Cigar City Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout

Brewed by Cigar City Brewing
Style: Imperial Stout
Tampa, Florida USA

All I can say is WOW! My new favorite brew. Amazingly layered and delicioiusly tasty beer. I can’t think of a more perfect beer to suit my tastes that I have tried recently. Deep, dark and rich. Vanilla, chocolate, spice - pepper and cinnamon. Perfectly balanced with sweet and dry. A hint of hop on finish. Just enough ABV, not too much. Freaking amazing Joey. So excited for what you have created here. Truly a world class Imperial Stout. I will be sneaking in the back door with my growler....or whatever empty container I can find.

2 glasses at BBA Bolita Party- I am so lucky to live nearby the brewery. I can’t stop thinking about this one. It really is that good. I have had all the other top rated Imperial stouts, and this one DESTROYS them. If you can get this one, do it. Plan your next vacation around it. The texture is mind boggling, the flavor so uncannily balanced, the subtle tingle of the pepper heat . . . This beer is legendary. And Cigar City will will be as well. All their scores are totally legit and you need to drink the beers.

On tap at Cigar City This beer is the standard Marshal Zhukov’s Imperial Stout kicked up a bit. Some chili were added along with a bit of vanilla and cocoa nibs. A: Like all Cigar City stout’s this one is evil looking in the glass. As dark as night with a huge creamy brownish black head. The beer clings to the glass as if it is laced with oil. The head hangs around nice, and leaves big chunks of that dark brown goodness. S: To say the aromas are bold would be an understatement. Huge charred malt aromas with strong notes of bitter chocolate. Light hints of roasted chili’s can be detected as well. The vanilla hides beneath all these bold aromas along with a bit of dark fruit and tobacco. T: The roasted malt is the first thing you detect here. Coffee come next along wtih a blast of bitter chocolate and tobacco. A touch of vanilla can be picked up and then the chilis create a touch of warmth on the back of the tongue. Very complex and very unique. M: Very full bodied, smooth, creamy with the chili’s creating a real depth. D: Not as drinkable as some of the other Cigar City stouts, but it sure is tasty. A one of a kind treat.

Rating #400 The best beer I’ve ever had. Draft at the BBA Bolita Release party. Nose is intense chocolate and layers of chocolate malt backed by crazy pepper spice. Pitch black with a gorgeous chocolate colored head with huge staying power. Leaves oily sheeting on the glass. Magnificent. Flavor is Tons of Cocoa and Vanilla up front. Tons of rich cinnamon and coffee abound. Massive pepper notes that are in perfect balance with the roastiness of the beer. This is just a marvel.

This is the best beer I have ever had. And its not even close. On tap at the BB Bolita release. Black pour with a nice small brown head. Aroma. Hell where do I start? With the wood aromas? The best smelling chocolate ever? The hints of asphalt, coffee and smoke? Or how about hints of rich chili peppers? Or maybe the vanilla, and spice notes. And the flavor? My god. It is intense, smooth, rich, robust, overstated on some levels, and understated on levels. Tons of chocolate, vanilla, some boozy notes, peppers, chili peppers, molasses, cinnamon, and damn it just keeps going and going. One thing I forgot to mention was the slightest hint of heat that creeps up after a few sips. I think thie heat helps cover the alcohol. Because I tasted no alcohol at all. WOW. I may drop all my previous 5 ratings because this is the best beer on earth. End of story.

Draft at CCB launch party. The most amazing beer that has passed these two lips. The color of ten thousand mile old motor oil and the consistency of it too. Aroma of sweet and spicy vanilla choc. Tastes like choc and roasted malts and a finish of sweet and slightly spicy on the back of your tongue. Amazing beer Wayne and Joey.

CCB Launch Party...This stuff is amazing. Looks like motor oil taste like heaven. the ancho and pasillo peppers really let this beer stand alone. One of the best beers I’ve ever had.

My second re-rate: After having this again, I had to make it a perfect 5. This beer is outrageous.

Thanks to Joey for the taste. I would rate this higher than a 10 on flavor, if I could. The chocolate flavor in this beer is over the top delicious. It is strong, creamy and decadent with vanilla and cinnamon spices added in. The peppers are sitting in the back, providing just a slight burn to let you know they are there. The mouthfeel is thick and oily. Swirling the beer around the glass leaves a light brown oil slick on the sides. I simply cannot wait until this hits the market. The chocolate flavor is a desert of its own. Fabulous flavor. Great job!
RE-RATE: After the Cigar City Kickoff party, I had to bump my rate even higher. This beer is amazing. Was told the ABV was kicked up higher, to the 13%-14% range, but it doesn’t show. The flavors seem even more intense and the alcohol is hidden very well. The chocolate in this beer tastes like the best gourmet chocolate I’ve ever had in a beer. No corners have been cut. If I could drink on thing for the rest of my life, it would be this.