Free State Owd Macs Imperial Stout

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

Yet another fantastic Top 50 beer shared by wetherel, via mreusch. 2005 vintage handbottle. Thanks so much for giving me the chance to try this elusive rarity John. Sampled at the Alesmith Barrel-Aged Old Numbskull release in December 08. This stuff was amazing, considering my doubts about highly rated beers sampled out of handbottles. Pours extremely viscous, with a black-brown center and no carbonation. Awesome oak and molasses aroma with bourbon and sweet caramelized sugars. Malty flavor that has complex nuances of black licorice, cherry, roasted barley, cinnamon and whiskey. Big oak, licorice and bourbon finish that lasts for days. Extremely thick and chewy. A really incredible beer. Thanks again John.

12oz handbottle from the man, mreusch. Huge thanks Matt. With 141 ratings, you would think this would be an easy top 50 to find, but it was very difficult for me. After rating 45 other top 50 beers, finally I have chance to try it. It was rare to see somebody rate it. For the past 10 months, the ratings were always about some old growler and hand bottle. Then miraculously, a rating pops up on tap, so I sent out a bunch of beermails, and bam, Matt hooks me up. What an awesome beer it is. I opened it at Alesmith BA Numbskull release. I am weary of top 50 beers, weary of imperial stouts, and weary of hand bottles, so it caught me off gaurd to try something so wonderful. Wonderful aroma of buttery oaky barrel aging. Very little or no oxidation, which pleasantly surprized me. Pours thick black and syrupy. No carbonation, but who need it for this monster. Hint of alcohol if I think about it. Truly excellent, and deserving of the top 50 status. I think this beer ties me with WeeHeavy for most top50 beers tried. Look out Jon, one more till I am king of the hill.

Another top 50 I thought I would never try except for the gererosity of John Wetherel. Pours an oily black with no carbonation. Aroma of molasses, bourbon, and candied dark fruit. Flavors were much the same as the aroma. I had this just after saying I was stouted out boy was I wrong if all stouts tasted like this.

12 oz hand bottle shared by John Wetherel at the BA Numbskull line tasting. The color was flat black with a very small tan head. The aroma was rich with dark fruits, molasses, bourbon and vanilla. The flavor is similar with mostly sticky sweet flavors, whiskey, roasted grains and rock candy. The mouthfeel was thick and syrupy with little carbonation. The finish stuck with me about half a day. Overall: I tasted this just after consuming Surly Darkness and The Abyss and this blew them both away. This is a truly great brew.

12oz hand bottle. Cant believe Im actually getting to try this one... Big nose of milk and bittersweet chocolate, vanilla extract, wet wood, bourbon spice... a hint of soy and molasses. Very nice. The bourbon doesnt overpower the beer, rather adds to the complexity. Pours a silky dark, dark brown... near black with a thin khaki film on top. Big, yet restrained stout flavors (if that makes any sense). Chocolate, roasted malt, vanilla, dark fruits, oak, bourbon. Very low hop profile... I was actually expecting a tad more. Velvet mouth feel. Lush texture. The only place this beer lacks is the finish... a tad watery and weak (for this size of a beer). Overall a very well put together BA Impy with all components working very well together. Wow... thanks a ton Matt! Never thought Id get to try this one!

05 hand bottle from the man mreusch, thanks Matt. Poured a thick brown-black color with a thin tan head that diminished to a ring but left some light lacing. Aroma of chocolate, some light roasted malts, vanilla, oak, and some faint undertones of dark fruit. Smooth, moderately sweet entry with some chocolate maltiness paired with vanilla that transitions into molasses like sweetness with some nice oak and a light fruitiness of plum and fig. Finishes with a little bourbon and some light oak. Low carbonation, and smooth, full mouthfeel. Great on the palate. This is one of the beers that actually belongs in the top 50, and does so without the hype needed by other beers to attain that status. Thanks again Matt.

Thanks to hopdog for sharing this 2005 Vintage. Pours a deep black with brown notes and no head. Aroma of bourbon, vanilla, nuts. roasted sweet malts, lots of oak, molasses and very sweet. Flavor of vanilla, bourbon, oaky, roasted sweet malts, a little alcohol burn. A bit too sweet for a 9.5% beer.

Thanks to mreusch for sending this one my way! 2005 Vintage. Poured a dark black color, with brown edges, and almost no head. What little that poured was tan in color. Upon the first whiff, I knew this was going to be one ’big’ beer. Aromas of chocolate, molasses, earthy, woody, nutty, and bourbon. Some new hit me with every smell I took. Tastes of bourbon/whisky, chocolate, raisins, plums, vanilla, and some wood. Light to medium alcohol in the finish. Softer body.