Saint Arnold Imperial Whiskey Stout

Pours black into the glass with an almost nonexistent head. Aroma is of chocolate with a hint of whiskey. Flavor is of an average stout with a bit of a bourbon slap. Overall not that great, but not that bad.

On cask at the Gingerman. Pours black with a lasting creamy tan head. Smell is mild and with chocolate and grain alcohol. Like Chocolate vodka more so than whiskey. Nose did not impress at all. Taste was equally mild with some chocolate roasty malt, with a creaminess from the cask pour, but with a lot of alcohol and no pleasant barrel flavor whatsoever. Body was as thin or thinner than their regular stout. Didn’t enjoy this. More like guinnes with a shot of Vodka tossed in, than a Barrel Aged imperial Stout.

Cask at The Stag’s Head along with KAggie, Zinister, Maltomeal and TexasJeep. Black, dry and sweet. Seems like DR 5 on steroids. Nice chocolate, coffee, prunish flavors. Alcohol turns on when it warms. Very dry and bitter on the end. Bourbon was not overpowering but evident-beer with bourbon rather than the other way around. Overall-excellent!! Thanks St. Arnold for this treat..

Had the cask at Porch Swing Pub. Has a very dark brown almost black color with a medium creamy light tan head that lasts. The aroma is a strong roasted malt and sweet bourbon. Sticky lacing on the glass. The taste is a very smooth roasted malt and chocolate, easy to drink and hides the alcohol well. A very impressive imperial stout from Saint Arnold.

Cask at The Stag’s Head along with KAggie, Zinister, bleeng and TexasJeep. Pours a dark black with a nice tan head. This one had to let warm up to pick up the aroma. Once warmed, this one had a good bourbon, oak, malt and a hint of alcohol in the nose. Taste was of bourbon, but not overpowering, oak, malt, coffee and chocolate. Yum! This was delicious. Mouthfeel was medium, not chalky, and had a bitter chocolate aftertaste. I drank down two of these (bar limit) and seriously desired more. These went down very smooth for an Impy Stout. Too bad they don’t bottle it and that it’s in such low supply. They only had it a select few locations that had casks and only one keg/cask per pub. Have to desperately seek it before it’s all gone.

Cask at The Stag’s Head with bleeng, MaltOMeal, Zinister, and TexasJeep.
Finally, Houston, we have a winner. Pours a deep, dark, and eerie black with an olive green head. Aroma is a blend of bourbon barrel oak, raisin, plumb, and cherry- heck, take your pick of the darker fruits; they’re in there. Flavor is a thick bundle of oak, bourbon, chocolate, coffee, and cherry. Let this one warm up to almost room temperature; you’ll be glad you waited. Full, thick, and dirty mouthfeel. This is the beer Houston has been waiting for; get it while you can.

Was enjoyed at the Saint Arnold’s St.Patty’s day Party 2008.

Pours with a fat thumb head, with decent stout lacing...

Smell is amazing, lots of sweet bourbon and chocolate plum...

Lots of bourbon upfront but it really is remarkable how enjoyable it is, despite the fact that its like sipping straight bourbon...

This beer would age soooo beautifully!!!

A wonderful beer that I was honored to have tried at a really fun event, but that open bar kicked my butt in the end!!

Rerate 4-11-2008: Shared with the RB Houston crew at Stag’s Head. It’s a virtual replica of what I had last year, but the bourbon was integrated much better with this cask. Wasn’t nearly as hot with no chalky mouthfeel. Creamy finish. I do still feel the mouthfeel is just a bit thin for the style, but still a very nice beer from Saint A’s. Had at the St. Patty’s Day Party 2007. Dark brown black with thick tan head. Sweet roasted malts with just a hint of bourbon on the aroma. Taste is mostly the same, although I got some mild dark chocolate flavors as well integrated into the bourbon taste. Not perfect, but not bad either. 7/3/7/4/14 = 3.5