Hammerheart Olaf the Stout

This is the second time I've tapped a Hammerheart brew at the Blue Nile, but the first time I've reviewed their beer from our taps. The first one was British Invasion, and I reviewed that from a growler that I received from Dave A., and opened before I tapped the keg. Other HH brews I reviewed were from the growlers I picked on my visit in late December.

Here are the notes I took on Olaf the Stout (such a great name, by the way):


Hammerheart Olaf the Stout. Rye malt, oak-aged Imperial Stout, 9% ABV.

Solid blackness, with a lush dark tan head, lasting long and leaving lace. Beautiful.

Aroma: Has it all going on. Deep, dark, massive malt, flavors of char, molasses, espresso, chocolate, and peppery whispers.

Taste: Thick, rich, mouth-filled texture. Floods the mouth and tantalizes the tongue. All those flavors found in the nose unload on the palate. All manner of dark, rich flavors fall out, the chocolate, the toffee, all ending on a pleasant dry note. Great balance, perfect attenuation, with a lovely bittersweet finish. This has everything I want in a stout, imperial or otherwise. One righteous stout form Hammerheart. Mmm. I'll say it again: mm. Wait, one more: mmm, mm.

and here are the words from the brewery: 

Named after the brutal Norwegian king who ended the Pagan-era in Norway, Olaf the Stout is a rye stout with distinct malt character, hopped with Cascade and aged in Oak. It's color is as black as Olaf's heart.