Black Is Beautiful: Appreciation Thread

Discussion in 'The Bar' started by KevSal, Aug 29, 2020.

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  1. unlikelyspiderperson

    unlikelyspiderperson Grand Pooh-Bah (3,966) Mar 12, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Just cracking into the revolution brewing version. I believe its the base recipe since it doesnt note anything else. For my money this is a wonderful stout. Tons of complexity of dark flavors; molasses, fresh leather, black currant, a touch of anise. More dark fruits rising as it warms. If this was regularly available and hit at more like 7-8% this would be a fridge staple. Reminds of an updated Old Rasputin, the ash and char bitter notes dialed back a touch and the dark fruit flavors upped a bit. Great stuff
     
    #61 unlikelyspiderperson, Oct 2, 2020
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  2. FBarber

    FBarber Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,325) Mar 5, 2016 Illinois
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    According to Revolution - its a hybrid of their Deth's Tar oatmeal stout and their Eugene porter. So its not technically just the straight stout recipe from Weathered Souls, but it is just a straight stout in and of itself.
     
    #62 FBarber, Oct 2, 2020
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  3. bbtkd

    bbtkd Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,790) Sep 20, 2015 South Dakota
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I haven't seen any around here yet. I saw one brewery (not around here) that had renamed an existing dark beer, not even a stout.
     
    #63 bbtkd, Oct 2, 2020
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  4. unlikelyspiderperson

    unlikelyspiderperson Grand Pooh-Bah (3,966) Mar 12, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Ah well it is delicious none the less, and that just strengthens my resolve to acquire more dark beer from Rev! Better get on drinking down that old Schonramer (honestly the year old pils was delish) so the store gets a new batch and I have some trade bait for you :wink:
     
    #64 unlikelyspiderperson, Oct 2, 2020
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  5. ManBearPat

    ManBearPat Pooh-Bah (1,813) Dec 2, 2014 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah

    A good friend of mine sent me a Jackie O’s one and it was absolutely incredible... reminded me of an aged expedition stout. Really great all around
     
    #65 ManBearPat, Oct 2, 2020
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  6. Abe_Froman

    Abe_Froman Pooh-Bah (1,843) Mar 24, 2012 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    So far I've only been able to get my hands on Ology's contribution. It is very tasty. I hope to find some more.
     
    #66 Abe_Froman, Oct 3, 2020
  7. ovaltine

    ovaltine Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,787) Apr 6, 2010 Indiana
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    My second BIB beer, this one from the (BY FAR) most iconic brewery in my home state.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    4.25/5 rDev +8.1%
    look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

    This pours black, but it’s loosely black, with a lot of leakage to mahogany on the edges. The tan head provides some nice lacing, and leads to aromas of bittersweet chocolate and espresso (or intense coffee).

    The tast is led by the bittersweet chocolate, but the interesting byplay is between the espresso and citrus flavors that follow. What an adventurous flavor ride this is.

    I’m glad I have a few more bottles of this, because I’m interested to see how this changes as it ages.
     
    #67 ovaltine, Oct 4, 2020
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  8. Argail

    Argail Pooh-Bah (2,367) Dec 19, 2019 Louisiana
    Pooh-Bah

    BisB by Parish Louisiana
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
    #68 Argail, Oct 4, 2020
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  9. Axic10

    Axic10 Maven (1,386) Mar 15, 2008 New Jersey
    Trader

    I ended up with 17 different versions of Black is Beautiful for a (multi-day) tasting with my neighbors and friends. I was able to get glasses from Weathered Souls and The Answer for my neighbor who was very excited about the idea.

    Last night we had 7 of the 17 and enjoyed all but one of them.

    We had in order:

    Weathered Souls
    Kane
    Trillium
    Voodoo
    The Answer (Gold Edition)
    Weathered Souls - Marshmallow, Vanilla Beans & Cacao Nibs
    Other Half

    The general consensus was that the Kane and Trillium were the best with the Weathered Souls - Marshmallow, Vanilla Beans & Cacao Nibs being the least favorite of everyone.

    Overall, we all enjoyed the tasting and even the people who aren't big stout fans really enjoyed the beers. Definitely a good experience sharing with my neighbor who is an African American female and really into beer. Can't wait for the other 10 and will be looking for more versions.
     
    #69 Axic10, Oct 4, 2020
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  10. BMBCLT

    BMBCLT Grand Pooh-Bah (3,427) May 9, 2014 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    This is pretty interesting. Hard to compete with some of the best breweries in the country. I was only able to try 5 versions and the Weathered Souls' was the best one. The other 4 were SC breweries.
     
    #70 BMBCLT, Oct 4, 2020
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  11. sulldaddy

    sulldaddy Grand Pooh-Bah (5,716) Apr 6, 2003 Connecticut
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Made it to another Connecticut brewery release of a Black is Beautiful beer. This entrant is Hog River in Hartford. Cool extra can art from local black artist Nathan Sturdivant. Just added the beer to BA.
    [​IMG]

    Sampling a cold 16 oz can poured into my snifter. Picked up from the brewery today. Ive been trying several of these collab beers and this is the first that has some cool can art beyond the shared label. The art is from a local black abstract artist, Nathan Sturdivant. I like the added flair to the can. The beer is also collab at Hog River with the Craft Crew, a group of black craft beer enthusiasts whose mission is to increase diversity in the craft beer world.

