115° Imperial Chocolate Cherry
HUDL Brewing Company

2021 vintage, barrel aged, chocolate, cherries, vanilla, lots of whiskey, sweet and also kind of tangy, strange and good, but also quite flavored and intense, a small doses thing, even if i like it. looks like they play around with this base beer quite a bit, but this is the only version i had when we visited the brewery. 11.9% abv listed on their board for this. did they do this chocolate cherry edition without barrels? i see only one listing here on BA, perhaps the abv varies from year to year. close to black and considerably less viscous than expected, it doesnt really hold a head but never quite feels flat as i drink it either, lighter carbonation activity is fine for this style. i like that the roast leads it, the bitter before the sweet. the nose on this is actually a little understated, strong whiskey and light smoke and vanilla, the chocolate and cherry are way back, a little alcohol wafting up too. the flavor is way more bold, dark barley and a strong espresso note from it, which sets up tart cherry well, some almost vinous tang in the center of this which does break down some of the sugary character, but its still on the sweet side. the bourbon brings sweetness, plays predictably well with the vanilla, and its boozy most of the way. i do like the bitterness this has on the back end, more balanced there than earlier, but overall the fruit is pretty light here, and i wonder if its faded some over the years, faintly medicinal as it warms. layers of oak, brown sugar, licorice, and subtle oxidation come out as it warms, and the alcohol stays present the whole way. neat beer, quite flavorful, barrel char and whiskey are persistent, the chocolate aspect is lost some to the grain and perhaps to time, but it is what it says it is. id like to try this without the barrels if that version exists, and id love to try a newer vintage as well when this might be more in tact on the fruit side. either way, cool project, i hope to try some other versions next time i visit!

 

16oz bottle. Wax dipped over cap. No dating information found. Label has ABV% at 11.9%.
Black colored body, with thin red mahogany back lit edge. Short lived tan head, which results in an island and very thin ring. Small spots of lacing left behind.
Aroma is subtle, with dark roasted chocolate malts, oats, a whiff of oak, and a whiff of cherry.
Taste is much more expressive than the nose. The bright cherry mixes so well with the chocolate malts, with the bourbon barrel enveloping both. Vanilla and oak also figure in, along with a hint of rye spice. Bourbon soaked chocolate covered cherries in the aftertaste. Overall the taste is sweet, and not overly heavy, but the flavors are full and bold.
Syrup heavy mouth feel, with some stickiness. Rye spice and the higher ABV% cause a little tongue sting. Supportive carbonation.
So pleased that the flavors are so much more expressive than the subdued nose. A real sipping beer, both for savoring and for extending the time spent with this brew.

 

Look: dark brown almost black in color with a wispy head.

Smell: chocolate is prominent with some softer cherry tones,

Taste: big malt base with dark chocolate, some cherries, brown sugar, moderate bitterness, and a bit of alcohol warming.

Feel: heavy in body. Smooth throughout with a long aftertaste.

Overall: a slow sipping big imperial stout that has a nice flavor profile. Really satisfying.