De Struise: Black Damnation 35: Masters Of Darkness V (Belgium: Imperial Stout: 12% ABV)
Visual: Black. Still. Thin gray dash of head.
Nose: Fudge and caramel. Wisp of smoke. Toasted marshmallows. Toasted teacakes. Maple syrup. Liquorice touch.
Body: Very smooth, initially slightly empty but builds quickly. Bready – brown bread. Blended whisky. Liquorice. Toffee. Toasted teacakes.
Finish: Liquorice. Toasted teacakes. Fatty butter. Dry toffee. Twix bars. Maple syrup sheen. Light charring.
Conclusion: Something I have encountered with a couple of maple syrup linked impy stouts recently is that they have felt slightly light. That is something that I mention as it has come up again here. The thing is, in this case it has also spent an amazing length of time for a beer in oak – 5 years in fact – which would do a lot of smoothing by itself. So I am unsure if it is that or the maple syrup that has caused it to feel light, but with the few I have encountered recently I am wondering if there is something in maple syrup barrel aged beers that create that lighter effect.
I dunno, will have to keep an eye on it in future beers.
Before reaching the body I was super happy, aroma was everything I wanted. Big sweetness, with a toasted, bready weight and lots of toasted marshmallow promising a chewy body to come. Lots of good stuff.
The first sip I was thinking impressively smooth for the abv, but also surprisingly empty, or poss I should say subtle if I am feeling kind. Like, subtle can work, but if I’m drinking a big 12% abv impy stout I kind of come to it for the BIG!
It does build fairly quickly from that light start but is always very smooth. I find the flavours, bready, slight whisky touched and toffee, while perfectly you know, fine, a bit of a let down especially considering the aroma.
The finish is better, possibly as it seems the sheen has a long time to linger and really let the flavours register. You get the maple syrup, toasted teacakes and such back. Not as good as the aroma but those promised flavours do get a chance to come out and roam. The mix of chocolate, caramel and bready give a real Twix style here.
Over all it is… ok. I think either the huge ageing, the maple syrup, or possibly both has made it a smoother lighter style that is not for me. Its not just the texture, though I do like a bit of weight, but more that I want bolder flavours in my impy stout. There is a place for subtle flavours, but its not in a 12% abv monster you can’t drink a lot of – a big abv needs to give me a lot extra to justify that abv for me.
It is … fine … but for the cost and abv it is a let down.
Background: De Struise! Makers of BIG beers and one of the wild cards of the amazing Belgian beer scene. The fact they are on over 35 Black Damnations makes me feel old. I can remember hearing about the early numbered ones years ago. Heck apparently there are five or more of the Master of Darkness sub style. Anyway, this one is bourbon whisky maple barrel aged for five years. I wonder which way around that goes? I would presume bourbon barrel aging first, then treated with maple? I dunno. Or maybe they use one cask then the other. No idea. Grabbed this from Independent Spirit. Music wise I figured I could go with plays off the beer name with either Master Of Puppets with Metallica, or Prince Of Darkness with Ozzy. Decided to plump for Master Of Puppets.