    Onto the beer. Im pouring into my snifter and the beer pours a dark cola color and no light passes through my glass. A dense creamy khaki colored head rests effortlessly on the surface at 2cm. This foam slowly drops to a sturdy and very clingy surface layer that remains through the sampling. I get dense lattice on my glass after each swirl or mouthful.
    The aroma is rich roasted malts and dark chocolate, some light char and a tobacco notes and only faint hints of the vanilla and coconut mentioned on the label.

    First sip reveals a medium body and smooth silky texture with very fine carbonation that gently rolls across my palate. Very nice physical traits on this beer.
    Flavor is similar to the nose, but with a little more vanilla and coconut than on the aroma, but this still doesnt taste overly sweet. I get lots of dark chocolate and roasted malt up front and this rolls to the hints of vanilla and coconut, but the finish is more dark chocolate, more of a baker's chocolate and slightly bitter and dry. I dont get any hop character nor any ABV on this beer.
    Very drinkable and not very sweet dessert beer. Glad to have tried this one and supported the cause. Will also make a donation to the Urban League of Hartford, which is the recipient of the proceeds of sales of this beer from Hog River.
     
    #71 sulldaddy, Oct 10, 2020
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  12. KevSal

    KevSal Pooh-Bah (2,940) Oct 17, 2010 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    bad ass!! This is exactly what I like about this beer, diversity and range of each breweries take can be so much different than others
     
    #72 KevSal, Oct 10, 2020
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  13. Genuine

    Genuine Maven (1,347) May 7, 2009 Connecticut

    That's the one I've been able to try around here as well. I'm going to be brewing up a homebrew version of it this weekend. After seeing some youtube reviews on how amazing the recipe is, I can't wait.
     
    #73 Genuine, Oct 10, 2020
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  14. nc41

    nc41 Initiate (0) Sep 25, 2008 North Carolina
    Trader

    My first beer up today on this yucky rainy Saturday will be a B is B. It’s brewed by Trillium. 10.7 abv brewed with Papua New Guinea vanilla beans. That won’t be until noon though, and football time, I’ll put it on the NBW thread.
     
    #74 nc41, Oct 10, 2020
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  15. sulldaddy

    sulldaddy Grand Pooh-Bah (5,716) Apr 6, 2003 Connecticut
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Why wait till noon for a 10.7% Imperial Stout? :grin:
     
    #75 sulldaddy, Oct 10, 2020
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  16. nc41

    nc41 Initiate (0) Sep 25, 2008 North Carolina
    Trader

    Nap time if I did, and I have a silly rule about drinking before noon. I’m a lightweight.
     
    #76 nc41, Oct 10, 2020
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  17. Axic10

    Axic10 Maven (1,386) Mar 15, 2008 New Jersey
    Trader

    What did you think of it? First can I had was just OK, but at our tasting last week it was a completely different beer and really good.
     
    #77 Axic10, Oct 11, 2020
  18. nc41

    nc41 Initiate (0) Sep 25, 2008 North Carolina
    Trader

    Not in a stout mood today, my taste buds are off a bit, for a day when I can enjoy it.
     
    #78 nc41, Oct 11, 2020
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  19. sulldaddy

    sulldaddy Grand Pooh-Bah (5,716) Apr 6, 2003 Connecticut
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Scored another Black is Beautiful beer. Perennial blended Imperial Stout seems like a perfect drinker before a Monday day off work. Thanks to @mgundy32 for the hookup! Donations from the sale of this beer go to the ACLU of Missouri.

    [​IMG]


    Pouring at cellar temp into my trusty snifter. The beer pours pitch black and thick into my glass. the bottle glugs as the viscous liquid fills my snifter and creates a dense creamy tan head of 2 cm. This foam slowly fades to a thick sturdy edge layer and surface cover.

    The aroma on this beer is dark chocolate, roasted malts, some brown sugar and hints of whiskey. I had hoped the barrel aging would add more to the nose. But this beer still smells good, just less barrel addition than I had expected. No hint of hops and the ABV is also surprisingly hidden at this step.
    First sip reveals a thick and sticky textured beer. The beer leaves sticky residue on my lips and the edge of my glass after each sip. Very full body and very soft and mild carbonation. Feels like a big robust stout should IMO!

    Flavor is dark chocolate, high cacao notes, molasses and lots of roasted notes. I also get brown sugar, some vanilla and some whisky and a good warming in my belly on the swallow. No hops anywhere. The barrel comes through more on the flavor profile and the booze warmth is a good reminder to sip this beer.
    Quite a nice imperial stout, very impressive mouthfeel on this and good everywhere else. Really glad I traded for this one.
     
    #79 sulldaddy, Oct 12, 2020
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  20. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Here are a couple more to add to the thread:

    Founders Brewing's Black is Beautiful Peanut Butter Fudge Stout:
    [​IMG]
    After opening the chilled bottle I got typical stout roasted malt flavor with some peanut taste in the background. As it warmed a more pleasant, slightly sweeter peanut taste showed up for a little while, and then back to the original peanut taste in the background. Never really got chocolate, so it was masked by the roasted malt.



    City-Built Brewing's Black is Beautiful Blackberry Sweet Stout:
    [​IMG]
    This beer is a tale of three beers: A nice-tasting fruity stout when cold; a great-tasting blackberry-flavored rich, chocolatey stout as it approached room temp; and a tart stout at the end that almost tasted like an infected beer. Overall I did like this beer.
     
    #80 PapaGoose03, Oct 13, 2020
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