Alvinne Podge Belgian Imperial Stout

Brewed by Picobrouwerij Alvinne
Style: Imperial Stout
Heule, Belgium

This really isn’t even all that close to an imperial stout. It’s a dark brown, but not close to black. Surprisingly light in color. This is really more of an imperial brown ale than an imperial stout in both appearance and flavor. Sweet. Not overly complex.

11.2 oz. bottle - pitch black with slight head and little carbonation; strong alcohol aromas hit first followed by slight spice and malts; alcohol is strong going down and a little rough, but begins to mellow out with a mix of figs and brown sugar

Pours a near opaque black, but light does indeed pass through it giving a caramel color with red hues when looked at under direct light. Nice forever-present tan head that leaves its mark all the way down the snifter. Aroma is pretty strong alcohol, dark fruits (subtle), sugars, spices, sweet malts. Nose shows more characteristics of a Belgian Ale than of an Imperial Stout...intriguing. Taste is fantastic. Minimal roasted malt notes (still present), figs, dates, molasses, all with a great alcohol presence. Strangely yeasty with a good amount of carbonation. Again, bizarre for this style but good none-the-less. Finishes with sweet malts mixed into a hoppy bite. Mouth feel is completely off for an Imperial Stout, far too carbonated. Overall closer to a Belgian Dark Ale, but enjoyed every sip.

Flaske. Denne øl er jeg forelsket i. Langt mere balance end de fleste andre impys med en del brændte og bitre toner men aldrig for meget. Diskret kaffe og en lille smule chokolade gør at alkoholen er helt gemt væk. Fantastisk øl.

Bottle... Very dark, caramel-colored ale with a huge, frothy, khaki-colored head. Terrific retention. Cocoa, vanilla and dark roasted coffee aroma. Flavor wise, overbearing alcohol dominates, but strong anise, molasses and chocolate almost hold their own. Mega-sweet, like most foreign stouts (which I consider this to be). Medium to full-bodied with an oily mouthfeel and lively carbonation. Sweet, dark roasted, mocha finish. Very warming!

6oz sample form a bottle. Cinnamon and chocolate, milky aroma, with interesting notes of basil. Deeply aromatic with lots of herbs. If the taste followed the aroma we’d have a 4+ for sure. Unfortunately, the palate is harsh and rough, with notes of cherries and unmalted, gristly wheat. Heavy, fruity yeasts abound. Big-ish in terms of yeast -- an unusual beer, but close to the style. Lacking in roast and body.

Bottle. Pours a muddy brown with a small light tan head that fades to a ring and leaves minimal lacing. Aroma of sweet malt, caramel, alcohol, dark fruit, light chocolate, and light roasted malt. Taste is the same as aroma. Medium full mouthfeel with a moderate amount of bitterness and warm but never hot alcohol. Very good.

Bottle: This is an intriguing beer. It pours with the muddy blackness you’d expect of a beer labeled "stout" but also has the big, tightly woven head of white foam you expect from Belgian ales. Likewise, the the aroma is a crossbreed of a sugary sweet ale with an underlying pull of chocolate. The flavor isn’t quite as schizophrenic. Instead, this is clearly in the Belgian style, although the sugars are quite subtle. The alcohol has a distinct warming quality on the palate. Then, only as a whisper, one might detect a glimmer of cocoa well disguised within a splendedly assembled, totally unique beer. (#3205, 11/16/2007)