33 – VooDoo Black Magick
This beer has had much hype coming into our area. VooDoo Brewing is 90 minutes up I-79 from Pittsburgh but I think we were the last market to get our hands on some. I’ve met Matt Allyn many times and have the utmost respect for what he’s doing in Meadville and Titusville. He’s brewing what he likes and honestly I’ve never had so many unique beers from one brewery. Cheers to his creativity and hard work!
VooDoo Black Magick
brewery: VooDoo Brewing – voodoobrewery.com
style: Imperial Stout
abv: 15.5%
serving size: 12oz
glass used: pint
price: $11.00
Overview
This is an Imperial Stout that is of great strength and complexity. We then gently age that beer in Elaigh Craig 13 1/2 year old Bourbon Barrels for 6 months to 1 yr. and then primed and bottled to bottle condition for continued aging and cellar life. Black Magick should be able to be aged up to about 5 years, to heighten the complexity and smooth nature of this beer.
What I think
Right off the bat all I could smell was alcohol and not in a good way. It poured the blackest I’ve seen a beer in quite some time. This would be a rare case where my family is right saying a dark beer is strong. In fact I think this has more aroma kick than the Weyerbacher XIII. There was a thin cocoa colored head on the pour as I kept staring at it wondering if I’d be sucked into my beloved Foundry Ale Works pint glass.
The bourbon taste I expected was actually stronger than anticipated. Reminded me of the first time I had a Shipwreck Porter. It was a punch in the teeth of bourbon. Once I got past the strong alcohol tones I my palate went into spaz mode of the delicious chocolate malt back end. Unfortunately the alcohol came back and I had a hard time getting this out of my mouth.
This would have been a B+ or A- easy if it wasn’t for strong alcohol taste I kept getting. Tone it down a bit and I think it would be one of the best imperial stouts ever made. At $11 a bottle I would only suggest it once though I may have to buy one to age for a year or 2.
Spoon’s rating: C+
