Bouteille, courtoisie de Hogtownharry. De couleur noire brune et opaque. Nez de chocolat au lait (notes lactiques), de malt rôti doux aux notes terreuses, léger de chocolat noir, de café et de houblon herbeux avec des notes fruitées (cerises noires), de caramel toffee, de fumée de bois et de vanille. Ronde-moyenne en bouche avec un pétillement moyen et une texture riche et crémeuse. Goût de chocolat au lait et d’avoine (légèrement lactique) avec des notes de vanille et de levures fruitées (cerises noires, notes de prunes) lors de l’entrée en bouche auquel se rajoute rapidement un goût moyennement amer de malt rôti, de chocolat noir avec de petites notes de caramel toffee et de mélasse puis progressivement se rajoute un goût légèrement plus amer (et légèrement sec) de café noir (léger de café moka) ainsi qu’un goût de houblon herbeux avec des notes d’alcool et des traces de fumée et de noix. Post-goût long-moyen aux notes sèches, moyennement amer de rôti, de chocolat, léger de café et de houblon herbeux avec de faibles notes d’alcool, de noix et de fruits (moût de cerises).

Draught pint at Redbones on 12/10/2006. Had it at Redbones in November of 2005 too, but didnt rate it then.
Black with molasses and deep stained oak shades. Light tan head is large, modestly well-retained and laces somewhat. Clarity is medium to medium-low.
Hops seem most dominant at first, though leafy, lightly herbal (mint, wintergreen) and with plenty of juicy citrus. Not overly bitter. Seems like they did a good job not going overboard. Dark chocolate, dry and bitter, with plenty of cocoa, follows, as strong molasses notes keep things quite dry but give a stickiness to break up the otherwise powdery and grainy feel prior. Suggests quite a bit of dryness from the nose and quite strong on the dark malts. Not much in the way of oats breaks through and whlie there is a bit of cherry-like fruitiness, and a hint of some tar and banana esters, it’s tough to throw this in to a style. Medium to medium-high strength of aroma, very clean and sniffable. No warming in the nose from any alcohol.
Very curious flavor. At some times dry, others sweet and definitely sticky and a touch bittersweet to further confuse things. It dosent have the stark dryness matched by a velvety body of a dry stout, nor does it have the succulent malt sugars and creamy oat-like richness of a sweet stout. And going further, there dont appear to be any adjunct sugars and resulting esters (aside from a slight hint of banana)/fusels, nor any strange yeast characteristics. I’d probably just call it a stout. Hops are green, juicy, lightly citric and not overly bitter or involved in the flavor. Chocolate and dry coffee vie for the front seat, while some light vinous notes and moderate fruitiness perks up. Molasses, treacle and light anise, with a hint of tar sit on the finish but enough residual sweetness helps balance it and leaves it sitting on the palate more softly than were it not the case. A decent amount going on. Low amount of carbonation, but quite engaging, with a smooth, almost creamy texture. No alcohol felt in flavor.
From what I’ve read and experienced, Elysian bottles are highly inconsistent. Get this stuff on tap if possible.

Pours black with a tan head. The aroma brings lots of roast malt and caramel notes to the nose. The flavor is lightly swet, with plenty of smooth, bitter, roast malts. Lightly sweet, dry finish.

(Bottle 65 cl) Completely black and opaque with a light brown head. Aroma of roasted malt and vanilla. Medium body with plenty of hard roasted malt and a vague, underlying sweetness. Vanilla in the flavour also. A lightly burned edge, but no major bitterness. Courtesy of acertain. 061006

On Tap At Elysian Brewery Seattle. pours out a Great black with a rich tan head. a nice mix of roast and chocolate malt in this one.

Bottle provided by FrumptyDumpty @ Heavyweight Open House, thanks Ryan. Pours ridicolously black. The aroma is overly hoppy for my tastes, some roastiness in the background. Body is thin, which passes on to the thin taste. Some roastiness and coffee but too weak for me. Feels watery as well.