Iron Fist Velvet Glove

You know the expression, "A Velvet Glove and an Iron Fist"? It was coined to refer to a regime that used a soft exterior to hide its punishingly unforgiving nature. This seems an apt description for our Velvet Glove. Its placid appearance and unparalleled smoothness hide the truth; this is one fiendishly strong stout. Rich, chocolaty espresso dominates the flavor profile, with a velvety smooth texture that will haunt your senses.

3.7

286 reviews

Vista, United States

Community reviews

4.0 Black with a brown head - Roasted malt aroma with some coffee notes - Good malt body that has some roasted malt notes and some bitterness from roasted malt and ho hints - The good malt goes into a long finish - This was rela good

3.7 bottle @ Belmont Party Supply / Dayton OH --- Aroma of roasted malt. Opaque black color, brown head, big waves of lace. Taste is big, smooth roasted malt that quickly adds black coffee and bitter chocolate. All flows to a long ending with light carbonation. This is strong enough to defy some of the "velvet" the tag line describes. Light alcohol deep in the finish.

3.2 Toast on nitro creamy. Malty Carmel and burnt grain. Thick head that reduces. Nice head on nitro. Lots of lacing.

3.9 What a riot. Pours deep brown with deep tan head that clings and clings. Coffee aroma. Bitter coffee up front. Hints of chocolate. Some malt sweetness in there too. Bitter mocha finish

3.9 Bottle pour at home, black pour thin head. Big rosted aroma, flavor is bold, coffee and some chocolate. Some bite, but overall pretty smooth.

3.6 Un mélange exquis de saveur avec une robe et un arome Magnifique - originalité et efficacité

3.8 Tap at Harry’s Hofbrau. Rich chocolate and moderate coffee blending well with a viscous oatmeal finish and nice dryness.

4.0 Bottle. Opaque dark brown beer with a large beige head. Aroma is malty with notes of caramel, molasses, vanilla, herbs, chocolate and coffee. Flavor is malty with notes of caramel, chocolate, molasses, bread, herbs and coffee. Well balanced.

3.5 This is pretty good: Considerable roast, chocolate, and some burnt notes. Not top-tier in category, but respectable. -- rated with beerbasher/winphone

4.0 Bottle from systembolaget sweden. Big and long lasting brown head. Big chocolate and cappuccino aroma. Chocolate taste with a fine sweetness and medium bitterness. Not so big body for a imp stout.

3.9 Bottled from Systembolaget. Bought a few years ago. Black with a small, beige head. Vinous chocolate in the aroma. Sweet flavour with chocolate and salty liquorice.

4.3 Bottle at home. I don’t usually comment on appearance, but this beer looks gorgeous with its black colour and thick brown head. The aroma consists of dark roasted malt, chocolate, black coffee, espresso, some dark fruity notes. Flavour is moderate to medium sweet with a moderate roasty hoppy bittersweet finish. Body is thick and full. Wow, lovely rich and thick Imperial Stout, I’d love to drink this one again!

3.8 Bottle. Dark brown body with a tanned head. Coffee aroma with toast, chocolate and light booze. Taste of chodolate, licorice, marzipan and roasted malt. Sweetness balanced with a robust bitterness.Lasting malty roasted finish. Quite nice.

3.7 Pitch black color. Lots of dark fruit roasted malt and molasses. Tons of roasted malt but not too acidic and somewhat sweet malty backbone. Fairly decent but imperial stout is a crowded area and this ain’t at the top

3.8 Thanks Dresden! Pours black and pretty thick with dark head. Aromas of tootsie rolls, dark fruit, and black coffee with sugar. Flavours are anise, dark fruit, burnt malts, coffee. Nice.

3.7 Bottle at Gents Bierfestival. Mocha, vanilla, coffee, dark fruit, dry, light hoppy bitterness. Nice.

4.1 22/VIII/15 - 37.5cl bottle @ 6de Gents Bierfestival - BB: n/a (2015-1112) Clear dark brown beer, small beige creamy head, little stable, non adhesive. Aroma: mocha, caramel, vanilla, coffee, dried fruits, alcohol, bourbon note? MF: soft carbon, medium to full body. Taste: dry start, mocha, coffee, bit of caramel, bitter hops, liquorish. Aftertaste: bitter hops, dry, coffee, cocoa powder.

3.8 Sampled @ Gents Bierfestival 2015 Das Bier ist schwarz und hat eine mittelgroße bräunliche Schaumkrone. Geruch nach Schokolade, Vanille, leicht alkoholisch. Geschmack schokoladig, erdig, Vanille, leicht alkoholisch.

3.9 Black with creamy head. Lots of bittersweet roasted malts. Light coffee and cocoa. Really smooth and silky.

3.8 At GBF. Californian stout with coarse, light beige head and near black colour. Lush imperial stout aroma of black chocolate, coffee grounds, ’natural’ iron, bayleaf, raisins; thick onset, dried plums, smooth and oily, filling body, touch dried banana, deep maltiness, chocolatey with a roasted touch, pleasant and accessible, creamy. Nice but a bit stereotypical.

3.9 Black colour, beige head. Aroma of coffee, chocolate, malts, vanilla. Bitter flavour, chocolate and caramel. Finish caramel, bitter coffee. (from taster glass @ Gents Bier Festival 2015)

3.8 (Thx! for sharing) Sampled bottled @ Gents Bierfestival 2015. Black, deep mocha head. Nose is soy sauce, licorice, big roast, big sweetness underneath it, coco puffs sweetness. Taste is herbal bittern spices, licorices, blueberry jam, big sugar, light roast. Licorice & a bit grainy body. Good but not aligned with personal preferences.

3.8 Deep dark beige head over black beer. Alcoholic (rum?)-like nose over classic burnt/roasted notes; some vanilla, wood, some fruit (nectarine?). Vanilla, spirit, bit milky/diary, and mildly roasted notes. Finish is more burnt. Well-bodied, slick to oily, alcoholheat. Far from bad, and the name fits.

3.7 Bottle at gent beer festival. Pours black, nose is chocolate, caramel, fruity, taste is dry roasted, sugary, chocolate.

3.5 Thick nearly black with big tan head. Aroma is roasty malt, licorice, chocolate and dark fruits. Licorice is a bit strong, not a flavour I love, but a decent beer, earning alcohol.

4.3 Velvet Glove pours an inky brownish black beer with a firm head of tan bubbles. Nose is alcohol and chocolate. taste is at first a bit sharp with alcohol leading but dark chocolate really comes through the middle to the end. the body is silky. liquid chocolate velvet. nice warming kick from the alcohol content as well. a very very nice imperial stout.

3.4 Aged I think 4.5 years. Muted flavour, I like bolder, but still drinkable and smooth. Much licorice character remained.

3.2 Bottle, 12C. Black with a large light tan head that lasts well. Aroma of mocha, alcohol, tar, molasses. Much sweeter and more chocolatey than suggested by the aroma. Molasses, oak, an odd but not unpleasant herbal note. There’s a little tar and coffee astringency at the end but the main chocolatey sweetness hangs around. Unfocussed stout smudged by loads of sweetness and booze.

3.5 bottle sample, poured a dark brown colour with a slight beige head. nose of sweet dark chocolate, roasted malts, char, raisins, licorice, and a clear alcohol notice in the end, some dark coffe notes, with a hint of vanilla, pretty classic imperial stout

5.0 Multi dimensions here. Big coffe and toffee aroma with a neat Belgian yeast aroma. Flavor is big and chewy with a wonderful full body experience.finishes with some warmth that was another great dimension to it.