Grand Teton Black Cauldron Imperial Stout

Brewed by Grand Teton Brewing Co.
Style: Imperial Stout
Victor, Idaho USA

1 Liter Bottle Bottled 11/5/07 I get the chance to try this RIS thanks to Bitterbill’s generosity, thanks again Bill. When I got this bottle the neck tag let me know it was bottled on my birthday which I thought was pretty cool. Although this beer is small (abv) for an RIS, it glugs out of the big swingtop with the best of them. The body was dark chestnut as it came from the bottle but appears black in my snifter. The mocha colored head grew to one finger on the pour and fell to a skimming with a thick ring. The ring that’s left leaves excellent sheet lacing after each pull that slowly falls back into the body. The aroma is full of freshly roasted sweet grains, dark berries, freshly ground coffee, dark chocolate and spicy alcohol in that order from most to least. If the aroma tells me anything it’s that this is a beer to be reckoned with. Very complex and inviting, especially on a cold windy evening like tonight. As it warms each swirl really brings the dark berries forward but as it settles the roastiness is still the king of the hill. Everything the nose suggested the flavor brings. The sweet roastiness is at it’s highest point upfront but even as it settles lingers in the background. Dark slightly underipe berries come along with a solid helping of dark chocolate. The coffee grounds show up toward the finish and mix with spicy alcohol. The alcohol adds even more depth to this already complex stout. A slight coffee bitterness and dark molten chocolate combine on the swallow. Ghost like alcohol fumes float throughout the mouth and nose. Black Cauldron is am excellent RIS. The body is on the lighter side for a RIS but it works really well in this case with the smaller abv than I’m used to encountering. There’s creaminess on the swallow that really sets things off. The lighter than usual body helps make this an incredibly easy drinking RIS. The complexity I’m sure would give some palate fatigue but won’t stop me from enjoying this beauty. The moderate alcohol level boosts drinkability as well. I imagined this being a good RIS but I didn’t expect such a gem. The aromas and the flavors are big and enjoyable. I’m glad I had the opportunity to try this and I’ve got another liter in the cellar for next year, all thanks to Bill! 2/29/08

This was a very good IPS and not sweet at all ,a nice little smokey flavor and black as night witha nice coffee finish.I got this bottle from a friend who was out west and knew how i liked my stouts ,it could have been a little stronger but was tastey anyway good buy and choice.CHEERS!

1 litre swingtop bottle courtesy of a trade with Jake65. Pours black with an attractive moderate mocha brown head that lasted through most of the glass. Very nice aroma of chocolate, roasted malt, coffee and molasses. These same compnents make up the flavor as well. Very little bitterness at the finish. Slightly less than full bodied. Tasty.

8th Big Beers, Belgians, and Barleywines. Pours opaque with a small, fizzy, light brown head, diminishing with spare lacing. Aroma is heavy malt (molasses, chocolate, coffee), average hops (perfume, grass), average yeast (leather) with notes of wood and smoke. Full bodied, creamy texture, average carbonation, and a bitter finish. Long duration, light sweetness, moderate acidity and bitterness.

A bittersweet chocolate aroma. Great blck color, tan head. A sweet, easy to drink stout that is quite tasty. Mostly it comes off like a regular stout with just a small bite in the finish. Relatively low in alcohol for the style, but certainly a worthy beer.

On tap pours out a nice black topped with a tan head. A nice sweet aroma. Some hops and dark roast in it aswell. Tast of coffee, bitter hops, and chocolate. Not as thick as I would have liked it. But it is the best Grand Teton brew I have had.

Considering the style, Scores ranging from 1 to 5, 5 being the most intense
Appearance:
Body:   Clear(1)->Murky(5) : 4     Light Brown(1)->Pitch Black(5) : 4     Still(1)->Sparkling(5) : 2
Head:   None(1)->Large(5) : 2   Off-White(1)->Dark Brown(5) : 2   Lasting: 1   Lacing : 1   Nitro : XX
Aroma:
Intensity : 3  
Yeast : 1   Bread : 3   Apple : XX   Tropical Fruits : XX   Ink : XX   Tar : XX   Olives : XX   DMS : XX
Malt : 4   Biscuity : 1   Burnt Toast : 3   Caramel : XX   Nuts : XX   Pumpernickel : XX   Cereals : 3   Coffee : 2   Dark Chocolate : 4   Vanilla : 2   Grapes : 2   Blackberries : 2   Cherries : XX
Hops : 1   Noble(1)->American(5) : 4   Leafy : XX   Floral : XX   Lemon/Lime : XX   Grapefruit : XX Orange : 1   Herbal : XX   Pine/Spruce/Resin : XX
Notes :   Earth : 2   Wood : 2   Mint : XX   Smoke : 2   Soy : XX   Bourbon : 2   Anise : XX
Flavor:
Initial Flavor : Dry(1)->Sweet(5) : 4   Finish Dry(1)->Sweet(5) : 4   Sourness : XX   Lactic : XX   Bitterness : 1   Complex : 2   Length : XX
Palate:
Light(1)->Full(5) : 3   Flat(1)->Fizzy(5) : 2   Clean : XX   Sharp : XX   Watery : XX   Oily : XX   Chalk : XX   Astringent : XX   Alcohol : XX   Mineral : XX   Oxidation : XX   Metallic : XX

Comments: Smooth, malt-oriented impy with solid chocolate flavours and pleasantly soft edges. Intricate smoky undertones and oak tones indicate that they wanted a little of everything and they did it well, without exageration.

Name: Imperial Stout
Date: 07/02/2006
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Cellar Party
Vintage: 2005

black, thin fine beige head, huge sweet chocolate aroma and flavor, very creamy
-------- /> Name: Imperial Stout
Date: 07/15/2006
Source: tasting
Vintage: 2005

picking up a bit more bitterness

Aroma: 8/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 8/10; Overall: 14/20
Rating: 3.5/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **4