Samuel Smiths Imperial Stout

Brewed by Samuel Smith
Style: Imperial Stout
Tadcaster, England

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.

An imperial stout that doesn’t try way to hard at anything except just being a good imperial stout. Mild sweet, carmel, roasted aroma. Flavor is sweet, but not too sweet. Nice carmel malt, coffee, and a bit of hops.

Bottled. Black colour, big beigeish brown head. Aroma is roasted malts, wood, some caramel and fudge. Flaour is caramel malts, hops and some slight acidic fruityness. Quite nice.

Pours a pitch black with a pale brown head. Beautiful port-like aroma, with hints of soy and graham-cracker. OMG PONIES. Tastes amazing - port and graham-cracker from aroma are present again, along with subtle hopping, a bit of honey, and a warm alcoholic finish (not eye-watering, but lightly alcoholic). Body is a tad thin, but at this point I really don’t care. What a gorgeous beer - straddles the line between impy stout and dessert wine. Thank you hogtownharry!!!

Second-favorite beer? Tied for third? It’s cruel to pit them against each other. You know what I’m saying. Well anyway it’s right up there. I was a Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stout guy for years in terms of stouts, never bothering to try this one because I so liked the sweetness of the Oatmeal one. Well they were out of that one day so I got this one. Surprise! I actually liked it better! It was a little sad, so fond had I grown of the Oatmeal. I never told Oatmeal of my new love, but I think it knows now. Sad. I wish I had an Imperial in front of me right now so I could think more about why I like it so much and speak you guys’ language regarding all the tastes and feels. I just know I love it. Go get one of those fat bottles now that the weather is changing and kick back and soak up its rich, hearty goodness. Have some stew, why don’t you? Nod off in front of the fire. This stout’s for you. I sure would like to find it on tap some day.