Middle Ages Dragonslayer Imperial Stout

Brewed by Middle Ages Brewing
Style: Imperial Stout
Syracuse, New York USA

From a 22 oz. bomber bottle with no bottling/freshness date, sampled at a cooler cellar temperature in a snifter. Poured a darkest coffee black with a large, fluffy, frothy brown head that slowly settled into a thin bubbly, sudsy lacing, small amount of ringed laced sticking, very impressive. Aromas of roasted malts, chocolate and coffee, caramelized sugar, dark berry fruitiness and citrusy hops. Good moderate carbonation and a crisp, dry, slick on the tongue, chewy, velvety smooth full bodied mouthfeel. Delicious RIS taste, roasted malts and grains, coffee, burnt chocolate, a touch of charcoal, dark berry fruitiness that adds a little sweetness, sour citric, orange peel hoppiness (fuggles?) that have a soft bitterness, the alcohol is well masked, but is warming in the palate, and a dry, bitter roasted malty finish. A very enjoyable RIS, easy sipping drinkability, if you like Imperial Stouts, then this is a must try.

22oz bottle, no date from HogTownHarry, thank you. Pours dark reddish brown--black in my glass--with a three finger brown head into my La Fin Du Monde tulip. Aroma of sweet cocoa, roasted malts, wood, and a bit of scorched something. After a while I could get a hint of citrus hops. The ctrus is a little bit more prounounced in the flavor, but quickly diminishes from the huge amount of roasted malts. Ther is also some charred wood (not smoky) and chocolate, but not as strong as the aroma led on. Alcohol is still a little hotter than I’d like. Carbonation is pretty low (must’ve all gone to the head) and the body is fairly creamy and full. This wasn’t very complex as far as impys go, but there weren’t necessarily any glaring flaws behind it, either. This rating was done around cellar temperature. At room temperature, I am noticing slight vinous qualities, though nothing exceptional.

Bottle courtesy of Hogtownharry: Poured a pitch-black color ale with a medium dark brown foamy head with good retention. Aroma of bitter hops and roasted malt is quite dominating and some faint chocolate notes may be hiding being this. Taste is dominating by bitter citrus hops and leaves little place to the roasted chocolate malt. Body is slightly above average with some good carbonation and no alcohol was discernable.

Bottle shared by pailhead at oak cafe. Pours a black color w/ a pretty big brown head. Aroma of a lot of chocolate and roastiness with a little coffee. Flavor was rich, creamy, malty, chocolatey, and smooth. A lot of coffee in the aftertaste and flavor.

bomber, as a bonus from Styles. big roasted malt and char aroma and flavor in this Impy. Stout. bittersweet chocolate flavor on the finish with a strong alcohol bite. a sipper for a cold winter day. Thanks Chris.

Bottle from styles, split this with Duane. Nice dark pour with a small tan head. Lots of burnt roasty flavors and a bitter finish. The alcohol didn’t seem very well hidden to me. Decent stout but nothing spectacular. Thanks Styles

1pt6oz bottle. I was prepared to love this stout, as I love the deep dark ales. But this tastes much to ... burnt. That’s the only word I can use to describe it. Like the steak that spent way too much time on the grill, and is nothing more than jerky, this has a definite ash taste to it. A shame. Even the 9.5 ABV can’t cover it up. I’ll go drink the rest now while I watch the Bills sink into another mediocre season. Happy new year.

thanks to zeswaft. looks great, i’ll give it a five for that. unusually black. smelled pretty good. taste is empty, chalkish and oxidized. this is pretty awful. some hints of roasted malts, but yuck. england needs to reevaluate itself