Full Sail Black Gold Imperial Stout

Thanks to David Noble for this taste--After aging over a year, this beer still held up nicely from bottle--Poured a deep dark, opaque black body with a nice little tan head. Complex notes of vanilla, chocolate, cream, and dark fruit. Somewhat boozy in the finish, but mostly just heaven sent!

A very rich imperial stout, hoppy and intense. Heavy!! Had at the party, no. 39, but I can’t remember if it was this one or the bourbon barrel aged. My friend says it was the regular, but I wrote down in my notes that I definitely tasted some bourbon characteristics in this. For now it goes here, until I see if some other ratebeerians have it under the other category.

Date: 03/04/2006
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting

black, thin fine brown head that can be easily revived, sweet bourbon aroma, rich bourbon flavor with lots of sweet vanilla, a bit fumey
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Date: 04/29/2006
Source: tasting

picking up a lot of rich chocolate flavor to balance out the bourbon,
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Date: 05/20/2006
Source: tasting

lots of sweet vanilla in the aroma, nice ripe dark fruit character,
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Date: 09/21/2006
Mode: bottle

tons of hot bourbon flavor in the first sip, all the sweet vanilla and chocolate from prior samples but over shadowed by the bourbon this time around, the bourbon never slows but the rest almost catch up, a bit of bitterness from the oak
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Date: 03/22/2008
Mode: bottle
Vintage: 2006

Aroma: sweet chocolate and bourbon aroma,
Body: creamy body,
Overall: lots of sweet bourbon and vanilla aroma balanced with rich chocolate, light bitterness,

Aroma: 8/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 9/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 18/20
Rating: 4.2/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: ***+/4

Sampled at the Odds and Ends Tasting at Dogbrick’s. Dark black with a small brown head. Very smokey and roasty flavor and aroma.

Sampled at the Odds and Ends Tasting on 8/16/06 (2005 Bottle): Jet black color with a thick light brown head with good retention. Nice rings of lacing. Big roasted malt aroma, with caramel and dark fruit in the background. Full body with a pleasant roasted character. Malt, caramel and chocolate flavors are balanced by an underlying coffee bitterness. The finish is dry and mildly bitter coffee and hops. I would definitely like to try this again.