Free State Owd Macs Imperial Stout

Brewed by Free State Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Lawrence, Kansas USA

Shared by Brad during EBF weekend, thanks! Just about black in color with a tan head. Aroma of heavily sherried malts, some rum soaked raisins, licorice, light chocolate and a touch of roast. Taste was nowhere near as roasty as I expected it to be- had alot of molasses, somewhat oxidized with sherry/dark fruits, some chocolate, and mild roast. Big bodied, coating on the palate with some booze in the finish.

On tap at brewery. Very dark brown with small head. Chocolate, coffee, vanilla, molasses, figs and oak. Flavor is the same with some booze. Very tasty.

Bottle shared by YGTBSM94. Thanks Brad!! I have been wanting to try this for about 7 years now. Totally surprised by the character of this beer- in that it didn’t strike me to be a great imperial stout- I still loved it though- Pours a very dark deep almost jet black with a thin lasting head. Aroma is sweet with tons of fruity esters, dried fruits- raisin, prunes, figs, dates, and lots of big chewy malts like a barleywine, just black in color- only hints of chocolate and a very light roast. chocolate and roast come through a bit in the flavor, slight sherry oxidation- I think it may have been an old bottle? Sweet caramel, toasty malts, big sharp crystals but not harsh- Munich and Vienna bready sweet malts, has a slight very smooth almost woody bourbon character flowing through the middle, without getting too harsh or tannic- the sweetness and fruitiness is still there. Again- not exactly what I expect in an imperial stout, but I really enjoyed this one a lot whatever it was. Great beer!

Bottle 2005 at EBF tasting, shared by YGTBSM94, thanks Brad. Pours a black body with a thin white lacing. A sweet malty body with molasses, maple, bourbon, dark chocolate malts, hints of licorice and a mild etoh warming. The hops are very subdued by a sweet unrefined sugars and mild bourbon and wood. This was an excellent stout.

2005 12 handbottle from Gregis. Man you really hooked it up this time. I have been wanting to try this forever. A super dark brown pour wtih very little head. Molasses is the first thing that hits followed by some booze, chocolate, coffee, vanilla and oak. Flavor is really amazing. Vanilla, bitter chocolate, molasses, booze, roasted malt, prunes, figs, coffee and a nice subtle hop finish. Easy to see why this one gets high marks. Very, very nice. Thanks again Greg. Thank you so much.

2005-12oz handbottle; thanks to Gregis! Pours very deep brown, capped with a short tan head. Hefty whiskey aroma, with some chocolate, molasses, oak and caramelized brown sugar. flavor begins with bittersweet chocolate, which is soon joined by molasses, figs, dark fruit, and brown sugar. Some coffee and dark chocolate bitterness then hit the palate and are joined by alcohol for a long finish. Silky smooth with little carbonation. Excellent beer, I’m glad I got the opportunity to try this!

12-oz. handbottle. Thanks, BVC and MReusch for sharing and providing! Soooo much life in this beer, given its age and its long journey to the countertop in Seattle. Jet black. Thin, burnt tan head. Gargantuan whiskey nose that needs to be swirled off at first, it’s just overpowering. Then the coffee, roast, and baking chocolate open up and make their play at the nose. Creamy thick body. Chocolate, coffee, and plum mid-palate. Long chocolatey finish. Awesome impy to be sure.

Hand bottle from my main man Mreusch, (Thanks Matt!) pours solid black with the thinnest of tan heads. BIG nose of chocolate, molasses, and whiskey. Same in the flavor with some serious HEAT! I think they need to check the ABV on this one, ’cuz it seems like a 13%er! Creamy mouthfeel that is quite coating, and a finish of wood and a whiskey influence that stings the nostrils. Again, NO WAY this is 9.5%.