Legend Imperial Stout

Brewed by Legend Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Richmond, Virginia USA

This is a typical imperial stout. Nothing outstanding yet nothing lacking. A hint of coffee in the aroma is present, and the head is relatively thick, but the seperation between it and the beer isn’t as distinct as I would expect for an Imp stout on draft. The taste is outstanding although I am slightly biased when it comes to Imp stouts. It has a very nice, clean finish with a mild bitterness that is well balanced.

One of the beers that I brought with me to tailgate at the Oakland Raiders home game vs. the Chefs. My brother is as big of a beer geek as me, but the guy just doesn’t rate. Too bad. Anyways, the bottle got some strange looks by fellow tailgaters, who had the typical BMC/Heiny/Corona/Pacifico garbage. They were very interested in what it was, so I was happy to expound on the virtues of great beer. Anyways, the beer itself was very nice. While nearly as huge as some of it’s imperial stout bretheren, this was excellent just the same. A nice roasted malt, chocolatey nose, a touch of vanilla with enough floral hops to make you notice. Appearance...jet black. It would have received higher points for better lacing and head formation, but still..it looks exactly like an impy should. Flavor is full on roasted malts, dark chocolate with subtle vanilla and pine. Finishes very dry. A tasty impy stout.

(Bottle) Pours an opaque black body with a thick creamy brown head and nice lacing. Flavor of roastiness, sweet chocolate, and light lactose sourness. Flavor of roasted malt, chocolate, some pine, and light citrus with a dry bitter finish.

Thin head of dense creamy bubbles. Settles slowly. Great aroma with lots of milk chocolate, sweet malts, raisins and a bit of piney notes. A great assortment of aromas. Color is black. Silky smooth mouthfeel. BIG time coffee flavor comes through in the flavor that was not present in the aroma. Lots of roasted grains, bitter dark chocolate, more pine and a bit of spice. Finihses quite dry and bitter with a lingering bitterness and strong roastyness. A great imperial stout. Amazing aroma that starts this brew off right. Big thanks to etowneraser for this one.

650 ml bottle from vintage cellars. This is a unique Imperial Stout with an absolutely intriguing flavor profile and an amazing balance of tastes. Black with a creamy brown head. Full body silky palate. Chocolate, pine, and spice aroma. Interesting sweet taste of chocolate, currants, black pepper, and a wonderful earthy pine taste with espresso notes to the finish. Excellent.

Date: 05/31/2006
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting

black, thin fine brown head, sweet buttery roasted aroma, creamy body, big roasted flavor, good hop bitterness, bitter malt finish,

Aroma: 5/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 8/10; Overall: 10/20
Rating: 2.9/5.0
Drinkability: 6/10
Score: *4

Very dark brown pourlooks black, but isn’t quite there. A mid-sized brown head is very fizzy and leaves minor lacing. The aroma is of milk chocolate, caramel, toffee, pine, and butterscotch. Wait a minute, that’s not butterscotch, it’s diacetyl. Yuck. Minor plastic notes and heavy alcohol round out a nose that started off nice but quickly crashed and burned. The flavor seems to focus on a lack of focus, and diacetyl rules. Buttery notes clash with bitterness and leave roasted malt and chocolate buried beneath their wintery blanket. Hops are the only thing that keeps this drinkable, as the flavor is loaded with pine and a hint of citrus. Finishes very bitter and dry. Mouthfeel has watery pockets and is otherwise medium bodied. A wreck. I’ve heard this is sometimes wonderful, though inconsistent. I guess I got unlucky.

Bready, roasted barley, dark chocolate in the aroma. Pours black. Caramel, burnt coffee and dark chocolate. Very smooth.