Alvinne Podge Belgian Imperial Stout

Brewed by Picobrouwerij Alvinne
Style: Imperial Stout
Heule, Belgium

Dark chocolate colored body. The head is a dense, billowing, cream colored monstrosity with excellent retention. Thick clumps of foam cling to the glass like immovable statues. The aroma shows milk chocolate, dark chocolate, scorched caramel, cream, vanilla, and a touch of coffee. A lightly funky, sourdough yeast overtone is present throughout the nose. The flavor is sufficiently chocolaty and creamy, with a touch of molasses sweetness. Dry oak and vanilla add complexity, while sour, funky yeast provides another interesting contrast. The sweetness that shows up front gives way to a dry, spicy, peppery finish. The body is very smooth and medium in stature, with a lively mouthfeel. This one is definitely not your typical imperial stout. Its more like a foreign stout, particularly in its dry, slightly sour profile. I enjoyed this one.

Bottle brought to me by my daughter from Belgium. Pours a dark, but not opaque, brown with mahogany highlights and a non existent head. Bery nice, complex aroma of chocolate, coffee, molasses, and a hint of licorice. Medium/full body, but little to no carbonation as predicted by the total lack of head production, but there is still a nicely rich and smooth feel to it. Treacle sweetness up front followed by a tangy and spicy dry finish. It’s a shame that this had somehow lost carbonation. The cap seemed OK. This would be in the range of a 4 were it not for the downgrading required for appearance and palate. I’ll need to find another bottle, as this is definitely worthwhile. Not the usual impy stout by any means, but excellent nonetheless.

pours a clear brown with much bubbly carbonation overpouring head. very yeastie this one. yeastie malty aroma, initial carbonated tinge with maltiness. yeastie carbonation very belgian, no chocolate or mocha, good. If blind I would of thought a triple as oppossed to and Imperial Stout, interesting.

Bottle purchased at Liquor Max in Loveland, CO. Pours black with a small, creamy, light brown head, lasting with fair lacing. Aroma is heavy malt (cookie, caramel, chocolate, nutty), light hops (grass), average yeast (dough, leather) with notes of dates and wood. Full bodied, gritty texture, lively carbonation, and a bitter finish. Average duration, light sweetness, moderate acidity and bitterness.

Bottle from State Line. Deep blackish brackish pour with huge 4-finger tan head; just an amazing head for a beer this big! The aroma was chocolate malt, chocoff, licorice, some nuts, and some slight funky assy notes. The taste was dark malty, with molasses, chocoff, and some late yeasty funk. Medium palate heft that seems to water out a bit late, stays rather dry, and is not as complex as I’d like, but this one is still very good. One word of caution, though, it does get noticably hot late.

Poured a opaque brown with a tan head. Has a great taste of caramel, candied sugar, Belgium yeast, spices, and chocolate. Finishes medium bodied with a refreshing carbonation feel.

Poured a hazy dark brown with a tremendous tan head. The aroma is fairly chocolatey. Some Begian yeast character. The choclate flavor has a light fruity roasty component. Good wamrth. Medium body. Goes down smooth. Semi-dry finish with some bitterness.

Pours dark burgundy with a huge fluffy head that dissipates quickly. Aroma is dry malty with a hint of yeast. Aroma does nothing to give you a heads up on the flavor. Big carbonated chocolate milk taste that just explodes in the mouth, yet has a dryness that that gives way to the aftertaste and makes it very clean in the end. Very interesting twist on the style, I really likes it.