Benthic - Cherry Brandy
Half Acre Beer Company
- From:
- Half Acre Beer Company
- Illinois, United States
- Style:
- Imperial Pastry Stout
Ranked #234 - ABV:
- 14%
- Score:
- 96
Ranked #1,319 - Avg:
- 4.44 | pDev: 5.18%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 8
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Aug 10, 2024
- Added:
- Nov 14, 2020
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 0
SCORE
96
World-Class
96
World-Class
2022 release. Hand-toasted coconut and Madagascar vanilla beans aged in cherry brandy barrels for 11 months.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by stortore from Illinois
4.47/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.47/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
12 ounce can into a snifter. Canned 10/18/22, had 1/7/23.
Pours near black and opaque, with a brief quarter inch foamy head and speckled oily lacing. Aromas of roasted malt, chocolate, vanilla, coconut, some oak, light cherry brandy, light char. Flavors of cocoa, chocolate, coconut, vanilla, malt, cherry brandy, some oak. Smooth, lightly creamy, a solid full body, appropriately carbonated.
The coconut and vanilla are the stars , and while the cherry brandy barrels are noticeable, would have liked a bigger presence. A delicious and excellent effort, as usual.
Jun 28, 2023Pours near black and opaque, with a brief quarter inch foamy head and speckled oily lacing. Aromas of roasted malt, chocolate, vanilla, coconut, some oak, light cherry brandy, light char. Flavors of cocoa, chocolate, coconut, vanilla, malt, cherry brandy, some oak. Smooth, lightly creamy, a solid full body, appropriately carbonated.
The coconut and vanilla are the stars , and while the cherry brandy barrels are noticeable, would have liked a bigger presence. A delicious and excellent effort, as usual.
Reviewed by brewskis from Indiana
4.54/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.54/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Pours pitch black with a 1.5 finger reddish-mocha head that sticks around for a long time, especially considering the abv. Aroma and taste are similar and that's not a bad thing at all. Getting dark and milk chocolate-covered maraschino cherries, Hershey's chocolate syrup, rich vanilla bean, some marshmallow, shaved coconut macaroon, slight cinnamon spice, charred oak, brandy spirit. Full body and a thick, mouth-coating feel. The barrel character surprisingly goes so well with the base and adjuncts. I can't say enough good things about Half Acre's barrel program.
Apr 01, 2023
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
4.5/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Canned 10/18/22; drank 1/2/23 @ the Yarchives.
Brown/black appearance.
A violent pour yielded a big dark tan head; a thick curtain of tree-rung lace remained.
Cherry, oak, booze heat & faint oatmeal notes in the nose.
Thick, creamy mouthfeel.
Cherry, coconut, oatmeal & oak flavors; booze heat emerged as this warmed.
Even better than the 2020 version; finally some oak, plenty of cherry and balanced at that. A stunner.
Jan 03, 2023Brown/black appearance.
A violent pour yielded a big dark tan head; a thick curtain of tree-rung lace remained.
Cherry, oak, booze heat & faint oatmeal notes in the nose.
Thick, creamy mouthfeel.
Cherry, coconut, oatmeal & oak flavors; booze heat emerged as this warmed.
Even better than the 2020 version; finally some oak, plenty of cherry and balanced at that. A stunner.
Reviewed by 5toutman75 from Illinois
4.7/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
4.7/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
2022 release consumed 12/15/22
I think this is the thickest stout now that I've seen from HA or anyone. It's super dark and black as a stout should always look. The feel is super thick and coating. The nose is phenomenal like all Benthics. I can pick out the cherry brandy notes even among the other adjuncts. So, how does the cherry brandy affect it all? For me, I am really liking the combo. The cherry is certainly there and it could be a bit much for some folks. It is probably the most prominent flavor, but it is still in balance for me. I would say if you do not like cherry at all, you will not like this variant. If there's anything I would ding the beer for it would be that it seems to finish a bit sweeter than the other Benthics. Now I need to drink the other variants to see which is my favorite for the year
Dec 16, 2022I think this is the thickest stout now that I've seen from HA or anyone. It's super dark and black as a stout should always look. The feel is super thick and coating. The nose is phenomenal like all Benthics. I can pick out the cherry brandy notes even among the other adjuncts. So, how does the cherry brandy affect it all? For me, I am really liking the combo. The cherry is certainly there and it could be a bit much for some folks. It is probably the most prominent flavor, but it is still in balance for me. I would say if you do not like cherry at all, you will not like this variant. If there's anything I would ding the beer for it would be that it seems to finish a bit sweeter than the other Benthics. Now I need to drink the other variants to see which is my favorite for the year
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