Moylans Ryan OSullivans Imperial Stout

Brewed by Moylans Brewery & Restaurant
Style: Imperial Stout
Novato, California USA

Pitch black color with a big creamy tan head. Aroma is chocolate, alcohol and sausage, maybe some smoke? Flavor has more coffee than the aroma but everything else is there. Its a very drinkable imperial.

Bottled. Poured dark brown with a dark tan head. Hints of cocoa and coffee in the nose. The flavor is complex with fruit notes, raisins, coffee, and a sweet sherry. The mouthfeel was perfect--slightly viscous and full with a hint of alcohol in the finish.

22 Oz. Bottle Pour of not quite black, with a fringe of orange juice. Topped with a soap of cream and coffed. Aroma comes forth as a standard, yet mildly sophisticated coffee, as though it’s not as bad as Church coffee, but not as suave as a Blue Mountain roast. This is backed with a surreptitious alder smoked Lake Trout. There’s definately some fresh sea foam from the Jersey shore, with noticable saltiness. Flavor is a uniquley salty flavor, at first reminding me of some dry stouts. There’s the fresh liquour of a Malpique oyster, simmering on a charcoal grill with a dash of soy and L&P. Blend this with the charred edges of a cedar plank used for Salmon fillet. Pour all of this over the grounds of a leftover brewing of some Cameron Co. roast. Am I detecting too much detail and intricacy? This beer starts off fanastic, but these nuances quickly slide away into oblivion. Later in the beer, I can detect nothing, but aged sea salt added to a Caribou Coffee Mocha Latte, without cream. Acidity from a nice craft chocolate bar. Needs more body. Finish of floral potpourri. Not much hops noticable. The best Moylans, in my opinion. Smoky malt. Not overly exciting, but definately enjoyable. Thanks Andy!

Pours a two finger, light brown head that quickly fades to a thin layer leaving some lace. Solid black color. Light carbonation and heavy bodied. Sweet butterscotch nose. Starts with sweet caramel, heavy, some bite but smooth finish, high ABV is not noticeable. $5.25 for a 22oz bottle from Colonial Spirits Acton, Ma.

2006 bomber from Brock_Landers consumed on 4/19/06
Only moderate filtratation allows light sediment in the bottom with a definite haziness to it upon pouring. Settles out somewhat more clear, though still a deep, chocolate brown color with strong, ruby-garnet highlights on the edges and a well-formed and retained tan head that provides a touch of lacing here and there.
Smells nutty, and ashen, with light cigars and plenty of black malt vinousness. Salty toffee and deep, black coffee mix at first with a strong nutty, chocolate maltiness that seems to be layered on the tongue very silkily. Low carbonation and substantial mouthfeel are evident right away, allowing the sugars (chocolate, honey graham crackers and light fudge) to fall to the bottom and provide a balanced backdrop for green, juicy, flavorful hops boasting cascade-like qualities and ending in consort with light vanilla and dark berries. Fudginess sweetens things over the next few sips, but a growing, dry, ashen/burnt malt astringency is perfectly set in opposition. Liqueur-like, velvety texture due to low carbonation and high alcohol, with plenty of caramelized grains showing a proper boil time for the style. Coffee dots the palate and emerges at many points, while hop bitterness eventually finds a balance in the sweetnes that deepens as the beer warms and the carbonation falls off even further. Still, what carbonation there is, is quite tight, and well-retained even after allowing an overnight breath (I saved about half a glass for the next day). Soily, earthy barley and prunes, with boisterous currants and blackberries stir up trouble in a semi-sweet chocolate and vanilla-cream body.

The aroma has hints of chocolate, coffee, sherry, and dark fruit. The pour is a deep black with tan head. Initially there is a flavor of dark fruit and chocolate that gives way to an espresso bitter finish.

Bottle. Deep dark brown in color with a nice tan head. Fruity malty aroma. Raisiny prune noes, Very nice. Malty and fruity flavor. Coffee chocoloately roasty.Finisht is bitter. Well balanced. Decent beer.

Black. Dense, light brown head. Simple but good aroma of roasty chocoffee malt. Same flavor with subtle dark fruits and yeast and a surprising amount of vanilla for something not barrel aged. Full, rich, smooth body. Great imperial stout.