Samuel Adams Imperial Stout

Brewed by Boston Beer Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Boston, Massachusetts USA

Aroma hits me first: anise, caramel, coffee. Pours a bizarre dark color between reddish-brown and purple. Liquid remains that color, darker yet, head lightens up to an off-white. Taste is rich from every angle... very malty, anise comes in... caramel sweetness blends well with dark coffee tones. Occasional hint of something between citrus and evergreen. Chocolate tones are bitter, like baking chocolate, not candy-bar sweet. Alcohol taste is there, quietly waiting to come out more in the aftertaste. Carbonation a little lower than average.

12 oz. -> snifter. Pours a deep, rich mahogany, with midnight highlights. A brown head, with quick dissipation and minimal lacing. Smells of caramelized bananas, chocolate, cherries, and opium resin, with a subtle soy sauce smack. Tastes similar: bananas and cherries, brewed soy, and a nice hoppy balance in the end. No heavy alcohol taste, as could be the case with an imperial. Great beer.

Bottle. Thought the "Imperial" series would be more marketing than substance, but this was the real deal. Black as night, with aromas of chocolate and cherry. Leaves an oily lacing on my glass. Taste is bitter espresso, roasted malts, chocolate. Very long finish of cocoa and dried cherry, with some black licorice. Complex. A perfect beer for a cold winter’s evening.

Pours with a fluffy tan head, somewhat weak aroma of chocoalte malt, roasted coffee. Roasted coffee and chocolate also dominate the flavor, bitter backend. Excellent mouthfeel, just enough carbonation. Long finish Not bad at all.

Bottle. Poured dark brown to black with a nice beige head. Aroma of roasted malt, some dark fruit, licorice, bitter hops. Taste is similar, with chocolate, coffee, dark fruit, light hop and alcohol finish. Mouth is pretty roasty and a little bitter in the finish. Overall, a nice imperial stout.

Bottle. Pours thick and jet black with a thin brown head. Aroma consists of caramel, coffee, alcohol and a roasty aspect. Tastes very sweet with a medium bitterness accompanied by a full body and thick feel.

Malty and bready aroma. Amazing appearance with a burnt meringue head that dissipated to a ring. Oil-black, opaque. Malty intro with thick, syrupy mouthfeel that becomes quite bitter. The finish has dark chocolate as well as black coffee notes. The strength is evident. Definitely a winter warmer.

maybe it’s just the psychological samuel adams effect. it was ok. ok head, lacing. decent taste. standard imp stuff, a little alcohol-y. would pass in favor of several other RIS.