Fish Tale Poseidons Imperial Stout (Barrel Aged)

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

(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.

This is a ok Imperial Stout a little too sweet for me. Sweet chocolate, and malty flavors. Finishes smooth and clean.

Batch #4, November 2002. Thanks TBG. Opaque black body with a big rich mocha head. Aroma is bittersweet chocolate, roasted coffee, oak, and port. The vinous part is dominating. Flavor is not at all what I expected; it is quite sweet and wine-y, with the stout characteristics somewhat overwhelmed. This was a bit disappointing, because I had hoped for the oak aging to add a subtle hint, not dominate the flavor profile. Medium carbonation and a smooth, malty finish. A bit disappointing, but still good.

This is one of the better Imperial Stouts I have tasted. I had the [Batch no.3, Bottled November 2001 (aged in French oak cabernet casks) over Xmas, and I have found that this beer is aging quite well. Keep this one in the cellar a couple more years, and It will be even better as the Oak winey taste mellow even more.

750 ml capped bottle [Batch  ^no. Bottled November 2001 (aged in French oak cabernet casks) - Jan. '04 sampling]: pours black - a moonless night with Ahab and Ishmal. . . . a persistent dark, brown foam rings the Pequod as I enjoy the cold breeze from atop the mast. Alcohol, oak planks, burnt raisins, anise, and bitter hops rise from the deck, as I am entranced with the new constellations of southern hemisphere. The flavours can’t be compared to anything in this land – the most elegant chocolate, sweet juicy plums, fine coffee, and caramel coated toffee. A journey all should take and experience for themselves, truly breathtaking . . .

Batch #3, Nov. 2001. The obvious inpenetrable, opaque black body beneath a thin, but persistent, cocoa head. The aroma is outstanding--both strong and subtle at the same time. Deeply roasted, lots of chocolate, light vinous notes, oak, vanilla and a touch of licorice-esque alcohol. The body is beautifully thick and smooth. The barrel-aging is evident and helpful. Certainly not too much, it just mellows things out and gives it a smoothness which is highly enjoyable. Great flavors with plenty of strong chocolate, roasted malt, espresso, plum, a touch of red wine and only slightly noticable hops. This is a well-crafted and truly enjoyable beer. A new favorite in the (my) world of imperial stouts. A world-class beer that has much love and care invested in it.

Dark pout with nice lacing. Roasted coffee and bittersweet chocolate are dancing all over my mouth tasting this. Just enough alcohol bite to go along with the well balanced hop flavor. This is a must have.

This reminded me quite a bit of the Fish Tale Leviathan only milder. Hint of dill pickle. Very chocolately. Prunes. Very dry, hoppy, wood and ashy finish. Hint of licorice there at the end. Very nice. Thanks to matta for sharing this with me and thanks to Sham for sending it to him.