Golden Valley Black Panther Imperial Stout

Brewed by Golden Valley Brewery
Style: Imperial Stout
McMinnville, Oregon USA

Bottled. A pitch black beer with a thin brown head. The aroma is sweet with notes of alcohol, wood, and soy sauce. The flavor is sweet with notes of alcohol, pinot noir grapes, and roasted malt, which also lends it a slight acidity, before a dry woody finish sets in.

From a 22oz. bottle obtained at GVB in McMinnville. The 2008 batch was definitely hotter than previous efforts. Very nice color. Dark and bold with a small, but strong off-white head. Nose of sweet fruits, Pinot Noir, and bold dark chocolate. Medium carbonation, pretty rich mouthfeel, but nothing like some of the more syrupy Imp Stouts. Multi-dimensional beer that hits several angles of the palate. Scrumdittiliumptious!

I was excited about tasting this brew (as I am with all imperials). This beer was very big and very bold but it was just not in balance. The alcohol stood out way too much. I’ve had imperial stouts with much higher alcohol that were much better balanced. The oak flavors were a nice touch. But where’s the roasted malt? Why is there no burnt, roasted, coffee, or chocolate flavors??? This does not resemble an imperial stout. Maybe a mediocre strong ale but definitely not a stout. They just have the proportions all wrong.

2005 Vintage, Lucky Lab beer festival. Very rich chocolate flavor with a ton of carbontation. Sadly the high carbonation took away from the body, I enjoy my imp stouts more heavy and creamy, but the carbonation really boosted the flavors. Very roasty and dry with a woody finish and still very hoppy after a few years. Light smoke flavor shows in the finish giving a nice complexity.

Oh my god, I cannot go into the true detail of what makes this beer so amazingly tasty. This is truly one of the best imperial stouts I have had the pleasure of trying. Not because it is overly complex, but the flavors that is has are standout, and makes their presence so well known on the palate. Rich and sweet maltiness, smooth velvety creamy mouthfeel, loads of dark and milk chocolate, with a smooth cocoa flavor. This is a definite sipper, to truly appreciate all it has to offer.

[2006 Lucky Labrador Barley Wine & Big Beer Festival] 4oz Taster – Deep rich dark black brew that poured like pancake syrup. This was a heavy brew with a very rich malty flavor. Not the traditional style for an imperial this was missing the sharp flavors those usually give off. A great beer for a cold winter’s night. Loved the coffee flavor and the toasty malts used. A nice brew.

This January 2005 seasonal has aged well. And the 2006 version is due for release on January 1. A deep black that blocks the sun when held to the evenng sunset with a large creamy brown head. This is big on roasted coffee aroma with hints of smoke. The aging in wine barrels smooths out the flavor which has some chocolate tones and the expresso in a bottle hit. Not too heavy hop bitterness and a medium body. This will be a great beer for vertical tastings that should be able to age several years.

I was caught off guard by this exceptional beer. Nice creamy and foamy head. Mouthfeel is full and round, sits well. Aroma is bitter, with coffee. Taste dominated by nice roasted malts and coffee bean. A nice find at the festival!