Samuel Smiths Imperial Stout

Brewed by Samuel Smith
Style: Imperial Stout
Tadcaster, England

This was actually the first Imperial Stout I ever sampled, years ago. I’m nostalgic for the days when picking up a bottle or two of this was a thrilling and exotic experience. I remember the association I had with the taste...like something a sailor from a Melville novel would be found downing pints of after dark, the flavors redolent of another place and period in history... This is a highly unique and acclaimed Imperial, regal, powerful and mysterious. Commands respect.

From a bottle--Poured a light brown-black with a moderate to small head. Nose of chocolate and bold coffee malts. Roasty, crisp, and light-bodied for a stout. Very nice beer. Flavor remained on my tongue for a while after beer was gone. A truly classy beer.

In general, I’m against beers that are "filtered and pasteurised in clear glass bottles" but this is a pretty good stout. Pours a clear blackish brown with red highlights. and a creamy, lacy tan head. The aroma is dominated by molasses, but has some light citrus. Full, chewy, almost syrupy body with light carbonation. The taste has more molasses and citrus, along with chocolate and a bit of pine and smoke in the finish.

Sample at BevMo! beer tasting. An ok stout...but was expecting more from all of the hype. Typical nose of roasted malt, coffee and dark chocolate...some hints of hops. Flavor profile was similar, with mainly roasted coffee at the front. Bitter finish.

Pours deep black with short off brown head. Lovely aroma of burnt grains, chocolate and dark fruits. Medium smoooth body, just brilliant. Complex taste of dark fruits, roast grains and coffee. Chocolate bitter finish. Very slight alcohol taste present. Still, brilliant beer for #100. Re-rate: Still absolutely brilliant. Picked up a bit of liquorice in the aroma and flavour this time though. Less alcohol present in finish this time. Less bitterness in finish too. I think i may have served it warmer this time (~15 degrees rather than ~10).

7/13/02: black and Tan! roasted coffee cocoa garbage in a barnyard! roasted! Smooth! light bodied! dirt.. soil.. garbage.. old...good...sweet...bitter! THis beer had 2 feet of dust on it when I bought it so I think it was old...that’s twice in 1 day...By the way..this brew is way too light to be an imperial stout IMO
Requested Re-Rate 7/28/02 roasted nuts and coffee aroma, still a bit of barnyard garbage though...aha..far less soil garbage flavor than the first time...a tad bit of chocolate covered fruit, brilliantly contrasted cocoa and plum with some added coffee notes..definately not as light bodied as before....much better I must admit but still not up there with its american cousins
Re-Rate 9/3/02: Lots of complexity but still very light bodied compared to others..

Pours black with a light tan head. Roasted malt aroma. Coffee and chocolate flavor. Medium body. Seems to be lacking compared to some other IS’s. Still a good beer.

Thick and full,black on black,roasted,chocolate,fruitychanges with age,port/sherry notes.