Obsidian Throne
Half Acre Beer Company
- From:
- Half Acre Beer Company
- Illinois, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
Ranked #226 - ABV:
- 13.7%
- Score:
- 93
Ranked #4,243 - Avg:
- 4.46 | pDev: 5.61%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 3
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Oct 03, 2021
- Added:
- Jan 21, 2021
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 1
SCORE
93
Outstanding
93
Outstanding
Obsidian Throne Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout is another thread inside the expanding Half Acre spirit barrel-aging program. Obsidian Throne is the purity of essential ingredients when making sizable, bold, non-adjunct barrel-aged beers. Though minimalist in design, Obsidian Throne’s approach to recipe and 12 months-time spent inside of Weller Bourbon barrels provides depth and layers of nuanced dark cherry, silky bourbon, light oak, dark chocolate and rich weight inside a warming 13.7% ABV. You’re invited to sit up high on an iridescent throne of volcanic glass.
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Reviewed by kemoarps from Washington
4.17/5 rDev -6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
4.17/5 rDev -6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
I mean, it's obsidian. That's the obvious descriptor, and it is apt here. Just a dusting of dark cocoa foam that's mostly a fractal swirl and ring around the glass.
Nose is sharp and boozy. More into the licorice side of stout-world. Dark fruit and dark chocolate. The fruit comes forward more as I agitate and let it warm.
Sipping it (and I do advise sipping. This is every bit of 13.7%, and almost drinks even bigger) is a delight. I'll get to the body in a moment, but it. Is. Rich. Anyway, Dark chocolate dipped cherries is where my mind goes. The licorice is less present here, and I think it was the bourbon barrel that gave me that impression right off... the oak from the barrel, and the 'sour mash' kind of characteristic combining to give it the highersharper notes. Some spice as well from the barreling as well, also, too, as well.
So back to that body. Thick and rich. This is my second big BA stout from these guys and the second one that is just luxuriant thickness going down. These guys, per my limited experience, really got the rich stouts down.
Thank you @FBarber for sending this my direction during NBW BIF #13!
Apr 12, 2021Nose is sharp and boozy. More into the licorice side of stout-world. Dark fruit and dark chocolate. The fruit comes forward more as I agitate and let it warm.
Sipping it (and I do advise sipping. This is every bit of 13.7%, and almost drinks even bigger) is a delight. I'll get to the body in a moment, but it. Is. Rich. Anyway, Dark chocolate dipped cherries is where my mind goes. The licorice is less present here, and I think it was the bourbon barrel that gave me that impression right off... the oak from the barrel, and the 'sour mash' kind of characteristic combining to give it the highersharper notes. Some spice as well from the barreling as well, also, too, as well.
So back to that body. Thick and rich. This is my second big BA stout from these guys and the second one that is just luxuriant thickness going down. These guys, per my limited experience, really got the rich stouts down.
Thank you @FBarber for sending this my direction during NBW BIF #13!
Rated by Saagey05 from Illinois
5/5 rDev +12.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +12.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Absolutely stunning in every quality.
Great barrel flavor for the non-adjunct
Feb 11, 2021Great barrel flavor for the non-adjunct
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
4.31/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.31/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Canned 1/4/21; drank 2/2/21 @ the Yarchives.
Black appearance.
A rough pour yielded a huge dark tan head; a thick curtain of lace.
Oak, dark chocolate, fresh earth & dark cherry notes in the nose.
Thick, creamy mouthfeel.
Oak & dark chocolate flavors up front; dark cherry & faint fresh earth notes on the finish.
A very nice straight-up barrel aged stout with no funny stuff. I'd have another.
Feb 03, 2021Black appearance.
A rough pour yielded a huge dark tan head; a thick curtain of lace.
Oak, dark chocolate, fresh earth & dark cherry notes in the nose.
Thick, creamy mouthfeel.
Oak & dark chocolate flavors up front; dark cherry & faint fresh earth notes on the finish.
A very nice straight-up barrel aged stout with no funny stuff. I'd have another.
Reviewed by 4DAloveofSTOUT from Illinois
4.6/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.6/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
16oz tall boy can poured into SP stemmed balloon glass.
Appearance: jet black body just as dark as obsidian! 2 fingers thick cap of dark brown head. Drops to no cap with nice lace coating on the glass. Booze legs present as expected.
Smell: bourbon barrel forward aroma with dark chocolate / bakers coco to compliment those amazing smelling barrels.
Taste: Smooth Bourbon and dry oak. Flourless chocolate cake. Light barrel char, deep leathery notes, & sweet pipe tobacco. Finish provides a hint black cherries, vanilla frosting, & lingering barrel notes that go on long after each sip.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied stout. Low carbonation that is adequate carbonation. Creamy & silky texture. Light heat; not boozy. This beer gets thicker as is warms up.
Overall: All I gotta say is Weller barrel juice & rich chocolate stout base is always a winning combination. Love those Weller barrels that Half Acre picked for this stout. Perfect barrel aged sipper. Half Acre really stepped up the barrel aged stouts released this year with Obsidian Throne. I think this was miles better than all the Benthic that was packaged this year. Brew a great base stout and let the barrels shine through and be the focus of the stout.
Jan 23, 2021Appearance: jet black body just as dark as obsidian! 2 fingers thick cap of dark brown head. Drops to no cap with nice lace coating on the glass. Booze legs present as expected.
Smell: bourbon barrel forward aroma with dark chocolate / bakers coco to compliment those amazing smelling barrels.
Taste: Smooth Bourbon and dry oak. Flourless chocolate cake. Light barrel char, deep leathery notes, & sweet pipe tobacco. Finish provides a hint black cherries, vanilla frosting, & lingering barrel notes that go on long after each sip.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied stout. Low carbonation that is adequate carbonation. Creamy & silky texture. Light heat; not boozy. This beer gets thicker as is warms up.
Overall: All I gotta say is Weller barrel juice & rich chocolate stout base is always a winning combination. Love those Weller barrels that Half Acre picked for this stout. Perfect barrel aged sipper. Half Acre really stepped up the barrel aged stouts released this year with Obsidian Throne. I think this was miles better than all the Benthic that was packaged this year. Brew a great base stout and let the barrels shine through and be the focus of the stout.
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