Samuel Adams Imperial Stout

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

Black pour little tan head dark fruit aroma and chocolate ... lots of dark fruit raisin chocolate licorice and roasted malt flavor full bodied definitely taste some alcohol in the aftertaste good stuff definitely warms ya up

12oz bottle. Pours very deep brown, nearly opaque, topped with a modest sized tan head. Aroma of cocoa, licorice, molasses, and raisin. Flavor is initially roasted chocolate malt, raisin, coffee, and dark chocolate. Alcohol and dark fruit become more evident towards the finish. Bittersweet chocolate clings to the palate for a long finish. body is a lot thinner than I expected. Just ok; I expected better.

Super dark black with an off white head. Thick rich pour with some lacing. Nice body and good mouthfeel. Aroma is rich, bitter roasted malts and dark bittersweet chocolate with some vanilla and molasses. Flavor is sweet bitter roasted malts, chocolate and alcohol. The alcohol overpowes some of the good flavors. Smooth and sweet vanilla and cocoa. Lingering alcohol and bitter finish.

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.