#american double

[thirrst]

probably you should buy omnipollo's FATAMORGANA immediately if you ever see it anywhere

[bevnerd]

Beer Review: Uinta Brewing's Labyrinth Black Ale (American Double/Imperial Stout)

labyrinth (lab-y-rinth) 1. A complicated irregular network of passages or paths in which it is difficult to find one's way; a maze. 2. An intricate and confusing arrangement. 3. An amazingly delicious Imperial Stout that is part of the Crooked Line Series from Uinta Brewing Company located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Uinta Brewing Co. showed up on my craft beer radar a few months ago. I was up in Chattanooga, TN visiting one of my favorite spirit stores, Beverage World, when I came across a bottle from their Crooked Lines Series (it's their big beer or 750ml) Cockeyed Cooper's Bourbon Barrel Barley Wine Ale (say that 3x fast!) It caught my eye because the name alone...but also because the guy on the label looked like a cartoon version of Jaime Hyneman from Mythbusters (I know that picking beer by label is not the best policy because "you can't judge a brew by it's cover" but cut me some slack, I really didn't have to time to think and plus given too long to decide on something..I become my own worst enemy!) So far I haven't had a bad brew from Uinta Brewing Co. thus far (I've also had their Detour Imperial IPA (Another gem in the Crooked Line Series) and their Hop Notch IPA (a great tasting American IPA in 12oz bottle form) so let's see if the Labyrinth lives up to my ridiculous hype that I've been in my head! Review is based on Appearance, Smell, Taste and Overall. Appearance: As soon as I pop the cork, literally, it pours a pitch black syrupy sinister brew with an incredible finger-thick roasted mocha color head. I notice their is very little lacing but an incredible syrup texture that seems to cling to my glass and if you put it up to the light you can get some very faint ruby red highlights. Seriously, light barely seems to get in or escape from this pitch black brew (imagine the blood that pumps through a death metal heart of a Pirates of Dark Water adventure!) Smell: A rich dark chocolate and roasted caramel malts fill my nose and then follows hints of black licorice and what seems like oak nibs and then comes that nice hint of booze. This is a very complex smelling brew with a lot of deep characteristics, I can't wait to try this so I'm not going to waste any of your or my time and get to my next favorite part of reviewing beer! Taste: This incredibly complex brew taste just as complex as it does smell. Just blown away by all the intense, no middle of the road flavor that seems to challenge my taste buds as I slowly enjoy each sip! The dark chocolate, roasted caramel, licorice, oak nibs and booze all swirl around in my mouth at once as I try to grasp what it is that is in my glass. This is definitely a slow sipper and something I would enjoy by a fire pit with amazing friends and great conversations. Simply put...Uinta has done it again! Overall: This was definitely an experience, I'm still trying to figure out what it is exactly that my mouth has gone through. It's definitely a "labyrinth" of flavor and just when you think you get caught up or lost in one flavor it won't be long until another incredible note comes along to help you get lost again! Though you pick up on a booze tinge it's not very aggressive and so you don't get that alcohol warmth. This brew is definitely something to be shared amongst friends and besides...no one likes an stingy asshole! JBear vs Craft Beer Rating: I give Labyrinth an A+! If you're a fan of the Double Stout then I suggest you check it out! Beer Stats:  13.2% ABV IBUs 56 Size: 750 ml bottle 

Season: Year Round  Until next time beer nerds remember..Drink Responsibly and Cheers! 

Links:

Uinta Brewing: http://www.uintabrewing.com

Beverage World: http://www.ourbeers.com

JBear vs. Craft Beer Show: http://blip.tv/jbearvscraftbeer

[beerwedrank]

Brewing Company: Fort Collins Brewing; Colorado Name: Double Chocolate Stout Style: American Double / Imerial Stout ABV: 8.1% Serving type: draught Price: $6.50 at WOB

Aroma:  Smells like dark chocolate and coffee - very light scent.

Appearance:  Beautiful thick thumb sizes light tan head, great retention. Deep brown, almost black opaque color. Slight lacing, okay retention on lacing.

Taste: Tastes surprisingly light. Very creamy. Light carbonation. Goes down very easy. Not much of a chocolate flavor, really - more milky. Velvety on tongue, smooth swallow. Feels like drinking dark chocolate milk but with a lighter flavor.

Finish: Very little aftertaste. For and 8.1% I don't feel the alcohol at all.

Not super impressed... the more I drink the less impressed I am with it.

Rating: 3/5

Recommended, but mostly because it's a limited brew.

<3, c.