Pumphouse Backdraft Imperial Stout

Brewed by Pumphouse Brewery and Restaurant
Style: Imperial Stout
Longmont, Colorado USA

Cask Stillage from the Jug at the GABF, Colorado Convention Center 26/09/2009 (2008 Vintage) Big coffee roast aroma. Beige head. Black strong in alcohol and rich on the palate with a little bitterness in a dry hoppy chocolate and coffee roast finish.

Straight black pour, opaque, but the beige head is rather fizzy. The usual coffee and chocolate culprits are sprinted over by the vinous, very fruity (grape, date) nature of this complex bourbony stout. The liquorous texture suggests a oak barrel sojourn, but also suffer from the unfortunate thinning associated to it. Still, the alcohol level is well contained while the tartness remains under control and the high level of sweetness is adequately balanced by fair roastiness.

GABF 2004: Pours completely opaque with a thick dark tan head. Rich roasty and caramely sweet complex aroma. Thick, sweet, rich caramel and dark chocolate flavors abound. Smooth, yet robust, complex, roasty, and very enjoyable. A fine imperial stout.

Medium dark brown colored body with light easily shining through at the edges. Somewhat lactic on the tip of the tongue, and harsh as well, with a charred milk note, candied dark plum, cherry syrup and sweet cocoa. Hints at some cream in the middle but finished harsh and astringent.

Draught. Body is black. Aroma is moderately malty (dark chocolate, molasses, caramel), with notes of vanilla, licorice, prune, and alcohol. Flavor is heavily sweet, moderately acidic, lightly bitter. Finish is lightly sweet, moderately acidic, lightly bitter. Light to medium body, creamy texture, soft carbonation, lightly alcoholic.

Tap at GABF 2005. Pours a deep dark brownish almost black with a thin head. Aroma is very sweet- fruity esters along with a sharp dark crystal malt profile light nutty chocolate and almost no roasted barley. Flavor is also very sweet- too much crystal, lacking on the Roasted barley, no coffee, and low on the chocolate- herbal hops in the end. Meh.

On tap @ Pumphouse poured an opaque dark brown nearly black with a small lasting brown head. Aromas of dark fruit, bitter chocolate, carmel and light licorice. Palate was medium to full bodied smooth and warming. Flavors of milk chocolate, fruittiness, light vanilla and a hint of carmel with a smooth warming lingering bittersweet finish.

Nitro draught. Very near opaque, just a small amount of light passes through, and a tall creamy tan head. Dark roasted coffee and dark chocolate maltiness. Sweet caramel roasted malt flavor with coffee and an alcohol bite with oak notes. Full bodied and fizzy palate.