With a tradition of releasing multiple vintages each year since 2007, there must have been many dozens of Eclipse vintages (barrel aged Totality stout by FiftyFifty in California) so far – and the few of those that I had, have been really beautiful, so I was looking forward to this 2019 bourbon vintage with golden label, generously shared by Craftmember. Medium thick, dense, greyish beige, open head, slowly dissolving over a jet black beer, not letting any light pass through except for a thin edge of copper around the edge. Intense and beguiling bouquet of mocha ice cream, vanilla-scenting oak wood, bourbon but refined and not overpowering, both milk and black chocolate bars, roasted brown bread, old furniture, dried blackcurrants, cassis, pecan nuts, pipe tobacco, beef stock, tawny port, soy sauce, apple blossoms, old brown honey. Densely sweet onset yet not sticky, raisins and dried figs, balanced with shades of teriyaki and slightly beef stock-like umami even though sweet remains the main factor at this stage; finely tingling carbonation, very full mouthfeel without being overly syrupy. Thoroughly dark-chocolatey core with layers of pecan nut and toffee, alongside hints of pipe tobacco, vague cassis and bayleaf, merging into a vanilla-oaky finish with softly drying tannins from the wood, a somewhat more outspoken roasty bitter element and warming bittersweet bourbon; spicy hops in an oldskool ‘American’ dosage pierce through, but they too blend in perfectly with the bittersweet malts, oak and bourbon. Richly flavoured and textured, highly sophisticated U.S. style ‘BBA’ stout – as good as any of the great legends in this style. Absolutely delicious and motivating to buy more of this series.

Bottle shared in London - cheers to Dave. Pours deep brown with a creamy beige head. Medium to big sweet flavour, brownies, cocoa, raisins, roast. Medium to full bodied with fine carbonation. Sweet finish, bittersweet cocoa, ashy roast, marshmallows. Well rounded.

Bottle at the columbus tasting 29/09/2022. Thanks to Wingman for this one. A opaque black coloured pour with a lasting light tan head. Aroma is semi sweet, nutty roast, bourbon, salty, caramel, mellow boozy. Flavour is composed of semi sweet, rounded, earthy roast, oily, woody roast, oily, praline, mellow funk, vinous, mellow cocconut. Palate is semi sweet, rounded, airy carbonation ok.

(Bottle, taster, Stockholm Beer & Whisky Festival, 9 Oct 2021) Black colour with frothy, beige head. Malty, roasted nose with coffee, dark chocolate, caramel, liquorice and a touch of bourbon. Malty, roasted taste with notes of dark chocolate, coffee, oak wood, bourbon, vanilla and a balanced roasty bitterness in a warming finish. Full body, with a certain sweetness. Solid ad well made imperial stout, rich and warming with a mellow wood character. Great beer.

Taster at SBWF 2021. (vintage 2019) Black with a small tan head. Coffee, vanilla, some oak and notes of dark fruit. Full body and with notes of warming alcohol.