Blue Point Imperial Stout

Brewed by Blue Point Brewing
Style: Imperial Stout
Patchogue, New York USA

Date: 07/20/2005
Mode: Growler
Source: Tasting

black, scant tan head, smokey peat aroma, big malt flavor, oaky bitterness, hint of ripe fruits, a touch of roasted bitterness in the finish, some tartness tries to come through, the smoky roastness in the overwhelming character but almost enough other character to balance it out,

Aroma: 9/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 5/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 10/20
Rating: 3/5.0
Score: *4
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Growler: Pours a dark, robust, mostly opaque with a thin, whispy, off-white head. Aroma is heavy on coffee with some ashiness and smoke. Body starts thick, malty and sweet with a bittering roasty finish and smoky presence. A bit too ashy, reminiscent of the 1st bottled batch of US Peche Mortel. Otherwise, a nice imperial stout that could use a little more complexity.

Cask at Barcade. Dark black beer with a creamy tan head. Intense chocolate aroma, dark chocolate character that is so intense that it seems like pure melted chocolate bliss. Palate is very creamy and balanced with loads of sweet rich dark chocolate. A bit of malted milk ball character appears as well. It has the roast of a good impy, but the roastiness is so smooth and sublime that it only serves to accentuate the sweet chocolate character of this brew. A soft but insistent smokiness on the back of the palate. The flavour is wonderfully balanced between smooth roast and complex chocolatey malt, with undertones of caramel, vanilla, and debittered coffee. The best Blue Point I’ve had and worth seeking out.

Tap at the brewery. Black color with a thin cream colored head. Aroma of big roast mixed with smoke and black coffee. Flavor pretty much matches the aroma. Medium to full body with a dry bitter finish.

On cask at Sunset Grille, 9/10/2005. Pours a nearly opaque, muddy, murky deep black, with some light tinges of chocolate-brown on the edge, a bit of tan/mahogany highlights, I suppose. Head is foamy, wet, heavy and fairly well-retained, with spotty lacing. Aroma is full on black pepper steak and smoked bacon. Light anise, salty, rich, bitter chocolate espresso and a touch of light prunes and sweet toffee. Flavor takes the smoke and runs with it. Like a smoked stout, this almost qualifies for the "smoked" style designation. Chewy, unfiltered, dry, salty and rich, but with enough sweet chocolate malt through the middle to balance it fairly nicely. Sharp, raisiny, or perhaps vinous-like notes on the edge of the palate, with an alcohol apparency on the finish, that is a little unsettling. But a smooth, chewy, substantial palate. A bit jumbled, and I dont think they keep the casks well at Sunset (the beer being murky is enough evidence for me), but the smoke was tremendous. Low hop flavor, moderate alpha hops bitterness on the finish.

Cask @ Brazen Head. More of a dark brown then black, it poured with a short lived tan head. Rich aromas of vanilla and coffee. Taste is nicely bitter and hoppy with a smooth body. The best at the fest.

[draught at brewery] Dark, but not as black as you would expect an Imperial to be - very roasty aroma, almost smokey - a nice balance of mild sweetness and bitterness, giving a dark chocolate flavor - I swear I taste peat-smoked malt in this, interesting for the style - a little too hot, especially since it’s not that high in alcohol (for the style, that is) - still pretty good.

(cask @ The Old Toad - Rochester, NY) Dark black color with a thick and creamy tan head. Aroma is rich and roasty with lots of chocolate, fudge, cherries, and cream. Flavor doesn’t have as much of the sweetness as I thought it would, but still good. Lots of roasted malts and chocolate mix with coffee flavors, cream, and some caramel at the end. Finish is toasted and burnt. Very nice.