Founders Imperial Stout

Brewed by Founders Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Grand Rapids, Michigan USA

Poured a dark deep brown to black color with lots of motor oil thickness, near nil head and no lacing. The dark color won me over for appearance, though, thick motor oil, all black, even when held to light. The aroma was strong coffee, light roast, some chocolate underneath. The flavor followed suit, but the only knock was a bit too much sweetness, could have used a bit more hops balance to make it outstanding. Otherwise, very fine, great syrupy mouthfeel with velvety texture. I enjoyed this one.

Bottle: Pours to a totally opaque dark black with hints of brown at the very edges towards the top of the body. Tiny, almost nonexistent brown head forms atop the beer that quickly fades to a small ring around the glass. The aroma is strong roasted barley & prunes at first, then shows light roasted coffee, honey, cocoa bean, very light vanilla, and roasted chocolate. The initial taste hits the palate with multiple sensations: a short burst of carbonation, a short burst of bitter hops, a barely perceptable alcohol burn in the nose (though not in the mouth), and then it quickly turns to the dark roasted flavors. Dark roasted barley, burnt chocolate, chewy caramel, prunes, figs, vanilla bean, cocoa, and a bit of sticky, resinous citrus hops come through sometimes. Finishes with bitterness from both the hops and dark roasted malts, flavors of chalky roasted coffee and extended roasted barley. Full bodied, medium carbonated, sticky & silky on the palate, this one does a nice job of hiding the 10% abv.

Pours a dark black color that has a thick, dark tan head that is very frothy. Abundant amount of lacing. Aroma is very malty with chocolate, dark fruit and a bit of coffee. Taste doesn’t have as much malt as the aroma leads you to believe but it’s there. This is a very sweet stout with a bit of choclate, dark fruit and cherry. and a pleasant amount of coffee in the finish. Alcohol is present but not harsh.

Bottle. I think it’s time to take a break from imperial stouts. They’re starting to blend together. This one is a pretty run of mill impy. Very smooth, very alcohol-y, very malty and very sweet. It has the rum alcohol burn in the nose, followed by a cloying sweetness. Sweet and alcohol saturated in the mouth. Too much so, if you ask me. Not as roasty or bitter as I’d like. It’s like a rum-soaked chocolate covered cherry.

24.07.06 12oz bottle at NYRBG, Belgian Room. It’s a pretty beer for an imperial stout. Roasty and rummy flavors are such that I’d have guessed baltic porter as the body is comparably soft and carbonated. I really have little idea what the difference is half the time between the two styles anyway. Sweet and especially fruity stuff shows notes of dried blueberries, prunes, and figs. Boozy throughout and lingering beyond. Soft and fairly thick bodied.

Bottle from Sean (illinismitty) Thanks! Dark brownish black colored pour with a small brown head. Smell is coffee, chocolate, malts, and some hops. Taste ,very similar with a nice coffee presence. Almost like drinking a very rich, very pleasing cup of coffee. Alcohol is not detected in this one. A little sweet, but I do not mind, its still very nice. A good choice for an after dinner drink.

Thin dense dark brown head of fine bubbles. Minimal carbonation. Rich aroma with candy sugar, dark roasted malts, molasses and a bit of raisin. Color is black with a hint of red around the edges. Wow is this stuff smooth. Loads of roasted malts, coffee, prunes and a hint of licorice. Nice alcohol warming. Thick and full bodied. Relatively clean finish but with a little alcohol burn and licorice. A very good imperial stout. This may not be as complex as some of the others but is still quite tasty. Thanks to nolankowal for this "bonus" brew.

Aroma was of roasted/burnt dark chocolate malts and a hint coffee, prunes and alcohol. It pours black and muddy with virtually no head. Flavor is lightly sweet and bitter finish is lightly bitter and long lasting, again chocolate malts and alcohol, medium to full bodied (seemed a bit thin though for a stout) creamy and dry and on the flater side of carbonation. It is better than the Kentucky Breckfast stout, but still had a hard time finishing this one.