Americas Hannas Cherry Imperial Stout

Sampled from tap on 11/10/2006 at Walter Payton’s Roundhouse in Aurora, IL... Very, very dark (nearly black). Mild carbonation with an slightly pink tan-colored head. Aroma is like liqueur-filled chocolate covered cherries. Flavor is overly sweet and very much like cherry cough syrup. Very difficult to drink and actually enjoy. A 10 oz brandy snifter of this brew is $8! Good thing I asked to try a sample of it first...

A collaborative effort between brewmaster Mike Rybinski and a homebrewer (named Hanna, obviously), the amazing thing about this Imperial is that the alcohol doesn’t show itself until it’s well into your system. Brewed with ten different grains, including a "vat" of cooked oatmeal, this is a malt lover’s delight. It smells of dark roasted malts, roasted barley, coffee, bittersweet chocolate, nuts, and a slight whiff of tart Montmorency cherries. Very smooth, the malts soothe & delight the tongue, the cherries’ tartness re-emerging in the finish. Very nice.

<font size=-4><a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp?PlaceID=3856>America’s Brewpub, Aurora, IL<font size=-1>