Fish Tale Poseidons Imperial Stout (Barrel Aged)

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

750 of Batch No. 4, Bottled in November 2002. Pours black viscous oil like with a big brown head and lace sheets that dissipate rapidly to a nice brown surface lace. The aroma is clearly of raisin, some coffee, some red wine, and some bitter chocolate. Wow, the flavor is so unique. The first impression is that the red wine accent is there to elevate the raisin and apricot dried fruit flavors that sometimes just are not strong enough in other Imperial Stouts. Upon further inspection, this is its own kettle of fish (sorry). The tart cherry fruit flavors add a whole new dimension in an Imperial Stout; one that I enjoy. As it warms to room temperature, the other more subtle flavors like cask aged ale, lactic acid, grapefruit, and bitter chocolate show through. There is also a show of hops in the lingering flavor dance late in the taste. The body seems lighter than the pour, but still nice with enough carbonation to keep it from seeming too Port like. Imperial Stouts seem to be on a scale that range from a focus on chocolate and coffee flavors all the way over to the other side, dried fruit flavors. This one is on the extreme end of the dried fruit spectrum. Overall, this is a winner in my book.

Black, with big - no, huge - brown head. Strong aroma of raisin toast with apple butter on it. Flavor is like a taste of cherry pie. The is some chocolate and and a mix of other traditional Imperial Stout flavors, but this wonderful tart (not sour or astringent) cherry pie flavor dominates. A little bit of wineyness at the end. The 10% alcohol is well hidden and the body is assertive but imminently quaffable. Batch #4, ordered from the good folks at Liquid Solutions.

Batch No.4 (Nov. 2002). Complex and almost incredible aroma, with aspects most notably of red wine, semi-sweet chocolate, dark brown sugar and a tart, cherryish fruitiness. As it warms, subtler notes of charred wood, earthiness, citrus, musky perfume, raisin and alcohol become apparent. Thoroughly solid ebony color, with a subsiding deep brown head. Flavor is initially rather bitter and tart, becoming more roasty and fruity and with an exceedingly powerful, lasting, well-blended and warming finish. Palate is moderately acidic yet thick and smooth; body is enormously full. Absolutely requires significant warming before achieving its potential. Unique and astounding, virtually overpowering in its depth. Cheers, Jordan.

Batch #4 Bottled 11/02 Sampled 2/25/04 - POurs a deep dark opaque black with one of the most dense and creamy heads I have ever seen. The head is tan and lasts for a good long while. Glass lacing is unbelievable. The aroma is very vinous with wood, molasses, chocolate, overripe citrus, chocolate, I would keep going but I am running out of adjectives. The cabarnet barrel aging is obvious based on the aroma. The flavor is burnt roasted malts, chocolate, smoke, oak, plums, overripe citrus (like in the aroma). The body is full and creamy. The finish is dry and lingering. Wow what a beer. This and the BA Speedway are in competition for best Imperial Stout. The cabarnet wine barrel aging performs absolute wonders for this brew.

Huh? (Nov. '02 bottling): Very dark and mysterious with a huge, lofty tan head. Fruity and extremely yeasty nose. The beer felt a little lighter on the tongue than I expected, especially for 10 percent ABV, but it got better as it warmed. Malts were cakey, sweet, a little coffee-like, and woodsy. Lactic notes, with aromas of raisins, yeast and sweet vanilla. Rather sour and yeasty (musty, damp cloth) throughout. Hops built slow, and added an element of electricity (grapefruit zing), with bitterness intensifying over time. Interesting IS.

(22oz bottle) Pours a smooth, brown head and opaque body. Very malty. Vanilla, wood and medicinal. Initially tart. Loveable!

(Nov. 2002 bottling) Nicely black with a large, dense and creamy chocolate milkshake head. The aroma is vinuous, a little chocolate and a lot of fruit. The flavor is also vinuous and a little tart not quite vinegar. The wine flavors dominate the imperial stout, which is sad. There's a chocolate there, but not a whole lot of roast malt, coffee or char. Nice sweetness. I'm not sure the wine flavor from the cabernet cask meshes very well with the imperial stout flavors. Whiskey barrels are perfect for this, but perhaps wine barrels are better suited for Belgian strong ales and maybe barleywines.

(Nov. 2002) Black, slightly oily with small brown head. Aroma is mild sweet, some wood, vinous, some chocolate, light vinegar. Taste is mild sweet, vinous, cherry, chocolate. Medium-full body. Good beer, but not a Top 50 in my bood -- I like my cask-aged beers to demonstrate more characteristics of the underlying beer -- this one has too much wine and too little imperial stout.