Defiant Stout of War

Poured an opaque black with a decent sized brown head. The aroma and the flavor had notes of chocolate and dough. Medium bodied with a nice warmth and not much alcohol on the taste.

My Bottom Line:
This idiosyncratic Imperial Stout paints roasted and chocolate maltiness into raisiny and anisey tips for a highly friendly sipping experience. This bottle was way too carbonated though, which detracted from the complexity of the tasting.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A mountain of foam crowns the pitch blackness.
-This is way too gassy off the bat; this frothy effervescence heralds Belgian stylings.
-The finish brings back all elements of the flavor profile.
-Alcohol is very well hidden

Bottle.

Objectively speaking: A very strong stout whose roastiness is low for the style.
I like: Interesting yeast profile stays part of the portrait all along with alternating earthy and fruity notions. Rich creamy mouthfeel despite the highly active carbonation. Vanilla, nutty and peaty complexities.
I dislike: Original, but not necessarily better than a standard Impy, where its smooth character could make it more drinkable, its yeasty character has the opposite effect.

2008-05-30. Black, good sized creamy brown head with light lacing. Very roasty aroma, lightly acidic, muted mocha, coffee and chocolate touches. (7+) Flavour has a healthy roast alternating between bitter and a sweeter side. All over the above reaches a brief moment of cohesive perfection along the finish before parting their separate ways again. Smooth average to medium bodied palate is more carbonated than most stouts, to its benefit in my opinion. It grew on me a whole lot as the glass went on and my tongue become used to the roast, allowing the nuances of the malt to show more. Really very nice, and gains a point or two for being unexpected. Bottle, Mondial, Montreal, 5T

Good sample from bottle enjoyed at mondial 2008. Very coffee and great stuff. Very tasty, creamy mouthfeel.