Empyrean Lazlos Limited Imperial Stout

Bottle left over from the 2008 world beer cup- Pours a deep brown hue with a fast fading light tan head. Aromas of coffee, chocolate, chicory, and roasted nuts. Mouth feel is medium bodied with a moderate, lingering finish. Flavor is very mellow for the alcohol, and maybe this bottle is a little too old, as the carbonation is there, but not enough. Flavor is not the highlight of this brew as the aroma would have suggested.

This by the far the best beer Empyrean has done. I have had the beer both on cask, and on draft at the bar. I felt that the beer leaned more to the sweet malty and chocolate side of the the house. Roasted flavors are subdued. The brewery advertises this beer at 9.0% and it is hard to taste the alcohol content. Overall, this is a great beer. I too would like to see this beer offered year round at locations that serve Empyrean beers.

On tap at the brewpub. The brewer served us samples of this during the 2005 Crescent Moon Alehouse Beertasting Roadtrip. This is Empyrean’s foray into Real Ale. Coal black in color with virtually no head. Slight smokey aroma with a subtle roasted smell. Very delicious thick chocolatey flavor. Did not taste like there was more than 6% abv, so I’d say this was remarkable balanced in it’s blend. I’d have to say that it may well be the best Lazlo’s beer yet.

Cask. Dark, red highlighted opaque color. thick tan head from the sparkler. some lace. Slight liquorice in the muted aroma. very smooth, malty carmelly beer. Not very roasty. Hides the ABV very well. Maybe more porter-like in its drinking...a very smooth chocolatey beer, not massively complex or thick by any means, but very accesible and enoyable. I put three of them down very easily. I’m impressed, wonder if it will be as good of the regular tap?