Viking's X
Fieldwork Brewing Co.

Viking’s X from Fieldwork Brewing. 500 mL bottle received from @2beerdogs in a recent LIF. Reviewed 13/09/25, review 3586. Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Undated bottle. Stored at home at 40 degrees F. Served at 51.6 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature is 57.9 degrees F.
Appearance – 4
First pour – Ruby Brown (SRM 24), nearly opaque.
Body – Black (SRM 40), opaque. Under direct light, same. When rear-lite, light barely penetrates at the edges, ruby.
Head – Average (Maximum 1.5 cm, aggressive center pour). Chamoisee, high density, fizzy with short retention, leaving a 0.4 cm crown and a thin partial cap. As it oxygenates, it turns caramel.
Lacing – None.
Aroma – 4.25 – Begins with sweet bourbon, but the bourbon is mild and complimentary, not in your face. Toasted malt. No hops, no alcohol.
Flavor – 4.5 – Begins slightly sweet with weak cocoa; bourbon is deliciously present. No alcohol (13.5 % ABV, according to the label) taste. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl. At the final review temperature, the ethanol is becoming noticeable in the flavor and a mild gastric warming is building.
Palate – 4 – Medium: Moderately creamy: Soft carbonation.
Style: Follows the RIS style guidelines as condensed by BA, but it also fits within the Imperial Porter guidelines – take your pick.
Final impression and summation: 4.25 (After deducting 0.25 point for an undated container) Uncredited label artist – black lettering on a charcoal gray background – barely readable. Otherwise, the body seems a bit light for an imperial stout but is right in line with an imperial porter. This is a delicious example of either style – here the bourbon barrel accentuates the sweetness and cocoa hints; the bourbon doesn’t hijack the flavor. Overall, really good imperial porter/stout – thanks Derek!