The Anti-Life Equation
Masthead Brewing Co.

I’ve been able to get my small man-hands on a few exceptional Masthead stouts, so I’m now on a sharp-eyed watch for the little dark bastards. Here’s one in a pink-waxed 500ML bottle. Nice label. Port aged, no less.

Dark, with a touch more head than your average 16.2% shelfie. Nose is quiet. Bit of wood, booze, sweetness.

The Anti-Life Equation burns all the way underneath my sternum. Woo-hee. No effort to hide the booze on this hulking monster. Desiccated red fruit follows, low growl of bourbon, wood, vanilla, with a slight side of caramel. Not much beer really, this is a barrel showcase. And a good one. Shared this smaller bottle with my wife & if not, I’d likely need help up the stairs. And not just because of my advanced age.

The first sips of this left me near-literally alcohol stunned. And despite the questionableness of the underlying style of beer, the barrels play a lovely concerto. Excellent beer.

Having this beer on tap at the brewery. Drawn and served in a snifter glass, this beer is a very dark brown, almost black color. Has just a very tiny had one first drawn and served, that settles practically immediately to a thin ring lining the inside of the glass with some extremely tiny dots of surface foam. This beer is quite dark, and is not interested in letting any light pass through it whatsoever. No lacing at all you speak of. Aromas of very roasted mulch, along with some chocolate and toffee, bourbon barrel goodness, and some port wine barrel goodness as well Along with a hint of vanilla and certainly a boozy note too. Has a very similar flavor profile, with roasted mulch, some chocolate and Toffee sweetness, a nice hint of vanilla, some bourbon barrel goodness that adds a hint of spice, And some fruity notes courtesy of the port wine barrels this was aged in. And of course having a 16.2% AVB, this has a boozy note to it as well taste wise. Has a sticky, chewy resinous, slightly oily, full body mouth feel with light to moderate carbonation. This one really sits on the taste buds for quite a while after each sip and all of the flavors linger very nicely in the aftertaste. Another simply incredible Imperial Stout Beer from the fine folks at Masthead Brewing Company!

Eric

Released 10/31/23; drank 12/23/23 @ the Yarchives.

Black/brown appearance.

An even pour yielded minimal tan head; almost no lacing remained.

Wood, fudge, mild vanilla & mild booze heat notes in the nose.

Creamy medium thick mouthfeel.

Fudge & vanilla flavors up front; wood & booze heat notes on the finish.

Sweet, but still nicely balanced with a pleasing warmth on the finish. A very nice stout.

Pours a very dark color with a slight tan head and lacing
Aroma has roasted malt and cacao hints
Taste has a roasted malt and cacao flavor
A medium bodied decently carbonated beer
A good stout

 

fobab 2022.

Shimmering brown edged black opaque pour, brown ring. Smell is ed by the booze of madeira and secondly bourbon, giving off notes of dark fruit dipped in wine and caramel with a touch of molasses and oak. Taste starts with the same, booze is so strong, dark fruit is more dried out here and overwhelmed by the booze. A bridge of oak, molasses and dark chocolate is quickly met by agressive rye, roast and a hint of metal. Kind of a complex yet messy journey of a sip. Feel is hot and thin despite the heavier weight, rye and smoke finish is harshly bitter after the sharp boozy sweetness up front

A glossy black orb is surrounded by dull brown and red hues under a short tan blanket dying to a thin ring.

Mapled pecans, peppery whiskey and charred oak come to a pleasantly biting heat on the exhale. The madeira barrel seems to adds really mature threads of caramelized fig and maybe even nougat that better develop as it warms. And while it becomes a little more woody than I prefer with time--its splintery bitterness coming just shy of hickory--the lighter yet silky body allows that to glide past without lingering too long.

---

I'm not sure when the second vintage released, sometime in 2023 or 2024, but instead of madeira we're talking port, and regardless, the barrels this time around are amazingly expressive without being too boozy or tannin-forward. I experience splintery char, dark fruit, roasted cacao, Raisinets, and a touch of port-y maple. The exhale is deep Reisen for days, yet coming after a dry finish.

I couldn't say if this was better than the madeira version, enjoying this now in February 2024, but I did love it.