Lickinghole Creek Illuminatos
I’ll be the first to admit that I believe I’m becoming a Lickinghole Creek fanboy. Now,I’m not making the pilgrimage to their brewery in Goochland for any of the limited releases, but I must say that there’s rarely a time when I don’t snag a bottle or three of theirs off the shelves when available. When I spy something new, like this Illuminatos, it’s pretty much a given that I’ll end up shelling out more than I had planned.
And this 11.3% ABV Russian Imperial Stout was well worth the money spent. Illuminatos is brewed with ten different specialty grains and then set aside in rum casks for a period of time. The result is a beer that is full flavored with an excellent roast and just enough rum influence to let you know something is going on behind the scenes without actually letting you in on the secret.
Appearance
Illuminatos pours an opaque, charcoal black with a dense cap of brown foam.
Aroma
A solid roast leads the way for a subtle char, booze, woody notes, soft rum and a touch of vanilla.
Taste
A roasty char, touch of licorice, wood and a pretty solid bitterness dominate from start to finish. The hop bite surges briefly before fading to the lasting, lightly drying finish. A moderate sweetness does its best to temper the hops. The rum lingers in the background while vanilla comes out more as the full-bodied brew warms in the glass.
Overall
Illuminatos is a solid offering from Lickinghole Creek. I love the roast and robust nature, but would love to see just a bit more rum in the mix. I will certainly be on the look out for more of this big stout in my weekly beer runs.
Rating: 4/5
