McKenzie 5 Czars Imperial Stout

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

Bottled provided by DocLock, many thanks! Pours a jet black hue with a big frothy tan head and good lace. The aroma has bittersweet chocolate, smoky and black malts, lactic and fruity twang, prune and fig, heavy floral notes, dusty yeast esters, and light phenols. The taste starts with a big whack of black patent malt, extremely bittersweet and chalky earthiness. A nice vein of fleshy fruit character supports the twangy and smoky midsection. The finish does display some notes of bitter hops, pepper, meaty and a espresso nature. Overall the beer has a good complexity but it the feel that is a letdown, too carbonated for everything else that surrounds it. Despite the last comment, this is still a very well made Imperial indeed and quite honestly, a bit different than most, which is a good thing. A quaffable 9+ ABV impy if there is such a beast.

#1,500 for me. Impy stouts get a reputation for being heavy and alcoholic and overdone in general. This one is as smooth as silk, very complex, extremely well balanced, and subtle in its approach. Yes, the alcohol is well hidden, and the beer is exquisite. Deep black pour with huge khaki head. So much head and such incredible smoothness that I swear this was nitrogenated. Aroma of roasty malt, big chocoff, licorice, dark fruit. Tastes roasty malty, with gigantic chocoff elements, and a very smooth, dense, complex finish. This reminds me a lot of the Central Waters BRBBS. Acquires a slight tartness as it warms, and keeps pounding you with complex taste and aroma elements, and that fabulous mouthfeel. One of the best Impy stouts of all time, bar none. Ratebeer needs to do a collaboration with these guys.

Bottle @ CT Real Ale Festival. Well, this might have had the unfortunate timing of being after the Southampton Impy Stout. Choco-malts with hints of alcohol and a fair amount of west coast hops piney-citrus notes in the nose. Too much IMO. Inky jet black with very small quickly dissipating dark brown head. Very carbonated--too much so. Sweet to start with lots of chocolate in the middle. Roasty in the end. Decent, but needs to kill the carbonation.

Well made Imperial Stout, Thanks Slob. Appearance opaque, black with a frothy brown head. Aroma is burnt/roasted, fruity like figs or prunes and sweet. Flavor/aroma reminds me alot of the first batch of Thirsty Dog’s Siberian Night. Slightly acidic. Sweet and slightly aciditic finish.

2004 GABF, Denver. Classic. Since impy stouts get a boost from being generally awesome, the fact that this one is so good in so many characteristic ways makes it a very good beer indeed. While fairly regular as an impy, it did have some surprises: it was more acidic than I was expecting, but the playfull prickliness on the tounge was a great complement to the humongous roast coffee and chocolate base of the beer. Sweet to start, rounding into the roast money shot, the beer had good malty aroma and beautiful lacing, even on the little tasting glass at the GABF. Enjoyable all around.

Mountainous, rocky head with brown peaks on an offwhite base, lasting retention but a minimum of a laceing. Fruity, roasty, dark malt nose is finally found after the co2 lays down. Medium body, lightly creamy and spritzy at the same time. Dark fruit flavors come along for the ride with notes of chocolate, cocoa and some slight vinous attributes. A fairly dry, lasting finish, roasty. Nice Impy. though the carbonation is a little extreme at first.

Sample thanks to a BA. Deep dark brown, tan head. Roasty aroma and flavor. Smooth and thick. Pleasant Roasted Barley and hop bitterness. Dark chocolate. Yum!

Impenetrable ebony. Thick, lumpy foam pad of putty consistency. Vinous and fragrantly airy with roasted peanuts, phenols, espresso, and chocolate truffle wafts. Creamy with a fluffy spritz. Multilayered flavors with a milkshake smoothness to the malt frame. Assertive coarsening notes of grainy roast underlie the slick body. Chalky black malt intensity curtails the firm roastiness, backed with notes of tar, fudge, and vanilla beans. Moderate smokiness offers hints of phenols. Stacks of body-thickening chocolate malt gain more complexity from the snappy black malt. Alcohol underscores the graininess and adds warmth, but is mostly a non-factor. Flavor becomes more bittersweet and devoid of char, as dry espresso and milk chocolate clinch the finish splashed with succulent noble hops and black malt. With the exception of the high level of carbonation along with the overly airy aroma, which obstructs much of the malt complexity, this is an extremely impressive creation.