Pleasantly surprised by this. Definitely banana and chocolate, but it also has an interesting sharp finish. Nice treat after a game of hockey.
Sadly, nothing about this beer screamed "extreme". It was an average stout with average flavorings. This beer was just begging to go over the top with the banana puree clumps from the Southern Grist Banana Colada. I have to give this beer a DNF.
My immediate impression is "Wow. Great Notion could (should?) make this recipe!" Yet Aardwolf keeps this monster cleaner, with an eastern-water mineral foundation, which distinguishes it from GN's typical soft mouthful/-feel. This is far less weird than I'd expected, and could almost be an everyday brew!
I was excited by the subtle, but present, banana flavor from the opening sip. But, it opened up to more fruit with warming.
No prize for noting the typical disconnect beyween I'm curious: as with others' posts saying 11%, is that what your can showed? Mine shows 12%, although the sheet included says 11%. Either way, that big a beer was not boozy at all to my palate, which is itself impressive.
I wish I hadn't already recycled my can or I could check. The recycle was picked up yesterday morning unfortunately. I'm fairly certain it said 11% though, but that's just going off memory. Sorry, wish I could confirm!
Mine says 12%. I liked it cold, was less sure in the slightly cold phase, then liked it again when it was warm. Very banana-bread like, but banana bread made with whole wheat flour and rum. This is a fun one.
Exquisite beer. Just the right amount of banana on the nose and in the taste, without getting weird and gross. Super good.
Smooth, bananas and I get cinnamon? Not sure if the burn I got was from the cinnamon ore the booze. The can was the coolest!
I took the advice of others and drank this between two others at room temperature. Body and mouthfeel really evened out. definitely also got cinnamon thank you. Nice selection.
Chocolate color with decent carbonation, especially for a stout. A lot of banana on the nose. Mouthfeel is very creamy with a good amount of sweetness and banana. It's kind of like drinking a banana split. As it warms there is more cinnamon and it's almost Christmas cookie like. I like this way more than I thought I would.
Aroma reminds me of banana pudding. More carbonation than I would've thought for an imperial stout. The lactose gives it a very creamy mouthfeel, which works on the banana pudding vibe. Initial flavors I'm getting are banana, some burnt sugar cameral, and cinnamon. Then the finish reminds of that banana pudding or banana split vibe. It's a little too sweet for my tastes, but I like the flavors. As it warms up, the spices become a little more prominent.
I am having a reverse warming flavor experience. Was expecting bananas to get stronger as it warmed. I am finding all the flavors equalling out and becoming more blended. Bananas, milk chocolate, cinnamon, vanilla. Banana bread from a previous post seems very spot on. Almost has cola stout notes as well.
Cracked this open tonight, and I'm a fan! Poured at fridge temp. Pours jet black with a light layer of tan head. Nose is banana, lactose, chocolate, roasted malts, red grapes, and vanilla. Really interesting. The taste is nice. A nice spice upfront. Almost peppery. Banana, lactose, dark chocolate, vanilla, cherries, cinnamon. A nice creamy sweetness. I start to pick up coffee notes with time. This is really good. Mouthfeel is medium to thick. Overall, I'm really enjoying this one. look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
My 8th out of the box (really taking my time I guess!). I also saved the high ABV beers for last. I try to rate only on the weekends. Aroma has notes of banana, coffee, milk chocolate, toast. Pours very dark brown to black with a half finger beige head that falls almost immediately into a ring. Taste is moderately bittersweet with flavors of banana and chocolate. Nice velvety mouthfeel. A little underwhelming, but not bad. My second least favorite after the Funky Buddha. 3.63/5
4.35/5 rDev +9.6% look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25 by ovaltine from Indiana Pours black with a bit of leakage to mahogany brown on the edges and sports a dark tan head that lingers a bit. The banana is prominent on the nose, and there’s also a bit of cinnamon and a significant milk chocolate note and some vanilla. The banana and milk chocolate are forward on the taste, but it’s the cinnamon that comes forward and really enhances the flavor of the beer - that and the warming at the back of the palate from the 12% ABV. The mouthfeel is rich and a bit creamy, on point for the style. An excellent imperial stout, IMHO, which isn’t surprising given Aardwolf’s prowess with the style.
