Name: Dual Singularity
Brewers: Equilibrium Brewery, The Eighth State Brewing Co. (United States)
Style: Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer (Base Style: Imperial Stout)
ABV: 12%
Review Year: 2020
The beer engineers of Equilibrium Brewery (NY) team up with South Carolina’s The Eighth State Brewing Co. for Dual Singularity–a tribute to New York’s famous Black and White cookies. Dual Singularity is a thick and massive Imperial Stout brewed with 30 lbs of Black and White cookies, Fiji and Bolivia cacao nibs, Madagascar and Tahitian vanilla, and a touch of lactose.
STYLE GUIDELINES
This beer is being evaluated as a Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer (30A) with the Imperial Stout (20C) as the base style in the context of the 2015 Beer Style Guidelines of the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP). The most current version of the guidelines can be found on the BJCP website.
TASTING NOTES
Dual Singularity flattens out as a murky dark brown beer close to black. Very aromatic and appetizing Oreos, chocolate crinkles, and vanilla greet the nose. Wood spice, cacao, and coffee liqueur surface secondarily.
This Imperial Stout is a highly potent full-bodied beverage with a thick, syrupy, yet soft mouthfeel and low carbonation level. Sweetness, in the form of confectioners’ sugar, is the primary flavor noted. But unlike other super sweet dessert stouts in the market, the sweetness here is relatively tamed and gives room to other characters. Beyond the initial impression of sweetness, rich and luscious chocolate crinkles and Swiss Miss cocoa powder meld with malty cacao and light nutty flavors. A soothing dark roast and toasty duality offset the sweetness. Even at 12% ABV, alcohol heat is muted but very faint black peppers were present. Dual Singularity leaves the palate sticky like chocolate syrup with more chocolate crinkles, vanillas, and Honey Stars cereals.
THE VERDICT
Dual Singularity is a thick pastry-driven Imperial Stout that showcases quite a diverse range of chocolate and cacao characters. In other words, this is liquid chocolate crinkles in a bottle and one that could jokingly be poured over your breakfast pancake. However, unlike with some ultra-sweet “dessert stouts” in the market today, the sweetness of this Imperial Stout is well-integrated and does its job to accentuate and not overpower the adjuncts. Outstanding.
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