Back Road Christmas Ale 2003

Formerly brewed at Back Road Brewery
Style: Imperial Stout
LaPorte, Indiana USA

Black body with small tan head that vanishes fairly quickly. Aroma is medium sweet, date, roasty, some coffee, light chocolate. Taste is raisin, chocolate, coffee bitter. Medium-full body, yet watery.

Thick oily black with a thin dark tan head. Lightly sweet and roasted aroma with hints of strawberries. Nice smooth silky body had notes of chocolate, light spice and dark fruits. Gets much better as it warms. Finishes dry and roasty. Hides its alcohol very well. A pleasant imperial stout. Thanks bbb63!

Black brew. Only when held up to bright light is its burnt orange color revealed. Small, creamy, khaki-colored head. The aroma is of smoke, chocolate, toffee and used coffee grounds. More smoke, espresso and dark chocolate in the flavor. Full-bodied with an oily mouthfeel and medium carbonation. Lengthy, bittersweet finish.

Soft, mild vegetable aroma mixed with smoke and some mild spices. Smoky and creamy flavors with a dry mouthfeel. Spiced and roasted coffee flavors are big, with a larger alcohol presence evident as it warms.

Thanks to BBB63 for this one. I was extremely impressed with this one. Pours dark brown with a big tan head and a lot of carbonation. Aroma of malt, cabernet, nuts, some hops, and fruit. The taste has hints of roasted malt, a solid chocoff flavor, and some almonds. The palate is great, with a firm, medium body. The finish throws even more chocoff, and I noted some almond/halelnutty/toffee flavors. This one is 1 part brown ale, 3 parts Impy stout, and 4 parts delicious!

Stout #22 of my Stouts of November. On tap at Brewery: Nearly opaque hue with a good frothy light brown head and fair lace. Aroma hinted of burnt malt, molasses, strong coffee, slight mocha, floral and piney hops, vanilla, smoke, and earthy yeast esters. The initial taste was sweet mocha like with a good dose of bitter added in, well balanced and smooth. Finished with a slighty smoky and mildly acidic twang on top of the forementioned flavors. This medium to full-bodied brew had an oily and lively mouthfeel yet was very clean in it's delivery. Very enjoyable and I for one am very glad to see this years XMAS ale being a stout. Thanks to our host for the wonderful tour and tasting of this and their other brews.

On tap at the brewery. This brew poured a small head of dark brown colored mostly diminishing bubbles that left behind a good lace and a opaque black colored body with no visible carbonation. It had a mild dark malt aroma and a slightly tingly slightly bubbly mouthfeel at the start that smoothened in the finish. It had a dark malt and hop flavor. For me, it was just OK and not real tempting. I almost hate saying that as our host was ever so gracious and treated us so well. I really enjoyed my time at the brewery.

Poured an opaque black color with a tan head and alittle lacing. Chocolate, roasted malt and vanilla spice were included in the aroma. Chocolate, coffee, and a slightly peppery taste with a coating mouthfeel.