 SilkTork (3865), Rochester, Kent, England
Nov 4, 2002 Updated: Feb 23, 2007
20022000 vintage. O my God this is delicious. Melt dark Belgium chocolate with prune juice, fresh plums, fresh figs, Navy rum and a vintage 1987 Chateau-Neuf Du Pape. Stir well, then leave to age in a corked bottle for two years. I enjoyed everything about this beer - from the little wisp of smoke that rose from the neck when the cork was pulled, bringing the fruit, alcohol and chocolate odours out that had been trapped for two years - through the little glug glug noise that the beer made as it travelled along the thin neck toward the glass (I enjoyed this so much that I did it a few times!) - through the first astonishing gulp of this astonishingly smooth, oily, thick, heavenly beverage - through the dark as diarrhea colour - to the long bitter chocolate finish. An absolute delight! A beer to die for! It is a crime this is lying down at 135 in the best beer list! [4.7]
Feb, 20072001 Vintage. The first sip (or gulp) and you know you’re experiencing something a little different. A little special. Huge body. Intense, stunning flavours. Yet, nothing aggressive. Nothing overwhelming or out of balance. This is big alcohol - and the mouthfeel and the warmth is plenty evidence of that; this is like drinking a warm, furry blanket -yet is never biting, never plastic, never overwhelming, never revolting - just warm and inviting. But, despite all the warmth and softness, the tones and flavours are unusual and slightly challenging - and therein lies the beers character and distinctiveness. And it is that distinctiveness that raises this beer to the highest acclaim. This is an extraordinary ale. Full of flavour. Full of history. Full of character. Warm, tasty, flavoursome, unusual, slightly challenging and very distinctive. There are sour notes,. Wine notes, Dark, bitter chocolate. There are all the usual flavours one would expect from a decent enough Imperial Stout, and then there’s the special flavours you get from one of the world’s most distinctive Imperial Stouts. The cobwebs, the chalk, the mouldy, fermenting licorice. The smelly green duffel coat covered in fungus and rain. The leather belt left lying under the sea for a thousand year. The snail encrusted compost heap at the bottom of the garden. The odour of a virile bull in must. This is a masculine beer of demanding character. This is top drawer. I learned today that Chrissie was pregnant. This was the only beer that I thought would do the occasion justice. Fucking awesome.
Bigsilky (225), North Carolina, USA
Aug 28, 2008 1st bottle I had years ago and didn’t rate. This one: better than expected (and tried at cellar temperature). Pours with no head. The previous aromas of soy sauce have morphed into bitter chocolate and old cocao powder. The palate is thick and viscous, creamy almost in a burnt caramel way. Imagine a Worther’s Original toffee with a mouthful of old coffee. Socrched molasses, mission figs, spicy currant, and fig paste. Intriguing to say the least. Lactic elements creep into the fold and help the beer finish with a roasted bitterness. Wild stuff man. If you’re a fan of funky brews (Lambics, Old Ales etc.) don’t give these away or pour them down the drain. Works very well with cigars, one of the few things that can mask some of the flaws.
jcwattsrugger (3862), Florida and, New Jersey, USA
Aug 24, 2008 bottle-pours no head, I then poured it from 12” high and got a few bubbles for a few seconds and oil sludge black color. Aroma is vinuous, molasses, dark fruit-raisin/some plum/figs, sugar cane, vanilla, oak, slight tar,alcohol. Not my style but a delight to breathe in, spectacular. Taste is lots of weed/grainy, red wine mouth feel with the related tannins, chicory-almost coffee. Some slickness at initial and mid taste. Minimum/no carbonation. Thanks to Joe-jwc215 for picking this out.
darn1207 (240), Tallahassee, Florida, USA
Aug 22, 2008 12oz bottle. black color with absolutely no head (unlike the one in the picture). aroma is an overpowering mix of molasses, roasted malts and chewing tobacco. the taste is soy sauce, wood, figs and tobacco. astringent finish. I wasn’t even able to finish this one... that might be a first.
jonno (151), Japan
Aug 16, 2008 Imperial Rodenbach? THis was a 2001 bottle that was highly vinuous, unlike any imperial stout I’ve had before. Interesting, but not something I would go for regularly
tdaglow (7), USA
does not count  Aug 15, 2008 This was a very deep dark pour with a thin tan head. The aroma was of deep roasted malt and almost an almond or nut, coaco and heavy molasses. The flavor on the other hand was very difficult to pin down. I’m going to have to give it the old palms up and shoulder shrug. I liked it though.
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