 Indra (1833), Prairie Village, Kansas, USA
Jan 5, 2002 Updated: Jan 17, 2003
Bottled in 2001. Aroma of roasted espresso, caramel, very faint smoky wood, toffee and chocolate-covered fruits, along with intertwining spicy hops and a gentle hit of alcohol. Blacker than black, completely opaque with a dark tan, mostly lasting head and sheets of lace. Flavor has huge, roasty malt depth, chocolate, and a very generous dosage of hop flavors, contributing a citrusy, spicy bitterness overall. Finish is sweet, toffeeish, warmly alcoholic and lingering awhile. Very full-bodied, thick, creamy, lightly coating mouthfeel which compliments the massive flavors very nicely. High end of stouts indeed. Seriously good.
Chrism86 (81), Melbourne, Australia
Sep 6, 2008 Pours jet black with towering choc orange coloured head. Nose displays sweet malt and abundant liquered fruits. Palate delivers dark chocolate and liquorice with significant brandied characters. Finishes with intense aniseed like hop spice and dry coffee roast. Would benefit from ageing!
RCL (1021), Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Sep 3, 2008 Bottle of the 2007. Really dark roasted aroma. Charred, quite dry, cocoa flavor with hefty hops on the finish. Not my favorite.
DMRz (149), Durham, North Carolina, USA
Sep 3, 2008 2007 ceramic bottle. It is finally time to try this somewhat ridiculously expensive beer. Pours and inky black with a light brown head. Alcoholic nose with bitter chocolate and sweet malt. Flavor is of espresso and dark chocolate - reminds me of a Plantation 90% dark chocolate bar. Finish is bitter and alcoholic. This is a solid effort, although it is overrated in my opinion...
EHopper (129), Minnesota, USA
Aug 31, 2008 2007 in ceramic bottle. Very black with think tan head. Aroma seemed understated, just some chocolate, coffee and woodsmoke, which didn’t hint at the great, complex flavor to follow. Sweet with hints of fruit and hops throughout the dark coffee, molasses, chocolate and wood flavor. Enjoyable, but for me there are quite a few better at less cost.
dolemite77 (159), Maryville, Tennessee, USA
Aug 23, 2008 2007 bottle. I’m developing more of a taste for the imperials--- especially when they are done well, as this one is. Aroma carries the roasted goodness of a stout immediately... Pours jet black with a frothy brown head. I might have to chisel the lacing off of the glass. Flavors are burnt, chocolaty malts, with a nicely balanced soy sauce note. The hops hold up in this one as well. I think that Cascade isn’t usually a hop that’s used in Imp Stout, and it gives this one a different character than most. The swallow is sweet, but the hops dry out the palate.
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