Alvinne Podge Belgian Imperial Stout

Brewed by Picobrouwerij Alvinne
Style: Imperial Stout
Heule, Belgium

2003 bottle thanks to Santa. Poured very dark brown (almost black) and despite my vigorous pour, there was basically no head. Aroma is slightly roasted malts, dark chocolate and dark fruits. Taste comes in sweet with raisons and fruity esters, mildly roasted chocolate, Belgian yeast, and mild alcohol burn.

Black with huge beige lasting head. Sweet aroma with light roasted malt. Flavor is sweet with roasted malt, caramel, coffee and chocolate. Not that powerfull as most imperial stouts. But still lovely! Nice alcohol burn in the end.

Bottle. [Courtesy of yespr, another great session @ yespr] Huge creamy thick head that really lasted. Muddy light brown colour. Excellent lacework. Aroma of light sour notes of grain, toasted malt, fruit. Over the palate moderated sour notes. Medium bodied with a soft carbonation. Light sour and sweet notes. Light sour finish.

11.2 oz. bottle 2003. Dark brown color with a ridiculously large, sudsy head. Aroma is both sweet(dark chocolate, raisins, light roasted malt) and mildly sour. Flavor is very tart, but not the lactic sourness normally associated with stouts. More of a vinegary sourness that I love in Femish Sours, but not at all in this beer. I can barely taste anything beyond the sourness, perhaps a bit of the chocolate and an odd metallic flavor as well. Given the incredibly high carbonation and the sourness, I am wondering whether or not this is the intention of the brewer or does this bottle have an infection? Mouthfeel destroyed by the carbonation.

It pours a glass full of foam, with big bubbles, maybe overfermented; when the foam is gone, a black beer appears. The aroma has some roasted malt, light caramel and delicate liquorice, where the high bottle fermentation has traces too; there is as well a touch of nuts, medium roasted. Good body structure; the flavor has a good mix of malt (and a bit of its sweetness), caramel and roasted malt; it has the necessary bitterness; very good final because the roasted malt is not too invasive; quite warming. An English Imperial Stout, with a touch of originality; very good.

Bottle 2003 vintage: Pours a dark reddish brown with a large, fluffy beige head. Aroma is fruity, malty, and a bit spicey. Impy Stout? Are you sure? Has lots of Belgian aroma, but not very stoutish... Flavor is dark fruits, chocolate, some yeast, and more Belgian spices. A bit of apple cider. Not offensive by any means, but not what I’d consider a stout.

Dark beer with no head at all ( I think this is still the first version). Very complex aroma. Some chocolate, some coffee and a bit of sourness. Hard to describe. Some alcohol warmth at the end.

Dark brownpour huge gusher of an almond head that would not be tamed. Aroma is sour and roasty. Flavor is chocolate, a bit of roastiness, fruity esters and a touch of sourness. More chocolate in the aftertaste with some coffee. Full mouthfeel, lots of carbonation and just a creamy texture to it. Alcohol couldn’t be hidden anymore.