Full Sail Black Gold Imperial Stout

Brewed by Full Sail Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Hood River, Oregon USA

Jaded. Seems that’s what’s happening. Getting jaded. Too much of too many good things? Who knows. This didn’t impress me as I had hoped. Nice dark, almost opaque black body with a frothy tan head. Hints of chocolate, coffee, molasses, toffee, vanilla. Thin and watery. Decent flavor but nothing that would have me begging for more.

Black maple. Rocky, tiny-bubbled gray-tan foam. Lovely nose of black currants bathing in port. Touch of roast, black licorice, coffee, and hazelnuts. Dry with medium spritz. Airy and firm initially. Possesses just enough softness, however, as ensuing rush of port and moist prunes uphold the body. Chalky, snappy malt spine vivifies the earthier roast twinge. Dab of nuttiness, but there’s little malt depth, otherwise. Tasty blend of brisk roast, vibrant espresso, and dark chocolate truffles is washed away by the char induced astringency and dryness. Quite gritty with some mineral heftiness and more astringency which ride alongside a plethora of fruity esters, ink, and espresso softness to lighten the hard malt frame. Finishes suggestively dry with a salty char accent as notes of black currants and molasses rise to the surface and linger. A pretty nice Imperial.

Pours thick and quiet with little head. Sweet fruit and bubblegum with some banana, cocoa and tar. Super slick on the palate finishing with a long bitterness. Chocolate banana flavor with some roasted grain astringency. Distinct flavor combo.

GABF ’05. Black body, light tan head. Chocolate-malt aroma with substantial hop undertones. Chewy dark malt flavor with anise and latte coffee. Roasty dark fruity finish. A pretty good I.S. that would have been unique 3 years ago.

Nearly opaque very dark brown body has a lightly-lacing tan head. Aroma is sweet, caramely and dark fruity with a hint of roastiness. Starts with rich, sweet caramel maltiness and some dark fruit. Finish has a strong roasty, almost ashy presence. Decent balance and complexity, but could lose some of its nearly burnt finish.

Bottle. Deep dark dark brown pour with dark ruby hints. Sweet roasty aroma, some sweet caramel malts, and some candied darker fruits. Initial sweet caramel flavors, with more roasty malt flavors coming through in the middle, and a decent bitter finish. Some smoke and a fair bit of ashy bitter coffee, as well as some definite notes of raisins.

Poured a very dark brown color with a thin tan head. Sweet roasted malt aroma with notes of grape candy and light alcohol. Flavor is roastey and smokey. Big bitter backbone runs from mid flavor through the long finish.

On tap at the brewpub. Aroma is boozy, bready, some roast. Dark and opaque. Medium body, flavor is full-on roast, with some booze hanging over