 CharlesDarwin (1379), State College, Pennsylvania, USA
Jun 8, 2008
12oz Handbottle. Light spritz as the cap is released. A high pour builds a good choco-hazle rim above a brown-black liquor. Aroma is intense. Deep, rich brandy-like nuttiness, melding with fruit cakes, sweet cream, and toasted chestnuts. Very volatile. Good roast and sweetness build in for chocolate cake-like complexity. Very nice. Flavor runs similar. A rich, deep creamy chocolate sugar, mature grape alcohols and a piquant note of nuttiness. It has dessert-like appeal, with rather silky, luxurious sweetness balanced by intense roast and a bit of dry hoppiness. Body is very complete. Not cloying or sticky, but oily dense in that GI Bourbon County Stout kind of way. Richly flavored and well textured. Alcohol is notable and that may be the only real fault of this beer, even though I feel it helps develop a lot of richness and depth. It does snare the nostrils a touch. Carbonation disperses the beer across the tongue nicely and lets it fade gradually into a sweeping run of fresh caramel, german chocolate cake, hazlenut truffles, and candied apples. Delicious. A well built Imperial Stout! Thanks a ton Sean!
kmweaver (1973), Takoma Park, Maryland, USA
Aug 22, 2008 12oz bottle, courtesy of a trade from a while ago. Pours a dark, chocolate-brown color; thin light-tan head with fine-bubbled, cascading lacing. Basic RIS aroma: lots of roasted / charred malts, nougats, and dark chocolate in the aroma; slight amounts of alcoholic warmth on the perimeter. Full mouthfeel: solid amounts of dark chocolate, roasted and charred malts, licorice, and oily presence upfront; the oily character most definitely adds to the appeal, but I can’t imagine drinking a much of this; roasted and charred, and lacking a bit of necessary bitterness to add to the overall drinkability; solid impy stout overall, but quite run-of-the-mill in its flavor profile. Lengthy finish: lots of roasted / charred malts, licorice, and bitter chocolate; reasonably dry.
masonjer (431), Lansing, Michigan, USA
Aug 11, 2008 Poured an opaque black into the glass. Aroma was chocolate, coffee, and vanilla cream. Taste was much the same, quite creamy and sweet, hides the abv fairly well. My main complaint is that it felt a little thin and wasn’t super complex. Tasted good though.
Aggie80 (685), Michigan, USA
Jul 29, 2008 Wow! This one will certainly kick you if you aren’t looking! Deep dark pour with almost a syrup consistancy. The high alcohol is noticable, but does not distract from the overall coffee and chocolate undertones. It has a strong bitterness that is really pleasant.
lb4lb (1365), Austin, Texas, USA
Jul 20, 2008 Bottle generously given as an extra by hoppymeal. Thanks!!
Pours a nice black color with a medium lived nice tan head. Smell is creamy chocolate, smooth graham cracker and cocoa and fudge. Very nice nose. Taste is nice and chocolatey with a light pleasant bitterness. Roasty malt and chocolate with no coffee or fruity notes. Not over the top flavor, but its enough, and is well done. Very nice and smooth mouthfeel with light carbonation. I get no dark fruit flavor out of this, which I like. For 12% it is quite well hidden. Very well made and enjoyable beer.
rudolf (1554), Buffalo, New York, USA
Jul 12, 2008 Bottle. Goodbar Beer Club. Nose is cocoa & roasty malt, cherries. Flavor is rich malt, tons of dark fruit,a but burnt but not overly so. Cherries, fruits alcohol, rich awesome.
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