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Coffee Beers #2 (25.VI.11): Black Xantus – Nectar Ales, California

She was used in the first pairing of art work that made me try out different beers. Overall this is a really nice beer. I remember that day since I had aged the ale for about a year to increase the alcohol content from 11% to 13%.

Molasses… Some beer producers mention coffee, others mention espresso. O: Complicated brew from N California hemp country, which only makes sense and it's what I hoped I would find. Followed quickly by intense sweetness, chocolate, then sweet fruit or fruit-like goo; see aroma.

Comments - The first batch was Christmas 2010 in remembrance of my beloved mother. Flavors: Rich Black Cherries, Black Cherry yogurt, dark fruits like raisins, plums, dates, blackberries, Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, chocolate milk shake,roasted coffee grains, mocha, espresso, chocolate abuelita hints, vanilla, oak, bourbon, dulce de leche caramel, port wine, coconut, marshmallows, graham crackers, roasted coffee grains, mocha, espresso, chocolate abuelita hints, vanilla, oak, bourbon, dulce de leche caramel, port wine, coconut, marshmallows, graham crackers, molasses.

COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION: Black Xantus is a rare bird and the first new release from Nectar Ales in Years. Barrel aged for 6 months in combination of Bourbon, retired Firestone Union and wine barrels and Infused with fair-trade, organic coffee from local roaster Jobella. Rich bourbon and coffee aromas greet the senses. Complex chocolate and tobacco flavors fill the palate. This beer displays a full-bodied mouth-feel and an overall balanced presentation. It would be a perfect pairing to rich chocolate desserts. Black Xantus is one of my favorite beers that got me into trying different craft beers. I would explain the story behind this beer but it is better explained in my last years birthday review:. So rather than break down into details, let us see what the 2014 version of one of my most favorite beers has turned out to be. Another birthday has come and hope for many years of anime beers! Aromas: Rich dark fruits like dark cherries, raisins, plums, blackberries, Rich mocha coffee, dulce de leche caramel, coconut, vanilla, oak bourbon, flan, choco flan, dark chocolate, Kahlua, roasty notes, milkshake, port wine notes, hazelnut, marshmallow smores, fudge cake, rocky road ice cream, sweetened condensed milk on bananas, pecan pie, brown sugars, chocolate chip cookies and almond joy. Flavors: Rich Black Cherries, Black Cherry yogurt, dark fruits like raisins, plums, dates, blackberries, Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, chocolate milk shake,roasted coffee grains, mocha, espresso, chocolate abuelita hints, vanilla, oak, bourbon, dulce de leche caramel, port wine, coconut, marshmallows, graham crackers, roasted coffee grains, mocha, espresso, chocolate abuelita hints, vanilla, oak, bourbon, dulce de leche caramel, port wine, coconut, marshmallows, graham crackers, molasses. Sweetened condensed milk, Tres Leches cake, anise and mint chocolate chip ice cream. Aftertaste: Dark fruits linger along with roasted coffee mocha, vanilla, dulce de leche, flan, bourbon, Black cherry yogurt, dark chocolate and an earthy like finish. No alcohol in the taste even if 11% ABV. Smooth, creamy, syrupy and silky mouthfeel, pitch black Center of a Black Hole dark body and sipping drinkability. Overall: Should already be in the World Class category! Next to the best coffee beers in the world, this is outstanding and in many categories, simply dominating. This beer can age forever or drink fresh. It seems fresh you get more of the fresh cherry and chocolate forward while the older version is more dark fruit and oak goodness. With its new label, still the same Black Xantus that I fell for long long ago. These are the types of beers I always go back to, like Trois Pistoles and St. Well, hope we have many more pairings and many more years to go. Anime Corner: Asmodeus from Shinrabansho is the daughter of Asutarotto from that same card series. Though she may be a demon, she is of pure heart, but though evil women be, this can be said for even the utmost good. She was used in the first pairing of art work that made me try out different beers. Her main relation to Black Xantus has to do with her colors which pair with the Black Xantus background of the Blue Moon and the blue night sky. Xantus, being the humming bird, she rises to impart the great flavors of complex dark fruits, cherries, coffee, chocolate, bourbon and more into the beer. In this pairing she is kicking back and relaxing. That is pretty much what happens after 4 years of just laying down. She gazes into the soul of those who court her and while she may seem seductive and sweet in nature Like a Rose which the Xantus drinks she will bring forth a dangerous smite! Cellared for 4 years. COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION: Black Xantus is a rare bird and the first new release from Nectar Ales in Years. Barrel aged for 6 months in combination of Bourbon, retired Firestone Union and wine barrels and Infused with fair-trade, organic coffee from local roaster Jobella. Rich bourbon and coffee aromas greet the senses. Complex chocolate and tobacco flavors fill the palate. This beer displays a full-bodied mouth-feel and an overall balanced presentation. It would be a perfect pairing to rich chocolate desserts. Black Xantus is one of my favorite beers that got me into trying different craft beers Aside from Lost Abbey and Arrogant Bastard and was one which also got me into collecting beer labels. The first time I tried it was Christmas eve in 2010 after I had saved the this beer for about 1 year and was one that was told to be paired with chocolate dessert. I had saved it in remembrance of my departed