Samuel Smiths Imperial Stout

lots of flavors well mixed and balanced. Even with this it just hides the ABV which still comes through. Hint of Chocolate, toffee, coffee. It follows the other styles that Samuel Smith produces.

Pours black with some very slight reddish highlights around the rim and a tan coloured head. Aromas of caramel and dark fruits dominate, raisins, prunes and figs. Palate is not quite as full as i’d expected. Chocolate, toffee, coffee some slight dark fruit notes evident as it warms. Finish is full of bitter dry roast accompanied by some slight brandied fruit characters. Perfectly balanced with great texture! Definately an example of the style with finesse more than power.

Thick foamy espresso head that leaves thick lacing as it thins Body is black. Dark chocolate, roasted coffee, smokey aroma. Full bittersweet malty choco java taste.

355ml bottle served slightly chilled. Pours a black body, hint of ruby highlights, decent light brown head that leaves plenty of lace. Plenty of roastiness on the nose; smooth dark chocolate, toffee sweetness, latté coffee, nuts, with some raisin and dried fruit creeping in with warmth. Velvety smooth body, low but creamy carbonation, fair whack of drying grain astrigency and bitterness manifests itself midpalate and lingers, coating the mouth for an eternity. Big flavour; plenty of bold mocha character and British crystal malt sweetness, and inbetween all of the coffee, chocolate and toffee, theres some sublte fig, date and raisin fruitiness that would probably become more prominant with aging. Finish is very dry and bitter, lingering coffee, alcohol really doesn’t show itself. I’d say this is a good introduction to the Imperial stout style, borderline Foreign-style, but has a bit more roastiness and complexity. Very nice overall, glad I got a chance to try it!

Pours nearly pitch black with a generous, three-finger brown head. Aroma is Worcestershire sauce, brandy, dark chocolate. Some fantastic lacing here! A little salty and watery on the palate but not unpleasant. Taste is African coffee, dark chocolate, raw cocoa, roasted malt, molasses. Hops are muted but are certainly doing the job of balancing the sweetness. Overall a solid imperial stout.

At the bierkoning in amsterdam, darkbrown/black, very bitter, dark roasting, in balance but overall a bit to much stout.

a-toasty and nutty a- dark and beautiful f- bitter with a strong alcohol finish (I drank it at to cold of a temperature) p- not as smooth as expected, blaming temp. o- gave it high overall because I screwed up the temp.

Excellent beer. Very thick and chocolaty. Feels like velvet in your mouth. Highly recommend. Plus, not too strong for an imperila stout.