dimensional. I did not get much maple or vanilla.
Mouthfeel - The stout had a great body, allowing spice to linger.
Overall - This is a big ticket item from Transient. I found it unimpressive.
Dec 25, 2019
3.93/5 rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Appearance - The beer poured black thickness
with a mocha head.
Smell - The nose had cinnamon, but was not a cinnamon bomb.
Taste - The cinnamon leads the way with an earthy spice. The profile was not overly spicy, but was still very smooth. It just seemed rather one-dimensional. I did not get much maple or vanilla.
Mouthfeel - The stout had a great body, allowing spice to linger.
Overall - This is a big ticket item from Transient. I found it unimpressive.
Dec 25, 2019
lewdwig from Michigan
4.34/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Poured a 10-ounce plastic cup (COVID-19 days) at the taproom. Little brown head (cup filled to the brim), some lacing. Opaque dark-dark brown brew. Smell like coconut, warming it divides to a vanilla and light cinnamon. Damn, this is good tasting! Subtle sweetness, more vanilla, cinnamon more evident as it warm, roasty malts. Warming mouthfeel but no alcohol bite. Awesome!
Sep 18, 2020
4.34/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Poured a 10-ounce plastic cup (COVID-19 days) at the taproom. Little brown head (cup filled to the brim), some lacing. Opaque dark-dark brown brew. Smell like coconut, warming it divides to a vanilla and light cinnamon. Damn, this is good tasting! Subtle sweetness, more vanilla, cinnamon more evident as it warm, roasty malts. Warming mouthfeel but no alcohol bite. Awesome!
Sep 18, 2020
7irondave from Massachusetts
4.52/5 rDev +6.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Jun 22, 2019
4.52/5 rDev +6.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Jun 22, 2019
Grovejr20 from New Hampshire
4.19/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Mar 06, 2020
4.19/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Mar 06, 2020
Lazhal from Michigan
4.54/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Jun 21, 2019
4.54/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Jun 21, 2019
crobinso from Colorado
3.94/5 rDev -7.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Nov 14, 2020
3.94/5 rDev -7.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Nov 14, 2020
BourbonForBeer from Illinois
5/5 rDev +17.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Tastes like an Oatmeal Cookie, it's dark, thick, full bodied, rich, dessert, and absolutely worth trying!
Jan 19, 2021
5/5 rDev +17.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Tastes like an Oatmeal Cookie, it's dark, thick, full bodied, rich, dessert, and absolutely worth trying!
Jan 19, 2021
jschott75 from Illinois
4/5 rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
May 25, 2019
4/5 rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
May 25, 2019
MI_beerdrinker from Texas
4.27/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Mar 01, 2021
4.27/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Mar 01, 2021
xdtfx from Illinois
4.1/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Aug 29, 2020
4.1/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Aug 29, 2020
mendvicdog from Maryland
4.03/5 rDev -5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Aug 21, 2015
4.03/5 rDev -5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Aug 21, 2015
edmaher from Illinois
4.59/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Jun 18, 2015
4.59/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Jun 18, 2015
Sparky44 from Illinois
4.08/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Jun 29, 2015
4.08/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Jun 29, 2015
krome from Illinois
4.5/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Aug 29, 2018
4.5/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Aug 29, 2018
cosmicevan from New York
4/5 rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle from a trade at some point. I've had Kentuckly and really dug it. Was looking forward to opening this. First impressions are big coffee with cinnamon. As I sip and it warms the cinnamon turns more to maple syrup but that coffee is still super in your face. I kinda get the vanilla as well and in the end this is super artificial over the top flavoring but it draws you in for more. Definitely balances out as it warms and opens and becomes sort of cinnamon french toast. Not bad, not great.
Mar 10, 2018
4/5 rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle from a trade at some point. I've had Kentuckly and really dug it. Was looking forward to opening this. First impressions are big coffee with cinnamon. As I sip and it warms the cinnamon turns more to maple syrup but that coffee is still super in your face. I kinda get the vanilla as well and in the end this is super artificial over the top flavoring but it draws you in for more. Definitely balances out as it warms and opens and becomes sort of cinnamon french toast. Not bad, not great.
Mar 10, 2018
Roguer from Georgia
3.99/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4
Excellent head production and retention. Body looks thick and chewy.
Nose is dominated by cinnamon and coffee. There's a bit of creamy vanilla, maybe a hint of the maple syrup.
Wonderfully creamy on the palate. A bit unbalanced, as the cinnamon still dominates, as cinnamon can so easily do in a beer if not careful. It's quite tasty, as the coffee and vanilla do manage to come across, along with the thick malt base. The maple isn't strong, but does add a nice overall sweetness. It's not quite a dessert beer despite the combination of flavors.
Growing back end heat. Thick and smooth.
Because of the predominance of the cinnamon, this wasn't immediately a home run, but it grew on me with each sip.
Oct 17, 2020
3.99/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4
Excellent head production and retention. Body looks thick and chewy.
Nose is dominated by cinnamon and coffee. There's a bit of creamy vanilla, maybe a hint of the maple syrup.
Wonderfully creamy on the palate. A bit unbalanced, as the cinnamon still dominates, as cinnamon can so easily do in a beer if not careful. It's quite tasty, as the coffee and vanilla do manage to come across, along with the thick malt base. The maple isn't strong, but does add a nice overall sweetness. It's not quite a dessert beer despite the combination of flavors.
Growing back end heat. Thick and smooth.
Because of the predominance of the cinnamon, this wasn't immediately a home run, but it grew on me with each sip.
Oct 17, 2020
Bark Lord from Transient Artisan Ales
Beer rating:
94 out of
100 with
87 ratings
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