Fish Tale Poseidons Imperial Stout (Barrel Aged)

Formerly brewed at Fish Brewing Company/Leavenworth Beers
Style: Imperial Stout
Olympia, Washington USA

2002 Bottle. Pours pitch black with a nice sized tan head that hangs around. Aroma is, as others have noted, a little odd, with hints of cheese and vinegar. In fact, the aroma triggered some memory deep in my brain, but, try as I might, I couldn’t get it to my consciousness long enough to identify it. Underneath these odder flavors were hints of the Merlot from the casks and the stout. In the mouth, it’s thick and quite carbonated. The taste starts sweet, with a definite merlot presence, and finishes smooth with mild alcohol warming. It did have a significant fruit presence from the wine. It’s wasn’t quite as fruity as the NG Cherry Stout, but the flavors were similar. It didn’t blow me away as it did some others, but I’m definitely glad I tried it.

2002 vintage, 750 ml bottle into a Snifter glass. Thanks to David who brought these up from the brewry for us! This one pours a silky dark black with a beautiful reddish tanned semi-foamy head. The aroma is has a very roasty and fruity scent to it, while also having hints of wine, sweet chocolates, and tiny bit of coffee. The flavor of this brew is absolutly phenomenal! Quite the surprise really. It is incredibly smooth for an Imperial Stout, very cream bodied. The flavor that it brings is very sweet, roasty, and dark chocolatey near the front, while moving into a fruity and malty creamy heaven with vanillas near the finish. At 10%, the alcohol has been hidden very well after four years. This is definitely a thick brew. Absolutely incredible!!!

2002 (Batch #4) bottle shared with glkaiser August ’06.

Pours a deep black and with a lovely and long-lived tan head. The aroma is unusual to say the least, dominated by a strong lactic sheep-cheese aroma, some dark toffee, roasted grain, a hint of wine. My first sip is a big surprise. First the flavor leads with a deep pumpernickel chocolate that the aroma only faintly alluded to, then quickly after a richy fruity merlot - vinous and vanilla and ripe with blackberries - erupts from within, spilling over the dark stout character leaving rich grape and wood upo my tongue. The mouthfeel is superb, full and rich and almost heavy, with enough alcohol to add character and richness but never burn or detract from the creamy body.

I’m stunned at how good this beer is. All of the rumors are true and then some.

Shared a 2002 bottle of this with Old_Mr_Crow at The Stumbling Monk. The bartender said this batch was aged in Merlot barrels, whereas all others were in Cab barrels. What amazed me most about this beer, was the difference between the aroma and the taste. Both were wonderful, but very different. The aroma was of a very solid Impy Stout...the roasted malts, the chocolate...a bit of sweetness. The taste was of a mix between a fruity lambic and a great stout. Not overwhelming in either direction, just a great balance. The chocolate comes through the most from the stout...absolutely loved it. Worth the $16. After tasting again, I just have to give everything but the aroma a perfect. Amazing beer.

(Batch 4, 2002 Vintage) Thick rich brown head. Settles slowly. Big rich aroma with caramel, rich malts, a hint of butterscotch. Hint of wine(grapes) from the cask. Black in color. Little thinner body than expected. Kind of mellow and hides its alcohol very well. Molasses, little fruit, more grapes and some licorice meld together nicely in the flavor. Finish is creamy and smooth. A pleasure to drink. Absolutely amazing with salty pretzels.

Bottle from 2000. Deep brown in colour, lasting beige colour head, some lace. The aroma was very sweet, lots of vanilla, chocolate, boozy, roasty. The flavour was very sweet - nearing cloying - some dark fruits, dark chocolate, lots of alcohol, oak, vanilla and cream. Smooth mouthfeel, medium body, medium carbonation. Finishes very sweet, some smoke and lingering.

This might have been the best suprise of the Labor Day gathering. Not so much having it blind tasted against 8 Imperials I have had, but finishing and finding about 7 ounces left in the bottle for me to finish. Smell is mellof and slightly sweet. There is a bitter well rounded hop profile to it. Coffee flavor comes out. Really, there is a nice balance of tasting oak and vanilla and still touting some hops to the fight.

As the blind taste pourer at the 05 middle o fno where party...I only got an ounce or so, but that was enough to say: It smelled like sour chocolate milk, but pour nice and looked great. Sweet to the taste with a bitter finish. RBSG 07 I would say the same!