Samuel Smiths Imperial Stout

poured opaque Black, very little carbonation or foam. Strong aroma that hits you with every sip, mixture of sherry and roasted barley. Good flavor complexity, lots of malt, roasted, hints of smokiness and chocolate, slightly dry finish with a little sherry. A true world class ale. One of my favorite stouts.

(bottle) Pours black with a tan head, that slowly dissipated to nothing. The aroma was somewhat offensive in the beginning with acetone with dried strawberry along with some banana. As the beer warmed, the aroma changed to a more chocolate and slight roasted malt scent. Taste was very sour initially, but then changed to a fairly nice roasted malt finish with some chocolate. Not bad, but I remember this being a lot better.

[Bottle] Pours dark brown with a dark tan head. Aroma is very unusual when first opened--a little fruity but more acetone than anything. Not good. However, as it warmed the aroma changed for the better with more chocolate and some malt coming through. Taste is a little sour up front, then some nice chocolate and roasted malt with a bit of alcohol. Decent mouthfeel and smooth. Somewhat dry. This used to be one of my favorite beers, and although the taste is is still good, it overall isn’t as good as I remember--especially the aroma.

This is an outstanding, rich, full-bodied stout while still being smooth and without being at all harsh or burnt tasting. It is black with a short but dense light brown head that lasts forever and leaves some lacing. The aroma is rich prunes, chocolate, with hints of wine and steak sauce. The taste is similarly rich and strong, but smooth, with only hints of bitterness and alcoholic warmth to give it fullness and punch and to balance the sweetness. It tastes of chocolate, earth, leaves, stewed caramellized fruit, especially prunes, and spices, with a faint coffee element in the finish. There is no burnt or unpleasant taset at all, maiking this incredibly smooth for an imperial stout. Outstanding and complex, but not something I can drink a lot of, unlike their Oatmeal Stout.

This is a remarkable beer. It pours a deep black with a copper head that disappears quickly. Looks like a typical stout, lacking the show-stopping head of a Guiness. This beer smells absolutely beatiful. I almost wish I could drink it through my nose. Lots of fruit in the aroma, which surprised me for a stout, but it almost smelled like wine. Also smells of malt, chocolate and coffee. Palate is full, thick and velvety smooth as a stout should be. The flavor is coffee, malt, chocolate with a fruity tang. Has a bit of a winey alcohol flavor as it warms. It’s extremely complex, yet very drinkable.

One of, if not the best beer I have had. I love the easy to drink, yet complex flavor. Compared to say a Guinness extra stout it is not bitter and taste great.

550mL bottle. Pours a beautiful dark brown with a medium tan head that laces nicely. Aroma is of roasted malts, nuts, and sweet chocolate with hint of toffee. Flavor is of sweet caramel with hints of nuts and toffee. A very good balance bitterness to sweetness. Mouthfeel is very smooth and rich. Awesome. My favorite Sam Smith’s brew.

Pours a nice chocolaty brown with little to no head. While cold the smells were subduded, but the first taste was very medicinal and sweet. As the glass warmed up it smelled of soy sauce, malt and coffee. In that order. The taste became even more soy like with strong alcohol currents running thru it. I’ve been a long time fan of Sam Smith brews, notably the Nut Brown Ale. This is the first time i think i’ve had this and i’d like to think that its not this bad. I may have gotten a very bad bottle.