-
Stop lurking! Stay logged in to search, review beers, post in our forums, see less ads, and more. Thanks! — Todd
Beelzebub
The Alchemist


Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- The Alchemist
- Vermont, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
Ranked #1,313 - ABV:
- 8%
- Score:
- 92
Ranked #4,381 - Avg:
- 4.15 | pDev: 9.16%
- Reviews:
- 139
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 18, 2022
- Added:
- Mar 01, 2008
- Wants:
- 153
- Gots:
- 125
SCORE
92
Outstanding
92
Outstanding


Notes:
Beelzebub is an American Imperial Stout. The intensely smooth and rich roasted flavor is complemented by the unmistakable presence of hops. The bitterness is held in check, preserving the flavors of dark chocolate. This ale is aggressively dry hopped with Citra to cut through it all. Hail Santa.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by maddogruss from New Jersey
4.71/5 rDev +13.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.71/5 rDev +13.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
A: pours a motor oil black with a thick, brown head with solid retention and lacing.
S: roasted notes with hints of earthy hops:
T: meaty, roasted porter notes with surprisingly balancing earthy hop notes; subtle sweet alcohol notes.
M: silky smooth
O: very well balanced beer; excellent.
Dec 18, 2022S: roasted notes with hints of earthy hops:
T: meaty, roasted porter notes with surprisingly balancing earthy hop notes; subtle sweet alcohol notes.
M: silky smooth
O: very well balanced beer; excellent.
Reviewed by thebeers from Pennsylvania
3.85/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.85/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Black with two fingers of mocha head. Big air bubbles lead to quick dissipation. Soap bubble lacing.
Chocolate, coffee and pine in the nose.
Taste is similar: chocolate, strong umami, some sugared coffee, light pine and dry finish. Bitter aftertaste.
Medium bodied, slick feel with restrained carbonation.
Solid beer, but, to my taste, the dryness distracts a bit from the lovely piney bitterness.
Jul 07, 2022Chocolate, coffee and pine in the nose.
Taste is similar: chocolate, strong umami, some sugared coffee, light pine and dry finish. Bitter aftertaste.
Medium bodied, slick feel with restrained carbonation.
Solid beer, but, to my taste, the dryness distracts a bit from the lovely piney bitterness.
Reviewed by larryi86 from Delaware
4.4/5 rDev +6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.4/5 rDev +6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
16 oz can poured into a tulip
A- Black with a two finger mocha head.
S- Dark chocolate, roasted malts, earthy hops, hints of citrus, some char.
T- Dark chocolate, roasted malts, piney,earthy, some char, touch of the citra dry hopping.
M- Smooth, full body.
O- A well done stout and it aged gracefully. I think I got this in a box of beer in 2017 or 2018 and I just forgot to drink it right away but have no issue with what time has done to this beer.
Feb 05, 2022A- Black with a two finger mocha head.
S- Dark chocolate, roasted malts, earthy hops, hints of citrus, some char.
T- Dark chocolate, roasted malts, piney,earthy, some char, touch of the citra dry hopping.
M- Smooth, full body.
O- A well done stout and it aged gracefully. I think I got this in a box of beer in 2017 or 2018 and I just forgot to drink it right away but have no issue with what time has done to this beer.
Reviewed by reitzbrewing from Pennsylvania
5/5 rDev +20.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +20.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
From can into tulip glass. Amazing aroma of hops as soon as i poured it. Taste is all stout with chocolate and cocoa. An unbelievable combo of a strong stout, but with hops in background. Great beer!
Sep 14, 2019Reviewed by NiceTaps from New Jersey
3.97/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.97/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
16 ounce can in my favorite stemmed stout glass.
Liquid ebony and just as dense as ebony, opaque. The 2-plus F cap is mocha colored and tapers to a thick film leaving ample lacing.
There's hoppy character in the aroma. There are also some mineral char and light roasted malts.
Charcoal, chocolate, and roasted malt flavor the brew.
Sturdy yet drinkable body. The dry hopping does its job; dry hoppy bite finish.
Better as it sits a spell. The char is a bit strong. Points for creativity.
Jul 27, 2019Liquid ebony and just as dense as ebony, opaque. The 2-plus F cap is mocha colored and tapers to a thick film leaving ample lacing.
There's hoppy character in the aroma. There are also some mineral char and light roasted malts.
Charcoal, chocolate, and roasted malt flavor the brew.
Sturdy yet drinkable body. The dry hopping does its job; dry hoppy bite finish.
