 TAR (1996), Boulder Co., Colorado, USA
Jan 4, 2004 Draft: Deep black. Creamy, charred caramel head. Intense aroma of coffee bean, tar, peachy hops, and coconut shells. Black currant, rubber, mud, butter toffee, almond, and black cherry whispers. Asserts more vinous aspects as it warms. Softly firm, dense, creamy body. Beautiful creamed coffee notes and quite caramelly at first. Vague cherry, vanilla, powdery chocolate, and tingly vinous hints. Ink notes prevail throughout its entirety. Closes with hints of toastiness and pie crust alongside a ravishing blend of espresso, dark chocolate, and smoke. Muted tingly vinous notes. Overall a voluptuous Imperial marriage of caramel, coffee, vanilla, and chocolate.
iwantalambic (1356), St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Dec 21, 2003 Draught [snifter]: (this rating is for the imperial stout they "The Truth" - I believe it is the same. . .) Deep ruby black w/ a lasting (it remained when the liquid was gone) dark brown creamy head. . .vinous and coating. Old fashioned instant coffee aroma mixed with large fresh whole coffee beans, hints of pine, basil and hops. Tremendous mocha coffee flavours that coat the mouth and offer a slight sweetness before hammering the palate with bitter dark chocolate and a strong bitter black coffee. Full body, but in the end it is over-powered by the coffee and is missing the complex fruits and other flavourful dimensions of a great imperial stout - though even Jule said "Oh, my, that's good!"
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