Evil Twin's IBB

The bourbon barrel-aged version is phenomenal, much better than the base.

 

I've loved IBB every time I've had it. But, like all Evil Twin beers, it's incredibly overpriced.

 

Even More Jesus

Also, to further address your question - my experience wasn't similar insofar as I didn't think this was a one trick pony. To start - coffee, roast most prominent. But once IBB warmed up to room temp, that nuanced sweetness started to take hold. I got quite a bit more of the vanilla coming out, mixing it up with some dark chocolate and a distinctly sweet "cookie" note. To me that was pretty much as advertised based on the description on ET's website.

 

I loved IBB .. But if you were underwhelmed by it , don't go seekin Imperial Doughnut break.. As I thought that beer was expensive and really mediocre

 

I liked Doughnut Break, but definitely not as much as Biscotti Break. Doughnut Break is very, very sweet.

 

I love is a little more one dimensional straight up roasted malts and cocoa.. Not much coffee notes .. Great stout to pair a cigar with

 

IBB is a good beer, but I wouldn't pay $15 to drink it again.

 

I've never been disappointed with IBB or the Variants. With that said, seek out I love you with my Stout and or Double Barrel Jesus. Of course all might not be to your liking, but its fun trying to find one that will suit your fancy.

 

I actually thought Doughnut more resembled its name in that it smelled and tasted like a chocolate cake doughnut. However, I will agree tasted pretty sweet, and felt heavier than IBB.

Will also second that OP should let the beer warm a bit in his second try. The flavors come out nicely cliser to room temp.

 

I would respectfully disagree with that comparison if you ask my opinion. FBS and Narwhal are fantastic. Two of the more readily available of the highest rated imperial stouts on the market today - I even heard them described as "cult classics" in a thread last week... probably an apt description given their popularity and ratings. But I wouldn't think to compare either of them to IBB because FBS is an imperial "coffee" stout through and through and Narwhal is more in the vein of a classic RIS. IBB is neither of those, nor do I think it's trying to be either of those. IBB didn't have nearly the depth of roasted characteristics of a classic RIS, and while there were coffee notes present in the mix, it wasn't overly dominant like an FBS - if anything, it was more complimentary of the softer, sweeter cookie flavors.

Maybe I'd say its more apt to draw comparisons to Stone's limited release Xocoveza Mocha... but ONLY in INSPIRATION... plainly not style - both are inspired by replicate a traditional dessert treat (i.e. Mexican hot chocolate for Stone, biscotti cookies for ET).

However, I know this is a futile point of comparison because others will disagree because perhaps they didn't get that sweet, biscotti/cookie flavor out of the mix, or still others will say all they got was coffee and roast and that it tastes identical to other RIS. Diff'rent strokes.

 

I have a bottle in my cellar. This is not what I want to hear after paying $19 for a bottle.

 

Even More

 

Now I don't think my palate is like a lot of the video beer reviewers out there, but to me, IBB is on another level when it comes to flavor profile. I was able to pull a fig-like sweetness on top of the coffee notes. Much better than your typical Imperial stout. To me, most Imperials have a big roasted feel to them, and if you are lucky, you get a full bodied beer(cause some seem a bit watery for an imperial), and IBB provides that with more.

And yes, Evil Twin is more expensive than a lot of others, but it is worth it imo if you are looking for that extra flavor.

If you can get I Love You With My Stout, I would pick it up. It is also very good.

 

Most important part IMO is bolded. Opinions vary!

$19 for the regular version? No thanks Jeff

 

$19 is rough. I want to say it's $15 here and even that is tough to swallow. I like when I can catch it on draft somewhere and have one for $7 or so.

 

BA IBB is World-Class no doubt, as is DBJ. Although expensive (like all ET beers) if you can get your hands on a bottle of DBJ it would be worth it at least once to have it, IMO.