Fish Tale Poseidons Imperial Stout (Barrel Aged)

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

75cl capped bottle, Batch 4 bottled Nov. 2002. THick oily black pour with good dark head. Big oak and raisin cherry twang nose. Big sweet beer that sticks to my lips and makes me lick them for minutes after taking a drink. Massive oak character, and a strong vinuous, grape/cherry aftertaste. This thing is monsterous and complex, so much so that it makes it less enjoyable to drink. The oak/wine notes and interest add make it unique, but it is tough to drink much of it because it is so sticky and the flavors just overrun each other. A few ounces, great, but much more is tough to handle unless you are drunk...this bottle sat around awhile before it was finally finished by the unsuspecting...

The color is black as the Vatican’s secret files, a vast darkness that will allow no light, and the head is a thin affair, but gives the cocoa-brown hue I would expect, nay demand, for the style. Aroma: molasses meets the nose to start, dark, thick, treacly, a malificent morass of devilish decadence...dark chocolate, whiskey, with dark fruits, and a full red wine character shining through, as well. A wicked coating grips the lips, and drips down the throat...damnably thick and rich, viscous and motor-oily. A melted-down candy bar, loaded with liquor, thick, rich, dominant... so painfully full, it threatens any other pretenders to this style...well, almost any other, I’m still partial to a few others, but this is a significant accomplishment on it’s own. Damnitty-damn-damn! She’s a bad mamma-jamma! Oh, it’s thick, massive flavor, dripping with the syrupy, deep dark goodness, a big fat, almost oppressive mouthfeel. Later into the drink, it becomes more approachable, but still a powerful dominant thing upon the palate. yum...lip-smackin’, delicious...dee-lightful. What a nice, and thoroughly amazing brew. Very fine. Highly recommended.

2002- Poured out of a 1.5L bottle, during chat. Thanks Andre! Pour is just like an Imperial Stout should be black, with a fluffy tan head. Heavy espresso, unsweetend chocolate, and licorice. Very differant Imperial Stout, almost has a sour beginning which fades to chocolate, and espresso, very interesting. Chewy mouthfeel.

Deep black with thick moka head dissipating fast. Sweet soya sauce aroma with vanilla and chocolate. Chocolate and coconuts in mout, with milkey notes. Oily mouthfeel, Very fruity as it warms up, like currant or cherries. Nov. 28 2004 at MartinT.

shared a 2002 bottle of this with duff as a nightcap. pretty black, full aroma of ash, molasses, golden syrup, plum and generic woodiness. loads of soy sauce flavour that caught me by surprise and made it hard to appreciate the lighter brownie, red grape and sour cherry flavours. pretty big and scary but not that pleasant to actually drink

This was the best beer I had at the Great Canadian Beer Fest. clean dark chocolate colour with good creaming head. no head retention. strong coffee aroma with slight fruit nose blended in. strong coffee malt taste that feels chewy when you drink it. something that I’ve been expecting in a stout but seldom find.

Black as black can be. Modest head. Oily appearance. Very vinous aroma, with smoky malt, a touch of dark chocolate and masses of woody notes - maybe a touch of oxidation (not in an off way). Flavour is more wood, balsamic vinegar and licorice. A bit too woody if anything. Slightly tart, lactic edge on the finish. Medium mouthfeel. Not the richest mouthfeel, even a bit reminiscent of an Old Ale. I found the beer very interesting - good, but not great. Bottle, post DC gathering.

Caramel and roasty w/ deep plum and raisins. It poured very black w/ brownish red highlights, decent head and lacing. The flavor was big in caramel and roast w/ tanginess of grapefruits and flowery notes. A full well-rounded mouthfeel w/ good effervescence only added to my experience.