Portsmouth Kate The Great Russian Imperial Stout

Brewed by Portsmouth Brewery
Style: Imperial Stout
Portsmouth, New Hampshire USA

Not black, a dark brown with a small, quickly diminishing head of light tan foam. Very simple nose, don’t detect much describable character or depth besides a hint of chocolate. Flavors is a bit off balance, extremely sweet, with out much balancing hop character or bitterness. Still has some dark fruit, dark roast and chocolate character that I like. Even a decent finish. Mouth feel was a bit disappointing and could be improved with natural carbonation. A nice beer, but I was hoping for much more.

Bomber, 07 I believe. Poured deep brown with a ring of tan head (not a whole lot more). The aroma picked up rich darker chocolate with a lot of roast to it.. softer coffee gave less of an impression.. touch spicy around, dark, and inviting. The flavor had a rich base of dark chocolate and molasses at the core with peppery warmth, grassy bitterness, and charred black malts at the edges.. fine amplification from the alcohol warmth. Medium-plus bodied, but never thick on the palate.. higher and ideal carbonation.. warm charred chocolate impression on the finish. Very good stuff!

22oz bottle; thanks, Jeff. Black with medium head that quickly vanishes. Lots of roasted malt; coffee, thick molasses, chocolate and ash. Big bitterness balances well. Drinks quite smoothly; not too thin, not too thick...just about right. Really doesn’t blow you away with flavor, but extremely well done for a >10% stout.

22 oz. bottle - 2008 vintage; thanks to tweety for hooking me up with this bad girl; pours thin, jet black with thin dark brown head; chocolate, coffee and nuts in the aromas; flavors of chocolate, brunt malts and dank fruit; texture on the thin side, but drinks silky smooth; very solid overall with nothing that really stands out; in a night of big stouts, this one was pretty much middle of the pack for me; not a huge disappointment, but not too amazing either

I wanted something special for my 400th rating so I choose this. 22 oz bottle served in my Smuttynose tulip. Pours a deep dark brown, almost black, with a brown 1/2" head. Nose is chocolate, heavily roasted malts and a strong alcohol odor, which gets stronger as thr brew warms. Thick, heavy palate with an oily mouthfeel. Flavor was cocoa, malts, bakers chocolate with a dark fruit background. Also a strong alcohol presence. Bitter, astringent finish. If you are not a fan of Impy Stouts, you may not like it. Consider yourself warned.

bottle thanks to urwatuh8 off BA site. Pours black with a thin light-brown head which dissipated quickly. Nose is of roast malt, cocoa and some alcohol. Taste was of chocolate, coffee and some dark fruit. Mouthfeel was thick and chewy, coating the mouth with yummy goodness. Truly delicious. Wish I had much more.

Bottle from MaltOMeal at the December Houston tasting. Thanks! Pours like solid black motor oil with an aroma of oaked raspberry cherry chocolate syrup and cocoa powder. Flavor is dark chocolate, coffee, and chocolate powder. Full and coating but light and tingly mouthfeel. Kate truly is great.

Bottle thanks to maltomeal at our Houston RB Impy Stout tasting. Poured black, opaque with a small black head. Nose of chocolate, dark malts, sweet but overall a lighter nose. Taste starts off alcoholly, but then smoothes out with chocolate, coffee, burnt malts. Dry on the end. Chewy with a nosy alcohol presence. Very nice beer.