5.9/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 6
Texture 5
Overall 5.5
Short fill. Aromas are dark malt, toast with hints of fruit and molasses. Flavors are similar to nose. Bittersweet with almost flat carbonation. Good chance I won't finish it.
Tried
from Can
from Tavour
on 11 May 2026
at 04:13
6.8/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7
Flavor 6.5
Texture 7
Overall 6.5
6 ounce at the Scott's Addition location - so dark ruby it is basically black - still pour, syrupy texture coming out of the tap - nose is deeply boozy, heavy on the Cognac, but the Willett is unmistakably there - oak is dense in the nose - very sweet, presenting like a dessert liqueur or port, edging into cloying territory - very heavy on the booziness, which I suppose is to be expected here, but I had the Double Barrel Pallbearer the other day and it wasn't nearly this boozy - a lot of vanilla, dark fruit, whiskey, Cognac, deep oak, tawny port - finish is syrupy and fairly alcoholic - it's a bit too much - I'd say it needs time, but everything in the blend is several years old - I guess it needs even more time, or maybe some lower abv young beer to blend into it - not unenjoyable, just...a lot!
Tried
from Draft
at
The Veil Brewing Co. - Scott's Addition
on 05 May 2026
at 18:03
7.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Pint at the Scott's Addition location - turbid gold with a frothy head - nose is mostly dominated by the hops, which are fruity, grassy, and herbal - medium body and creamy texture - super dry and firmly bitter - notes of black pepper, spice, light bugginess - complex bitter, herbal, spicy finish, with some peppery phenolics coming through on the tail end before an earthy, rye-forward finish - it's solid.
Tried
from Draft
at
The Veil Brewing Co. - Scott's Addition
on 05 May 2026
at 17:18
8.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
6 ounce at the Forest Hill location - viscous black pour - slick, thick mouthfeel - a lot going on here - you can actually really taste the Utopias barrel here - notes of port, sherry, raspberry and blackberry jams (actually really jammy), plums, figs, chocolate liqueur - heavy on the port character, though, which I am really digging right now - damn good.
Tried
from Draft
at
The Veil Brewing Co. - Forest Hill
on 30 Apr 2026
at 23:10
8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
2026 batch - draft at Forest Hill location - viscous black pour - pretty solid example of the modern American imperial stout - slick mouthfeel and full body - nice balance of sweet, umami, and smoke - chocolate, smoke, dark fruit, light red wine notes, vanilla - finish is warming but not boozy - pretty solid example.
Tried
from Draft
at
The Veil Brewing Co. - Forest Hill
on 30 Apr 2026
at 22:50
8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
6 ounce at the Forest Hill location - dark ruby pour - nose of dark fruit, leather, and smoke - flavors of red wine tannins, oak, tart raspberry, light smoke, chocolate, cherry skins, light oxidation - finish is warming, with lingering oak and dark fruit - it does not live up to the original HotD iterations, but it’s dang good.
Tried
from Draft
at
The Veil Brewing Co. - Forest Hill
on 30 Apr 2026
at 22:32
7.4/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 7
Overall 6.5
Sharp and slightly bitter lemon peel. Astrginent almost. Maybe some unripe peach. Pours hazy golden yellow with decent head retention, some lacing. Bitter and slightly tangy finish. Tap at Shelter.
Tried
from Draft
at
Shelter
on 30 Apr 2026
at 20:54
5.3/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 5
Flavor 5
Texture 5
Overall 5
Light raspberry. Pours slightly hazy yellow with ok head. Cloying finish with some lime. Tap at Brewery Birds. 75555
Tried
from Draft
at
Brew Birds
on 30 Apr 2026
at 01:36
7.4/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 7
Overall 6.5
Smell isn't huge surprisingly. Pours murky yellow with good head and lacing. Lots of green onion that lasts for a while on aftertaste. Passion fruit, grapefruit. Tap at Dominion.
Tried
from Draft
at
Dominion Wine and Beer
on 26 Apr 2026
at 17:05
8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Draft pour at Zwanze Day 2026, at The Sovereign in Washington DC. Poured a clear yellow color with a medium sized head. This was a lot lighter than I expect it to be. Aroma was Belgiany lemon, with some light yeast. Flavor had some spicy clove and rye spice on the finish.
Tried
from Draft
at
The Sovereign
on 25 Apr 2026
at 23:57