Samuel Smiths Imperial Stout

Brewed by Samuel Smith
Style: Imperial Stout
Tadcaster, England

From a botlle poured black with a lot of lingering brown head. Flavor of toasted malt with a lasting finish.

Black in color with a medium head. Aromas were of molasses, brown sugar, bitter chocolate and a touch of coffee. In the mouth it was medium-bodied with plenty of carbonation to keep this fresh. Hops are noticable on the finish keeping it bitter.

Ahhh my first RIS. Classic beer that is not as big as the Darkloards of the world, but is a great RIS. Balck in color with red on edges with a tan head. Aroma is burn malt, chocolate and a hint of coffee. Flavor is mostly burnt malt and chocolate with hints of coffee and alcohol.

It’s been a while since I had this so I’ll re-rate next time I have it but to me this doesnt the huge ABV that’s normal with U.S Imperial stouts. There is a savoury salty bite which finishes the roasted woody coffee flavour off nicely and a notable hop finish to match the sweetness.

Black with small off-white head. Nose of chocolate and roast, but licorice dominates. Taste has licorice, chocolate, and roast, especially strong in aftertaste. Medium to full body. Unique for an Imperial, and though a little clean and straightforward, it’s a good beer; I just don’t like licorice much.

It’s interesting, I’ve had this many times before, but never sat down and rated it. For an imperial stout these days it’s weak, thinner on the palate, lower abv, and what not, with the big boys of today it doesn’t really stand up. But... there is something about the mineral flavor I get from Sam Smiths beers that pairs really nicely with the roastiness of their stout. Lightly smoked character, caramel, and dark chocolate. The flavors act much larger then they are, sort of tricks the brain a bit. Maybe the mineral, almost salty quality to it kinda resets the palate, making the range of sweetness appear greater? The finish unfortunately gives it away, more sugary sweetness, without the solid depth of malts that some of the bigger imp. stouts have. Overall still decent, good flavors up front, but the finish falls short.

550 mL bottle. Pours a not quite opaque, dark brown body with creamy brown head. Nice cocoa aroma with a slight hint of roasted malts, coffee, and anise. Smooth mouthfeel with a palate that’s a bit lighter than I’m used to for an imperial stout. However, the lighter mouthfeel makes this a very drinkable beer. Flavor consists of milk chocolate with hints of coffee, roasted malt, and a touch of smoke and dark fruit. Sweet cocoa finish. A solid offering that is enjoyable to drink.

Bottle, Has the alcohol soaked aroma of doughy bread. Massive head almost as thick as Guinness but more rocky. The head laces all the way to the end. Pitch Black in color. Moderately bitter acidic flavor. Extremely full bodied with a syrupy texture. The finish has a major alcoholic tinge, thus the lower rating. Not a big fan of the flavor of this one.