Black Is Beautiful
Icarus Brewing Company
- From:
- Icarus Brewing Company
- New Jersey, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
- ABV:
- 10%
- Score:
- +6 ratings needed
- Avg:
- 3.9 | pDev: 5.64%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 2
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Aug 31, 2020
- Added:
- Jul 11, 2020
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
NO SCORE
-
-
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by JerzDevl2000 from New Jersey
4.19/5 rDev +7.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.19/5 rDev +7.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Traded for this a while ago, as I was hoping to get my hands on a can or two of the Black is Beautiful beers that were all released around the same time. This was indeed an American Imperial Stout as this was quite strong and full of flavor but it took a bit of getting used to as I normally don't have beers like this during the warmer months!
Of course, this poured dark and heavy as any Stout should but the head was something else! Mocha, bubbly, and quite thick, it was near-perfect in appearance and viscosity as it countered the liquid nicely and took quite a while to silently settle down. Not a lot of lacing was left behind as there were just a few thin rings of lacing scattered from top to bottom. Loads of roasted and dry chocolate malt in the nose with some oats and dark malts in there too as this seemed like a Schwarzbier that was hopped up or an Imperial Porter. The latter was felt in the taste with this being quite dry, roasted, and full of chocolate with some dark fruit, wine barrel, and sour grapes in the mix once this fully warmed up. Slick on the palate like espresso, the aftertaste was not in line with the taste as this was very complex and varied, but enjoyable and worth sipping slowly.
Plenty of booze in this and not a lot of carbonation, as the aftertaste was cloying and felt like lactose and oats rolled up together. The Caramunich Pils and Nexomexicanus hop were different and were easily felt, if not easily recognizable. Canned on 6/30 with "JUSTICE AND EQUALITY' written underneath it, I liked this and how different it was than a standard Stout of any strength. Worth a go as Icarus is quickly becoming of my favorite breweries here in New Jersey!
Aug 19, 2020Of course, this poured dark and heavy as any Stout should but the head was something else! Mocha, bubbly, and quite thick, it was near-perfect in appearance and viscosity as it countered the liquid nicely and took quite a while to silently settle down. Not a lot of lacing was left behind as there were just a few thin rings of lacing scattered from top to bottom. Loads of roasted and dry chocolate malt in the nose with some oats and dark malts in there too as this seemed like a Schwarzbier that was hopped up or an Imperial Porter. The latter was felt in the taste with this being quite dry, roasted, and full of chocolate with some dark fruit, wine barrel, and sour grapes in the mix once this fully warmed up. Slick on the palate like espresso, the aftertaste was not in line with the taste as this was very complex and varied, but enjoyable and worth sipping slowly.
Plenty of booze in this and not a lot of carbonation, as the aftertaste was cloying and felt like lactose and oats rolled up together. The Caramunich Pils and Nexomexicanus hop were different and were easily felt, if not easily recognizable. Canned on 6/30 with "JUSTICE AND EQUALITY' written underneath it, I liked this and how different it was than a standard Stout of any strength. Worth a go as Icarus is quickly becoming of my favorite breweries here in New Jersey!
Reviewed by q33jeff from New Jersey
3.87/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.87/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
**
07/10/20
Can to snifter.
LOOK: dark black, thick look in pour like motor oil. large healthy light brown head. excellent retention. Truly Beautiful.
AROMA: roasted malt, mineral, hint of coffee.
TASTE: roasted barley, char, coffee, hint of dark chocolate. Later some hints of sour red wine come through.
FEEL: full body smooth sipper. touch of astringency in finish.
Very nice roasty stout. Happy to support a worthy cause. I wonder if other breweries versions of this will be as tasty and smooth. This very nice.
**
10/18/20
side by side tasting of 4 Black is Beautiful beers.
Kane was the clear winner. Finback, Icarus and Springhouse were all a touch or 2 below. Finback was probably the 2nd choice.
Still; all were somewhat similar and quality.
**
Jul 11, 202007/10/20
Can to snifter.
LOOK: dark black, thick look in pour like motor oil. large healthy light brown head. excellent retention. Truly Beautiful.
AROMA: roasted malt, mineral, hint of coffee.
TASTE: roasted barley, char, coffee, hint of dark chocolate. Later some hints of sour red wine come through.
FEEL: full body smooth sipper. touch of astringency in finish.
Very nice roasty stout. Happy to support a worthy cause. I wonder if other breweries versions of this will be as tasty and smooth. This very nice.
**
10/18/20
side by side tasting of 4 Black is Beautiful beers.
Kane was the clear winner. Finback, Icarus and Springhouse were all a touch or 2 below. Finback was probably the 2nd choice.
Still; all were somewhat similar and quality.
**
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