Full bodied but silky velvet mouth feel, not sticky or cloying like some impy’s. How they create such a feathery creation is a mystery to me-- they must beat the hell out of some oats. There is a clear vinous quality that seems to characterize many great stouts. Smokey, burnt coffee more than chocolate but niether note is overplayed so as to drown out the subtle fruit, spice, licorice, vanilla, tobacco notes. There is also a faint meaty note that I’m very surprised to find a nice fit. Meaty note disappears after you have drank half the bottle so the flavor sort of evolves as you drink. This would mix great with brandy-- I can’t think of any other brew that could. $3.29 single from woodmans in madison wi. cool label.

pours pitch black, nice mild tan head, real malty, really smooth on the palate, finishes really nice w/mild bite from the alcohol, really simillar to stones russian imperial stout

Originally reviewed back on 1/1/04. Received 4.6 score. Added to my RB list to check "Washington" as a beer state consumed. Big stout with plenty of charred malts and the sting of booziness. Creamy feel. Slippery smooth down the gullet. A great big beer to share at New Year’s. 750mL just wasn’t enough!

Bottle poured black with thick creamy chocolate head and sticky lacing. Big roasty chocolate and coffee aroma and flavor. Medium/heavy body. Alcohol is very well hidden.Bitter finish Excellent Stout!

Pours a blackish brown color w/ a shallow, spattered froth. Head retention is NIL and leaves only a thin lace. Aromas of roasted coffe bean and sweet cocoa. Full nectar w/ soft residual effers creating a semi creamy texture. Nice! Big chunky, chocolate roasted malts balanced by a defined hop component w/ a mild sweetness. Theres a fresh and lively essence to this specimen. Bitter cocoa, roasted coffee bean, and mildly sweet molases. The finish is bittered perfectly and leaves a lingering sweet roastiness and asprin burn to ponder. Overall: this is a more mellow specimen going down smooth w/ superb effervescence yet displaying great American hop bittering. It’s like eating pudding sprinkled with asprin.