Moon River Black River Imperial Stout

On tap at Moon River Brewing. Arrived at the table black with no head except for a very thin ring that left a few spots of lace. Pleasant aroma of roasted malt, chocolate, and licorice. The flavor is roasted malt, chocolate, and a bit of coffee. Similar to the porter with a fuller, more dense mouthfeel. Some alcohol reminiscent of chocolate liquer emerges at the finish as the bere warms.

tap. This is an inky black stout with a suspiciously even tan head. It almost looks like the work of nitrogen except for the tell tale bubbles slowly rising from the murky depths. The aroma is tremendously nutty with espresso and vanilla wafers. Carbonation is very low and the viscous body has a very slick and creamy mouthfeel. A well balanced delivery of espresso, brownies, walnuts, and baking chocolate are in the flavor. I enjoyed this a great deal.

Draft at the brewpub. Pitch black pour. Large dark brown head. Aroma of coffee and chocolate. Thin coffee flavor with a long, bitter, smoky finish. For some reason, this beer just didn’t do it for me. It wasn’t bad by any stretch of the imagination, but wasn’t memorable either.

Brown-black body with small brown head. Aroma is medium sweet, coffee, light chocolate. Taste is medium sweet, coffee, coffee liqueur, cocoa. Smooth medium body, low carbonation. The alcohol is noticeable but not overpowering. Seems very similar to the Captain’s porter, just a little stronger.

From two different night at the brewpub, first poured in a pint glass, second from a wine goblet. Pours a dense black with a thick huge creamy head. At first the aroma is very harsh and acidic, but settles down after a bit and has lots of chocolate malt and roasted grains. Thick body that has lots of chocolate malt and roasted grains in the taste, also. Finishes up with a bitter hoppy creamy aftertaste. This is not the greatest Impy I have had, but a creative departure from some of the rather bland beer I find this brewery makes.