Alvinne Podge Belgian Imperial Stout

Brewed by Picobrouwerij Alvinne
Style: Imperial Stout
Heule, Belgium

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.

Pours dark brown/black, with a big, foamy, well-retained light brown head. Smells of typical Belgian yeast, mild funk, some roastiness which was mostly masked. Some dark fruit and candy sugar in there also. Big carbonation. The flavor was a mix of Belgian yeast, dark fruits, and a big dose of chocolate which mostly lingered in the aftertaste. Semi-bitter finish from the chocolate and malts, wasnt much of Belgianess in the finish of it. Up front is a different story however. Really unique brew. Usually I’m not a fan of belgian style stouts, but this wasnt bad.

Bottle. Head is initially large, frothy/fizzy, light brown, mostly lasting. Body is hazy dark brown, bottle conditioned. Aroma is moderately malty (chocolate milk, caramel, toasted bread), lightly yeasty (basement, cobwebs), with notes of raisin, alcohol, prune, vanilla. Flavor is moderately to heavily sweet, lightly bitter. Finish is lightly to moderately sweet, lightly to moderately bitter. Medium to full body, velvety texture, lively carbonation, moderately alcoholic. Not very stouty, more like a vague Belgian strong brown ale of some kind. Lactose sweetness. Some nice aspects (lasting head, rich mouthfeel), but overall not quite what I hoped (expected something closer to DDB Export Stout or Ellezelloise Hercule).

Thanks Jason. The beer pours to an unfiltered cola. A thin, slick, creamy light khaki head. The aroma is sort of like De Dolle Oerbier Reserva. Winey, vinous, Belgian yeasts, dark fruits. Its a rich vinous port wine like chocolate stout. Very strange but awesomely unique. Rich, creamy, medium-full body.

Bottle. Poured a dark black color with a huge sized tan head. This one poured almost all head. Aromas of roast, chocolate, and some dark fruits. Tastes of roast, caramel, and dark fruits. Way to over carbonated with detracted from the overall pleasure of drinking this one.

Poured an opaque black color with a large tan head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of roasted malts, sweet chocolate, dried fruits, and a bit of alcohol as well. Taste was acrid, anise, dark chocolate, dry roastiness, with alcohol overpowering like i’ve never tasted in an Imperial Stout. Color me unimpressed.

Bottle. Popped the cap and this one exploded, I managed to save most of it. Nice black body with huge head. aroma is of yeast, sweet milk chocolate, citrus hops. Flavor is sweet, a little earthy, chocolate and roast. Sweet creamy flavor and mouthfeel. A bit over carbonated.

11.2oz bottle. thanks to blackforestco for this one. pours muddy brown with creamy off-white head. nose has mostly sweet dark fruits and hint of cherries. flavor is very dark fruity, with sweet raisins and caramel. not very imperial stoutish, where’s the chocolate, roast, coffee notes? a lot more like a quad/belgian strong ale than anything else. this beer would work well if it wasn’t pretty hot. the alcohol doesn’t burn but it has a very numbing finish. the finish is also very dry and almost woody. it’s a fine beer but it is no stout.