Cherry Bänger
Põhjala Brewery & Tap Room

Cherry BängerCherry Bänger
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From:
Põhjala Brewery & Tap Room
 
Estonia
Style:
American Imperial Stout
ABV:
12.5%
Score:
91
Avg:
4.15 | pDev: 6.51%
Reviews:
19
Ratings:
35
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jul 01, 2023
Added:
Dec 17, 2018
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  3
Imperial stout with cherries, chocolate, and vanilla pods.

Taste: Sweet cherry chocolate comes through first with a burst of sour cherry acidity following up. Ginger and orange biscuits then jump out with more dark cherry and vanilla leading the aftertaste. Already before you take the next sip lingering dark chocolate notes come through with just a hint of smoke and rye spiciness.

Appearance: Charcoal black with a brief beige head.

Nose: Stewed cherry jam, rich cacao, red berries, vanilla, liquorice tea and black pepper.

Malts: Pale malt, Munich malt, Carafa 2 Special, Special B, Chocolate malt, Cara 300, Oats, Chocolate rye, Cherry smoked rye malt

Hops: Magnum, Northern Brewer, Cherries, Chocolate, Vanilla

OG 30.5° ; FG 9° ; IBU 40

Serve 12–16˚C
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by darktronica:
Photo of darktronica
Reviewed by darktronica from Indiana

4.05/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
11.2 oz bottle poured to a snifter. Inky black and fairly viscous, with a thin rim of cocoa-colored head around the edge of the glass. Vinous tannins, anise, and a light meatiness that is common to other Pohjala stouts I've had. Boozy, very modest cherry cordial accents that show up as the beer warms over time. Also some subtle botanicals that add some bitterness on top of the dark chocolate notes.
Jan 10, 2020
More User Ratings:
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
330ml bottle at share. Inky black pour with a thin lyer of beige head. Aroma is chocolate and cherries, with minor notes of roasty malts. taste brings a little vanilla to the mix, sweet, chocolate covered cherries with booziness creeping in. Solid throughout.
Jul 01, 2023
Photo of LuckFreeZone
Reviewed by LuckFreeZone from New York

3.7/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
L: Very dark brown with a half finger head that dissipated quickly.

S: Strong 'chocolate covered cherry' aroma with everything else pushed to the background.

T: Sweet . . . syrupy, with an aftertaste that I do not find pleasant. I am a sucker for buying stouts flavored with cherries or (blueberries) and my string of disappointments continues unabated.

F: Thick, but more syrupy than oily or creamy.

O: Not something I will drink again. Reminds me somewhat of a cherry version of Founder's Lizard of Koz . . . so if you liked that you might like this.
Aug 05, 2021
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3.54/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
330 ml bottle, ad hoc for a tasting at Cardinal, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 12.5%. Pitch black colour, large brown head. Aroma of roast malts, chocolate, cherries and vanilla. Very sweet flavour, with the same elements as the aroma. Smooth, but too sweet for me.
Jan 05, 2021
 
Rated: 4.1 by teepeevee from Finland

Jan 04, 2021
Photo of steve_littrell
Reviewed by steve_littrell from Florida

4.21/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
11.2oz bottle into snifter

L- good dark pour, poured hard but still had little head with minimal lacing
S- I didn't pick up anything identifiable but it is pleasing and semi sweet
T- Surprisingly good, wouldn't know it's 12.5% ABV. A bit sweet with not alcohol taste at all
F- Primarily light with a slight creamy feel, not very heavy but coats the mouth well
O- I like these, probably going to go back and buy the rest
Sep 19, 2020
Photo of Scotchboy
Reviewed by Scotchboy from Idaho

4.14/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
11.2oz bottle poured into a snifter; jet black pour, very dark and viscous, with a finger of head that fizzles instantly away; vanilla highlights spearhead the nose with a big dose of cocoa and cherry; more of the same on the palate...chocolate-covered cherries, vanilla, char/roasted malt, caramel; slick and viscous body with an underlying dose of booze. A pretty interesting and tasty brew that highlights some desserty adjuncts; the cherry and vanilla are natural and not artificial tasting.
Jul 19, 2020
 
Rated: 4.1 by dsshuck from Delaware

May 21, 2020
Photo of SABERG
Reviewed by SABERG from Massachusetts

4.06/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 11.2 oz bottle, with best by date of 27/11/21, into the test glass.
A - Steady pour produced 3/4" mocha cap. the color is black. With time the cap devolves into a thin ring.
S - Burnt sugar, dark chocolate, dark cherry, all ride on a beam of roast malt. There is a bit of char, and a big vanilla presence.
T - Flavors are a wonderful mix of the adjuncts, very little tension between the chocolate, vanilla and the cherries. The roast in the base beer is the maestro here.
M - Slick an the palate, the sweet start only nods toward bitter, never really going there. Big overall texture and body. The 12.5% is displayed in the final phase of the experience, linger has that boozy exhale.
O - A very big and bold stout, with excellent structure. The flavors add up well, the balance is superb.
Apr 19, 2020
 
