McKenzie 5 Czars Imperial Stout

Formerly brewed at McKenzie Brew House
Style: Imperial Stout
Glen Mills, Pennsylvania USA

25 oz bottle, 2006 RBSG, provided by jeffin7 (Thanks Jeff!). Black pour with some mahogany edges and a nice one finger dark brown head that faded to a thin ring. Aroma is roasty with lots of soy, some licorice, and a little smoke. A very nice aged flavor to it, a little soy and sherry sneaking in with the intense roast, coffee, and chocolate. Mouthfeel is well thinned out from the age, but exactly what you would expect from an aged Imperial Stout, and I like it personally. Overall, pretty nice. Never had this fresh, but it’s certainly still holding up well. One of my favorites from the Grand Tasting.

RBSG06: Up to my eye balls in good stouts. More malty then the last few, but a little lighter. Still an otherwise amazing beer

RBSG 2006 - Grand Tasting. Deep, dark brown body, and a velvety, tan head with some lacing. Aroma of raisins, figs, espresso, dark chocolate, and mellow, earthy hops. Flavor has nice dark fruit and chocolate qualities with restrained roast and decadent richness, yet not oversweet. Belly-warming alcohol too. Creamy, smooth texture. An excellent sipper.

Courtesy of jeffin7 (?), RBSG 06. Nice head retention, beautiful in the glass. Maple syrup, soy sauce on the nose. Tastes like it smells, medium mouthfeel, with a bitter/dark chocolate finish.

Deep black with deep brown head, dissipating. Chocolate and fruity aroma, with prunes, and good floral hops. Sweet chocolate and good bitterness, with vanilla and roasted coffee. Rich bodied. May 2005.

This is the perfect beer. The imperial stout toffee chocolate cofee hit is perfectly balanced. It lingers as long as you would want if you are a true imperial stout fan... the lace is worthy of a photo shoot. These guys are the kings of imperial stout.

Thanks to whomever Degarth and I bought this beer form at auction… I think it was Bob?

Poured a heavy black body that emitted a huge nose of chocolate and oak. The flavor hosted resolute yet well-rounded notes of sweet creamed coffee, toffee and chocolate all bundled up in the forefront. Right behind that; vanilla bean, a hint of hazelnut, then finished with a creamy blend of chocolate covered dates, raisins and cherries. I was honestly expecting more of today’s big brash mega hopped Imperial Stout… instead it was more like my local Tampa Bay Brewery’s Impy Stout… with a dry roasty chocolaty finish. Like a Samuel Smiths Imperial Stout on steroids.

Bottle: Courtesy of Styles. Aroma of chocolate, caramel, fruit, and light roasted malt. Pours a dark brown, with no transparency and a moderate tan head. Flavors of chocolate, caramel, and vanilla up front with light roasted malt and coffee in the finish. I love the way this beer tastes, but the extremely fizzy carbonation is something I could do without.