Fish Tale Poseidons Imperial Stout (Batch 5 +)

Brewed by Fish Brewing Company/Leavenworth Beers
Style: Imperial Stout
Olympia, Washington USA

Bottle. Very dark and deep brown with a small fizzy and brown head. Roasted and malty with notes of ryebread, coffee, chocolate and a somewhat hoppy finish.

Marked as bottled in November of 2005 (I think as it was purchased June of 2006), Sampled September 2007
Pours with a somehow dense appearing, initially three-finger thick, light brown colored head that sits atop a a simply black colored brew. The aroma smells of dark malts with notes of chocolate being initially most apparent. This is joined by a concentrated note of burnt fruit aromatics that lean towards cherries, figs and prunes. Roast malt notes of blackened grain, a burnt acidity as well as some rich, almost peat-like, salty smokiness. Dusty, toasted / roasted grain notes and deeply browned bread crust round out the finish of the aroma. I really like how the concentrated, roast fruit notes intermingle with the harder black malt notes; this really serves to hold the burnt grain notes in check and makes for a nicely balanced aroma.

Sweet, but this is held quite well in check by the menagerie of dark malt notes. The dark grain adds a touch of acidity to the beer, which in combination with the malt sweetness, accentuates a nice fruit character. Roasted fruit notes of prunes, dried figs raisins and a somehow significant, yet at times fleeting cherry character are all quite noticeable and play a prominent role in the flavor profile. The sweetness adds a sort of cola like note to this beer at times as well. The finish is all about the roasted grain; slightly astringent, burnt, with a sharp, burnt grain acidity and an espresso like finish; these notes are note dominating in any way and in fact provide a nice, balancing finish that prepares one for another sip of this brew. This is surprisingly light feeling (I have a feeling it has lost some heft over the years) for an Imperial Stout, though it does have a significant heft to it and it does tend to coat the palate quite well. Hints of salty smoke character are also found in the flavor, more towards the finish, but definitely at a fairly subtle level. The roast malt character manifests itself up front as a chocolate note coupled with a smooth chocolate liquor like thing.

This has held up amazingly well so far. I have a feeling it has mellowed some, but it is not showing any signs of oxidation yet. Really I like how well balanced this beer is; this is still rich and thick, definitely a sipping brew, but it is not so much so that it is a challenge. This is quite good, quite tasty and definitely something I am enjoying on this warm fall night.

Purchased at: <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Place/arizona/scottsd Brewing Co, Scottsdale, AZ

@ blind tasting - Dark brown body, light brown head; Not to big but quite settled and balanced nose, mostly burnt cocoa bean; Quite sweet a bit thin body, bitter and sweet; Medium long a bit bitter harsh finish, slightly burnt aromas.

Bottle. [#32 Blind tasting session @ Sk8viking] Small fizzy light brown head that mostly diminished. Spare lacework. Black color. Aroma of chocolate, coffee, molasses, roasted malt, light hoppy notes, plum, prune, date, licorice, brown sugar and light berries notes. Full bodied with an oily thick texture and soft carbonation. Moderated sweet malt flavor with light bitter notes. Sweet and lingering dried fruit finish. 07-09-2007

Blind tasting at sk8vikings porter / stout tasting, beer no 32. Pours dark brown with a red hue. Raisin sweet malty with a dried note. Dried raisin and fruity flavour, with malt note note beneath. Dried finish, well balanced and still with a clear alcohol finish and hoppy flavour.

Actually, a pretty middle of the road Imperial Stout. Nice chocolate maltiness with a sweet hopping and caramel malts. Very decent, but not overly impressive.

Black body with a decent brown head. Very good aroma of roasted coffee and chocolate. The flavor profile follows the aroma with a definite hop bitterness present to keep things balanced well. Very enjoyable.

Bottle shared by moejuck: Pours black with a medium light tan head. Aroma of roasted malts, coffee, and some earthiness. Flavor, coffee, roasted malts, some chocolate, a nice bitterness to it. Very earthy and roasty on the finish, good stuff.