Better as it sits a spell. The char is a bit strong. Points for creativity.
Reviewed by gatornation from Florida
4/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a thick black color with a reddish tan head. Loads of roasted malts ,dark chocolate,coffee, had a roasted char taste in the finish. Mouth feel was had bittersweet chocolate with a wood char smokey finish.
Jun 09, 2019Reviewed by scotorum from Massachusetts
3.99/5 rDev -3.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.99/5 rDev -3.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
ALCHEMIST BEELZEBUB IMPERIAL STOUT 5/28/19
Poured from the 16 oz. can into a Samuel Smith English tulip pint.
a: Opaque black with a two inch mocha head which receded slowly to thin surface foam and very dense lacing.
s: Mild roasty malt with chocolate notes.
t; Heavy char in the foam with chocolate beneath along with a moderate hop bite. Bitterness lingers on the mainly charred finish which eventually mellows out somewhat.
m: Medium to full, very good body and lots of carbonation tingle.
o: A powerful-tasting stout with much roastiness and hop bitterness which declines somewhat as it is consumed. As a fan of the big three Alchemist DIPAs, nonetheless Beelzebub seems rather devilishly overdone considering the ABV is only 8%. Not sure Citra was the best hop choice to "cut through it all" but I suppose that was why it was called an American IS rather than a Russian one.
May 29, 2019Poured from the 16 oz. can into a Samuel Smith English tulip pint.
a: Opaque black with a two inch mocha head which receded slowly to thin surface foam and very dense lacing.
s: Mild roasty malt with chocolate notes.
t; Heavy char in the foam with chocolate beneath along with a moderate hop bite. Bitterness lingers on the mainly charred finish which eventually mellows out somewhat.
m: Medium to full, very good body and lots of carbonation tingle.
o: A powerful-tasting stout with much roastiness and hop bitterness which declines somewhat as it is consumed. As a fan of the big three Alchemist DIPAs, nonetheless Beelzebub seems rather devilishly overdone considering the ABV is only 8%. Not sure Citra was the best hop choice to "cut through it all" but I suppose that was why it was called an American IS rather than a Russian one.
Reviewed by hoptheology from California
4.22/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.22/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
16 oz can from egrandfield poured into Crane snifter.
Chocolate brown with an almond-beige head of 2 fingers, and leaves nice rings of lace as it recedes 1/2 finger.
Rich aromas of coffee beans, caramel, and hot chocolate. Fresh grassy hop. Really really good.
Flavor is heavy on espresso and coffee bean, with slight edging of woodsy hop. Slight smoke, some chocolate, caramel, and more coffee. The bitterness compounds and wells up at the end, with wet grass and more woodsy hop.
Slick and heavily carbonated. Oily resins on the finish with a balanced roastiness.
Overall, a really impressive stout, one that's a bit difficult to drink, but the flavor is very forthcoming. Highly recommended.
May 16, 2019Chocolate brown with an almond-beige head of 2 fingers, and leaves nice rings of lace as it recedes 1/2 finger.
Rich aromas of coffee beans, caramel, and hot chocolate. Fresh grassy hop. Really really good.
Flavor is heavy on espresso and coffee bean, with slight edging of woodsy hop. Slight smoke, some chocolate, caramel, and more coffee. The bitterness compounds and wells up at the end, with wet grass and more woodsy hop.
Slick and heavily carbonated. Oily resins on the finish with a balanced roastiness.
Overall, a really impressive stout, one that's a bit difficult to drink, but the flavor is very forthcoming. Highly recommended.
Reviewed by TheDoctor from Canada (QC)
4.23/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.23/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Serving: Can
No date
A:
Pours a thick, opaque black with with an ample brown head. Very good retention; sheets of puffy lacing. (4.25)
S:
Coffee and bright hop twang, lightly smoky, chocolate, lime pith, roast malt bite, pine. (4.25)
T:
Follows the nose. Rich coffee flavor with a fresh hoppy highlight that shines through, lightening the beer itself. (4.25)
M:
Medium plus body with moderate carbonation and a lingering bitter finish. (4)
O:
A damn tasty stout that both is and isn't what one would expect.
