The Dark One
Building 8 Brewing (BLDG8)

No can date
Pours a large frothy creamy dense almost 2 finger brownish head with great retention, lots of soapy lacing, pitch black color

Nose quite roasty, big roasted malts bordering char but not burnt, a bit of nougat and roasted marshmallow, dark chocolate, chocolate ganache, baking spices, hint of anise

Taste brings more roast, again quite roasty but not burnt or acrid, a bit of charred marshmallow and nougat candy but only semi sweet, chewy thick creamy base malts and flaked oats, lots of baking spices again including anise, chocolate ganache and cocoa, baking chocolate, thick fudgey chocolate on the back end, a bit of perfumey alcohol flavor, big spicy hops throughout as well, med to higher bitterness, typical level for American Imp Stout, mild sticky finish, bitter spicy hops lingering

Mouth is full bod, thick chewy and a bit creamy, med frothy carb, almost no alcohol warmth or tingle

Overall classy American Imp Stout, classic example of the style, just the right hop level, nice roasty malts without being burnt or acrid, baking spices, anise, cocoa, dark chocolate, etc, checks all the boxes, and the alcohol is hidden quite well. Well done beer!

16oz can poured into a snifter.

A: Inky black pour. Two fingers of tight, fine-bubbled brown head retain forever. Thin sheets of lacing.

S: Fudge sauce, blackstrap molasses, espresso and lots of deep barley roast. Black cherry skins and blackberry. Dose of earthy hops.

O: Fudge sauce and chocolate truffles are quickly buried in a mountain of roast. Deeply roasted barley brings flavors of French roast coffee, woody roast, and some acrid smoke. As in the nose, there’s a dose of green and earthy hops that bring their own bitterness. Fleeting suggestions of dark fruit and fruit skins too- mostly blackberry and black cherry. Long and memorable finish of mocha, dark chocolate ganache, and trailing woody roast.

M: Ridiculously rich and thick body. Weighty. Mouth-filling and slightly coating, firm carbonation adds just enough prickle and lift to keep it from being sludgey. Texturally dense, creamy, and silky. Alcohol is slightly warming and soothing, but not boozy in the least.

O: This one is for the OGs. A true stout lover’s stout. No frills, no pastry bullshit, just damn good drinkin’. It feels like a modern classic that would be at home on the shelf next to North Coast Old Rasputin, Victory Storm King, or Green Flash Double Stout. If you’re after that sort of brawny, deeply roasty, unabashedly hoppy American Imperial Stout, you will likely love this as much as I did. It’s a seriously impressive beer that flies so far under the radar, it’s criminal.

There is no brew that I enjoy more than a good imperial stout, and this is right up there with the best. From the first 4-pack that was gifted to me, I was sold, and I am now on my second or third case. Who’s counting? Just enjoy it! This has a rich, dark appearance and a smooth mouth-feel. The taste is strong and well-balanced, with no single ingredient overpowering the others.

Poured from a 16 oz can dated 2/12/2020 into the test glass
A - Cobalt black, with an exquisite mocha cap. Lacing forms ledges in the glass.
S - Toast malts, espresso, bakers chocolate. Earthy hops reminscent of fall
T - Follows the nose well, with a bit more roast coffee, hints of char, and cigar wrap tobacco.
M - Slick and a bit oily, with a nice balance of bitterness to help clean things up. Linger is of dark cocoa and ash.
O - A very good big A stout, the texture is the strong suit, flavors run the traditional (and welcome) line with roast and cocoa being the centerpiece. Worth seeking out