mother. Back then when I tried it, it was so damn rich and paired so well with chocolate cheesecake that I knocked out for a bit. Even before the days of Black Tuesdays, Grey Mondays, super barrel aged chocolate beers, this one was one of my special ones. Hence the reason it sits to this day in the center of my beer bottle collection in the wall. I did not know much about barrel aged beers back then but after trying so many different beers but this was still my most favorite. So today, I bring here a bottle, aged for 4 years, to remember my mom and the day she gave birth to me. Today I am 31 years old, the age at which my mom had me. So bringing this beer out makes this even more the special occasion. Aromas: Rich coffee mocha, dulce de leche caramel, coconut, dark cherries, dark raisins, plums, blackberries, vanilla, oak bourbon, flan, choco flan, dark chocolate, milkshake, port wine notes, hazelnut, marshmallow smores, fudge cake, rocky road ice cream, sweetened condensed milk on bananas, pecan pie, brown sugars, chocolate chip cookies, Kahlua, roasty notes and almond joy. Flavors: Cherries, Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, chocolate milk shake, roasted coffee grains, mocha, espresso, chocolate abuelita hints, vanilla, oak, bourbon, dulce de leche caramel, port wine, coconut, marshmallows, graham crackers, dark fruits like dark cherries, raisins, plums, choco flan, crème brulee, hazelnut nectar, pecan pie, rocky road ice cream, sweetened condensed milk, almond joy, banana notes, reminiscent of chocolate cheesecake, fudge cake, Kahlua, brown sugar and mild anise. Aftertaste: Roasty coffee lingers along with the sweet vanilla and caramel bourbon with the cherry and chocolate and finishing earthiness. No alcohol in the despite this thing is probably at 15% ABV after 4 years. A sense of smoothness with a sipping quality a thick almost syrupy mouth feel. Overall: Right next to Mocha Wednesday is what this is, one of the best mocha chocolate coffee beers out there. After 4 years, it still grew into some great complex stuff. Sometimes, when it comes to beers, it is always best to remember where you started. Bernardus 12abt, I might as well have missed out on Beer, the lost treasure of taste and art!! Anime Corner: Asmodeus from Shinrabansho is the daughter of Asutarotto from that same card series. Though she may be a demon, she is of pure heart, but though evil women be, this can be said for even the utmost good. She was used in the first pairing of art work that made me try out different beers. Her main relation to Black Xantus has to do with her colors which pair with the Black Xantus background of the Blue Moon and the blue night sky. Xantus, being the humming bird, she rises to impart the great flavors of complex dark fruits, cherries, coffee, chocolate, bourbon and more into the beer. In this pairing she is kicking back and relaxing. That is pretty much what happens after 4 years of just laying down. She gazes into the soul of those who court her and while she may seem seductive and sweet in nature Like a Rose which the Xantus drinks she will bring forth a dangerous smite! This is the Brewmaster Reserve 2013 Label: A deep complex brew that is black as night with a strong roasted malt character and Full body. Brewed in December 2011, this stout was aged for 12 months in bourbon casks from Kentucky. This extended aging presents hints of vanilla and oak. The fragrance told me everything. Flan rich aromas with the caramel, vanilla, bourbon, oak, chocolate cake, coconut, bananas, chocolate, dark fruits, cherries, peaches sweetened condenced milk. The flavors are similar with the coconut, bourbon, slight anise, vanilla, oak, dulce de leche caramel, slight flan and sweetened condenced milk, slight soy sauce, molasses, chocolate chip, cookies and cream, raisin, bananas, almost like a rum aspect, slight chocolate cake, slight mocha and almost like a coca cola after taste but still bourbon strong. However, it is still a really great beer with awesome dessert complexity. Almost like a strong beer that tries to be close to what some of the best are but a ¼ step to half step down. Which is not bad at all. Still pretty surprisingly good and delicious but not up to the most mind blowing, only ¾ mind blowing. If no Black Xantus or Barrel aged Old Rasputin is found, then go with this. Hell, if no other bourbon barrel aged beer is around, still get this. The first batch was Christmas 2010 in remembrance of my beloved mother. I remember that day since I had aged the ale for about a year to increase the alcohol content from 11% to 13%. I am actually doing so again and will have what will be my 3rd batch along with my friend Chino and his bro. Since this beer is hard to find, I was able to find it once again and did not dare miss out on the opportunity to try the beer as is at 11% alcohol. I wanted to see how things have changed since I first started getting into different beers. This beer has been with me since Lost Abbey so I figured now that I am more rounded in the arts of taste, I had to try the beer again to see what my taste buds can find. To start off, this beer is made with roasted malts and actual Mexican Jobella coffee beans. Bourbon and Vanilla flavors are actually in this beer as well as flavors of dark cherries, plums, blackberries and other dark fruits. There is alot of hoppy yet nice bitterness to the brew that hits you good inside. Very unique beer and a simple yet most important treasure of mine. The original bottle still stands in my wooden book shelve next to my Lost Abbey art collection. This beer is a dessert beer and is best had with a chocolate cake. I will knock you out like it did to me back in 2010…. LOL since I found this beer hidden at the Bevmo, I sure as hell did not want to pass the opportunity to try it once more before diving head on to the 13% one which will knock me out..