This is a stout-looking beer right off the bat. Gorgeous. A balanced mix of smooth roast and hop bitterness. The smell and flavor are both happier than what I had expected but actually served to make the beer a little lighter in its feet. Both aspects are heavy on coffee and dark chocolate but the hops give you a light at the end of the tunnel, accentuate the malt bitterness, and make it more drinkable than it would be otherwise. It is a nice beer that I thoroughly enjoyed. Maybe a little heavy-handed, but it also manages to avoid being a slog to drink like I find some great RISs to be, so that's definitely a win. I'd certainly have it again. (4.25)
Jan 02, 2019No date
A:
Pours a thick, opaque black with with an ample brown head. Very good retention; sheets of puffy lacing. (4.25)
S:
Coffee and bright hop twang, lightly smoky, chocolate, lime pith, roast malt bite, pine. (4.25)
T:
Follows the nose. Rich coffee flavor with a fresh hoppy highlight that shines through, lightening the beer itself. (4.25)
M:
Medium plus body with moderate carbonation and a lingering bitter finish. (4)
O:
A damn tasty stout that both is and isn't what one would expect.
This is a stout-looking beer right off the bat. Gorgeous. A balanced mix of smooth roast and hop bitterness. The smell and flavor are both happier than what I had expected but actually served to make the beer a little lighter in its feet. Both aspects are heavy on coffee and dark chocolate but the hops give you a light at the end of the tunnel, accentuate the malt bitterness, and make it more drinkable than it would be otherwise. It is a nice beer that I thoroughly enjoyed. Maybe a little heavy-handed, but it also manages to avoid being a slog to drink like I find some great RISs to be, so that's definitely a win. I'd certainly have it again. (4.25)
Reviewed by Ozzylizard from Pennsylvania
4.09/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
4.09/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
Received from @zid – Thanks Chris! Reviewed 12/26/18.
Undated 16 oz can. Stored at 42 degrees and served at 57 degrees in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter.
Appearance – 4.5.
Body – Dark brown/black, opaque. When held to the light, still opaque.
Head – Large (Maximum 6.5 cm, aggressive center pour), light brown, dense, average retention, diminishing to a four mm ring and a complete, rocky layer.
Lacing – Excellent! Wide band of primarily tiny bubbles with an occasional small to medium bubble thrown in.
First pour – Dark brown, clear.
Aroma – 4.25 – Dark chocolate, char, dark fruits, and hops.
Flavor – 4 - Begins with bitter chocolate and roasted malt, missing the “dark fruit” from the nose. Has a hoppy ending with a long hang-time. No alcohol (8%), no diacetyl, no dimethylsulfide.
Palate – 3.5 – Oddly enough, medium, watery, lively carbonation.
Impression and interpretation – 4.25 – The weak palate is totally unexpected from an Impy stout – much thinner and waterier than the style suggests – more typical of a black IPA. But, since I like both styles, this does not impede my enjoyment. The nose is more nuanced than the flavor, at least to my taste buds.
Dec 26, 2018Undated 16 oz can. Stored at 42 degrees and served at 57 degrees in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter.
Appearance – 4.5.
Body – Dark brown/black, opaque. When held to the light, still opaque.
Head – Large (Maximum 6.5 cm, aggressive center pour), light brown, dense, average retention, diminishing to a four mm ring and a complete, rocky layer.
Lacing – Excellent! Wide band of primarily tiny bubbles with an occasional small to medium bubble thrown in.
First pour – Dark brown, clear.
Aroma – 4.25 – Dark chocolate, char, dark fruits, and hops.
Flavor – 4 - Begins with bitter chocolate and roasted malt, missing the “dark fruit” from the nose. Has a hoppy ending with a long hang-time. No alcohol (8%), no diacetyl, no dimethylsulfide.
Palate – 3.5 – Oddly enough, medium, watery, lively carbonation.
Impression and interpretation – 4.25 – The weak palate is totally unexpected from an Impy stout – much thinner and waterier than the style suggests – more typical of a black IPA. But, since I like both styles, this does not impede my enjoyment. The nose is more nuanced than the flavor, at least to my taste buds.
Reviewed by OKbrew89 from Oklahoma
4.3/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.3/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours an engine oil black color with a monstrous tan head the leaves lacing down the glass. Nose of roasted malt and chocolate. Taste is roasted malt, dark chocolate, and a clean dry hopped finish that makes it feel lighter than it is. Full body and low carbonation.
There is so much good about this. I drank this out of season (in the summer) and still absolutely loved it. Absolutely amazing mouth feel and great roastiness.
Dec 02, 2018There is so much good about this. I drank this out of season (in the summer) and still absolutely loved it. Absolutely amazing mouth feel and great roastiness.
Beelzebub from The Alchemist
Beer rating:
92 out of
100 with
763 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!