Samuel Smiths Imperial Stout

Brewed by Samuel Smith
Style: Imperial Stout
Tadcaster, England

This was my first experience with an imperial stout so I may end up re-rating. Poured a beautiful, glossy dark black with a caramel colored 1 inch head that faded quicker than I thought it would. The aroma was rich and dark and a bit like coffee or chocolate. Very pleasant. From the first small sip, I knew I was in different territory. I was struck by the sheer richness and darkness and all of the different aromas and tastes tha I experienced while drinking this beer. As the beer slowly warmed, it got even better. I did notice the alcohol more than in the other beers I’ve rated but I thought it added to the experience. Overall, I thought this was a wonderful beer. I have another bottle out back to try later on and to be honest, its taking all of my willpower not to crack it open right now.

Pours black with a slight head. Roasty, slightly fruity, and slightly chocolate aroma. Taste is pretty sweet, but with a mild touch... doesn’t knock you out like some imperial stouts. Definite notes of chocolate, roasted malts, and a slight alcohol taste. Drinkable when cold, but better when warm... of course.

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.