Abbey Brewing Father Theodore’s Imperial Stout

Brewed by Florida Beer Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Melbourne, Florida USA

Very dark brown. Peachy, hoppy aroma with coffeeish undertone. Sort of a thin body, with a deep burnt fruit character. Some coffeeish, nutty notes mid-palate, followed by a splash of alcohol in the finish. Has a thickness of body that lends a pleasing creaminess.

Quite a unique imperial stout. Very good. Matly, chocolate, and delicious. Not as thick as some, but delicious.

Draft at brewpub. Poured a black color with an average creamy light brown head that mostly lasted and produced fair lacing. Medium roasted sweet coffee aroma. Medium to full body with a smooth texture. Good complex roasted flavor with a medium sweet finish of moderate duration. Good brew.

(Draught at Abbey Brewing Company, Miami Beach) Black color, brown head. Quite mild malty aroma, milk and toffee notes. Licorice flavor, malty, chocolate, some cocoa. A bit thin, but still tasting good.

Pours totally black opaque with lovely 1/2 inch thick tan head that disappears pretty fast. Mild, subdued, timid nose that offer whiffs of vanilla extract. Smooth, almost oatmealy. Vinous with lots of machiatto throughout. Unbelievably undetectable alcohol for 9.5.

This is a solid but not over the top Imperial Stout. This stuff hides its alcohol so well I could drink this stuff like Kool-Aid. Appearance was an inky black with a panty-hose colored head. Aroma was a pleasant roastiness, but nothing like those imperial stouts aged in bourbon barrels. Flavor was very mild but pleasant; chocolatey, roasty, and nice. Mouthfeel was smooth and pleasant. This was a very nice beer that was easy to drink, particularly for the style. I had this on tap at The Abbey in Miami Beach.

Lately I’m coming across a lot of great imperial stouts, and this is up there with the best of them. Pours inky black with a minimal head, common (but not necessarily typical) for the style. Aroma of coffee and vanilla. To me, there are two types of imperial stouts, those that evoke a port wine, and those that have that great roasty flavor. This one seemingly bridges that -- all roasty up front, with a long port middle, and more roast on the back end. Chewy and delicious, with a mildly boozy undercurrent throughout. Just the right alcohol-ish finish. Highly recommended.

23 oct 07. Draft @ Abbey Brewing Co. in Miami Beach. Super black, dark brown head. Aroma of sweet toffee, coffee, cocoa. Flavors of anise, caramel, molasses, coffee, cocoa. Strong alcohol. An ideal, rich bodied, perfect Imperial Stout.