Rated: 3.89 by JamesBondGA from Georgia

Mar 14, 2020
 
Rated: 4.28 by sd123 from Georgia

Jan 29, 2020
 
Rated: 4.25 by Patches826 from Massachusetts

Jan 28, 2020
Photo of OlaB
Reviewed by OlaB from Norway

4.34/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a deep dark-brown color with a small top off beige head that dissolves quickly.
Aroma is roasted malts, sour cherries, dark chocolate, licorice and vanilla.
The taste is sweet and malty from the start with some tartness from the cherries. Strong roasted malt notes with notes of dark chocolate that goes hand in hand with the sweet vanilla tones. The finish has some slight bitterness and leaves a long and strong aftertaste. Gives a warming feel. Mouthfeel is silky and creamy with a medium carbonation and a full body.
This was a delicious imperial stout.
Dec 21, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by szmnnl99 from Michigan

Dec 01, 2019
 
Rated: 4.34 by SadMachine from New Jersey

Nov 22, 2019
Photo of DefenCorps
Reviewed by DefenCorps from Oregon

4.18/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottle from the Beermongers.

Black with a dark brown head with good retention and lacing this looks good. The nose is a decadent blend of dark, bitter chocolate, sour cherries, a moderate vanilla touch and dark brown sugar. Alcohol adds a mild spice note to the nose, with some licorice and orange peel. The palate opens with a blend of bitterness and sweetness with the firming bite of alcohol. Dark brown sugar, bitter chocolate, sour cherry juice with acidity that complements the sweetness are present. Citrus, anise, dark malt, licorice, a little earth, dark honey, soy sauce ....the layers are plenty here. Sweet yet bitter on the finish with a lingering chocolate covered sour cherry note present. Excellent.
Aug 12, 2019
Photo of orcrist_cleaver
Reviewed by orcrist_cleaver from New York

4.44/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A: Blackstrap molasses. Head gives the vibe of chicory and cream.

S: Spiced fruitcake. Summer fruit cobbler.

M: Spice and earth provides warmth. There's also an undeniable heat from the ABV. Smooth, rich feel. Med-heavy body.

T: Cherry garcia, mocha fudge brownie, brown bread, anise seed, vanilla swisher. Cherry runs the gamut from Pop-Tart sweet to Bing tart while the chocolate really drives the confection. Grown up hot chocolate with a dash of cointreau and ginger peel for the rim.
Aug 10, 2019
Photo of Jeffo
Reviewed by Jeffo from Netherlands

3.74/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Got this one from neighbor for my 40th. Cheers!

From a bottle into a snifter
Best before 18 December 2021
Imperial stout with cherries, chocolate and vanilla pods

APPEARANCE: Black pour yields a two finger, medium looking, foamier and fizzy tan head with excellent retention. Black body with lots of carbonation evident. Head slowly recedes to a full, creamy cap with lots of carbonation making its way to the top. Splotchy wisp and ring remains leaving touches of lacing on the glass as it empties. Decent looking though a bit too much carbonation.

SMELL: Definite chocolate and vanilla aromas, quite roasted as well, with roasted coffee and some leather as well. A minor cherry character but that is in the background. Decent dose of tobacco as well. Bold and interesting.

TASTE: A good amount of chocolate and vanilla flavors up front with some butterscotch, tobacco and definite cherry character at the swallow. Bold, somewhat boozy finish of tart cherries, chocolate, vanilla, butterscotch sweetness, some tobacco and bitter coffee flavors linger on the palate. Roasted, sweet, with a good dose of tart cherries at the finish.

PALATE: Medium body and medium levels of carbonation. Creamy on the palate, a little light perhaps, goes down fine with a bit of a burn and finishes somewhat mouth-coating. Some decent heat lingers.

OVERALL: Solid stuff. The nose showcases more of the malt and chocolate additions while the cherry character comes out more after the swallow. Enough going on and enough to make it more than enjoyable. The feel could be a little heftier for the style but that is a minor complaint here. Well put together and worth checking out if you’re into imperial fruit stouts. Thanks again, man!
Jul 20, 2019
 
Rated: 3.91 by Latarnik from New Jersey

Jul 13, 2019
Photo of Oh_Dark_Star
Reviewed by Oh_Dark_Star from Washington

4.7/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
L: Black as pitch, viscous, with a long maintained one-third finger tan head with decent lacing.

S: Cherries blended with a sweet booze, along with cocoa and a hints of soy sauce and leather

T: Phenomenal. I don't like booziness. This had a just noticeable heat that was not an issue. Complex with flavors including cherries, hot cocoa, toasted sugar, cream, and vanilla. As it warmed more the hot chocolate flavor dominated more.

F: Medium-heavy weight, with a touch of boozy heat, and a sufficient carbonation. Creamy mouthfeel.

O: Superbly balance and currently far underrated. This was one of the tastiest and most well-rounded stouts I've had and I've had quite a few. In the end I wished I'd bought a couple more! Hats off to you Põhjala!
Jul 06, 2019
Cherry Bänger from Põhjala Brewery & Tap Room
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 35 ratings