Samuel Smiths Imperial Stout

Brewed by Samuel Smith
Style: Imperial Stout
Tadcaster, England

Black, tan head.Aroma of chocolate,dark fruit(raisin,prune),a bit of coffee,alcohol, and vanilla.Semi-sweet flavor with a dark chocolate bitterness.The chocolate in the aroma is amplified somewhat upon tasting.Medium body.Ok mouthfeel.Overall,a good beer.

Bottle. Poured jet black with a tan head. Nose of chocolate and banana. Taste is predominately chocolate with sweet maltiness. No hop character to note of, which was a little disappointing, Too sweet for an imperial stout. I was disappointed with this beer, Their oatmeal stout offering was alot better, with better mouthfeel and taste. I thought this beer would have the same velvety feel as the oatmeal stout. Will not bey again.

Bottle. An excellent well rounded beer. Since my discovery of The Abyss, I’ve been trying a lot of Imperial Stouts to learn more about the style. This beer has a wonderful color, including its head (which seems a bit small). The flavor is subtle and does not whack one upside the nogging. The nose is probably the best part of the beer.

Poured bottle, from Bristol Farms in Long Beach, California My first Imperial Stout, I got my first bottle from Bristol Farms. Being new at the time to craft beers I immediately knew to get it, it was covered with a fine layer of dust. I had read that Imp Stouts don’t really get old so I got it assuming that it would not taste skunky, plus I noticed it was in the back of the fridge shelf in the dark. I poured the bottle in my Stone shaker glass and immediately smelled a sweet dark roast,banana and vanilla. I was excited to taste it since it had such a new smell to me. The intial taste was dark roast and chocalate and followed by a strong taste of banana and a vanilla aftertaste with a soft bitter ending. Since that time I haven’t found another Samuel Smith Imp Stout that was as sweet, flavorful and so high in banana taste as that 4 pack that I got. I hope I find another old 4 pack to taste with my more developed palate for beer :) .

Nose is rather vinous to my displeasure, a hint chocolate manages to make its way through. Bottle may be oxidized it appears. Finishes with char, chocolate, and coffee. (Re-rate).

Black with nice tanned head. Coffee, dark chocolate and dark fruits (figs) in the nose. Flavor surprisingly fruity for a stout, not as heavy and burned as I was expecting. Nice, mildly bitter finish. Medium-bodied mouthfeel with very soft, round carbonation. Gets even more softer as it warmers.

I know I am in the minority but I haven’t been a big fan of the Samuel Smith offerings. It seems they all have the same funky aftertaste. I can put my finger on it, but it just throws everything off for me.

Bottle from WLV, Chicago. Opaque black with huge, long lasting, billowing light tan head that settles to a nice burnt tan color. Aroma is sweet dough, slight roasted malt, some dark fruit, very nice. Flavor is cherry, roast, dark chocolate, light whipped cream and smoke. Full and creamy body. This beer is a lot better than I thought it was going be, very nice.