Odell Imperial Stout

Brewed by Odell Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Fort Collins, Colorado USA

Silky dark, reddish brown color with a taller mocha colored head. Quick burst of sulfur when first opened, then roasted and caramel malts, raisins, and touch of plastic hops. Nice lace. Malty and lightly fruity with a touch of blue cheese funk. Hard cidre, and cherry brandy in the middle make it know that this has got some kick. At times this one seems thin, but there is enough depth in flavor to help rescue it from seeming watery. Better than I expected.

Best thing Odell has done so far in my experience with them. Mouth feel a little light, but let it warm a bit and the layers of flavor come out. It does not last in the mouth the way many do but a good beer.

This one came to my though the generosity of Heemer77. It’s a very attractive stout w/ big sheets of tan lacing. This is a lower gravity imperial stout and certainly drinks like it--reminds me of the days of yore when imperial stouts didn’t rip your nards off and weigh sixteen hundred pounds per ounce. It’s a simple, smooth brew but very tasty. Loads of chocolate complimented by a nice malty sweetness and just enough bitterness to balance. The palate works well w/ this w/ its gentle carbonation and a slight twinge lactic acid to keep things interesting. At this particular moment, I’m finding myself wishing more breweries would employ a lighter touch w/ their big beers.

Poured black and oily with quickly disappearing head. Very chocolately aroma, which was followed with a similar flavor. Definitely not the best imperial stout around, but it is good nonetheless.

Black color with a thin head. Smoky aroma. The taste definitely hits me with smoke and salt. Lots of bitter malt and earthy hops. A fair amount of coffee, too.

The body was very black with a light brown colored head. The aroma was rich with strong notes of hot cocoa and some vanilla. This also reminds me of fresh chocolate chip cookies. The taste had some notes of light coffee with some high quality milk chocolate. There is a hint of cinnamon spice and anise. This is nicely down and well balanced. I appreciate that Odell likes to make drinkable and smooth beers. This is no exception. Bravo.

From a 12 oz. distinctive Odell bottle with a bottling date of 2007/02, blurb on the right side of label, sampled at cellar temperature in a snifter. Poured a opaque blackish brown, some light reddish purple hues at the bottom, with a foamy, creamy tan head, decent retention, minimal amount of sticking. Aromas of charcoal, roasted coffee with a shot cream, a dark fruitiness, mineral salt, and hints of cocoa in the back. Moderate to medium carbonation and a softly malty crisp, dryish, airy light, creamy medium bodied mouthfeel. Tastes of mildly roasted malts, earthy coffee, hint of powdery cocoa mixed with a watery milk flavor, the alcohol meshes with the fruitness, a soft warmth in the back of palate, a touch of caramelized sugar, and a dry bitter roasted malt finish, not much smokiness or char flavor in the taste. With so many American RIS being brewed these days, this is a slightly above average one, enjoyable, but the mild, if not bland, taste doesn’t make me a fan of this, and I like the beers from Odell in general.

Bottle. All black pour, with a swirling tan head that disappeared at normal pace. Aroma is roasted malt and dark chocolate. Roasted malt and coffee taste. Not a huge body like many imperial stouts, balance was OK on this one, nothing out of the park. Alcohol aroma and taste became present as it warmed.