Samuel Smiths Imperial Stout

Brewed by Samuel Smith
Style: Imperial Stout
Tadcaster, England

Aroma is deep, rich and sweet almost like a Barley Wine. Color is solid black with good carbonation and a tight tan head. Taste is roasted and sweet. It starts with a full body that goes down with a rich smooth feel. Finish comes in sweet raisin like taste, mellow roasted flavors then a very faint bitterness. In the after taste the raisin lingers a bit then fades to a chocolate taste. This is just an amazing Imp. Stout, its soo rich and flavorful that its almost like a Barley Wine. Its hard to believe its only 7% alcohol.

This is the best of the Samuel Smith line, very smooth with no alcohol bite. A good balance not sweet not bitter.

pours black with light tan, soft head. aroma is of dark chocolate, nuts, and a fair amount of smoke. taste is slighlty bitter and certainly dark sweet. finishes smooth with alcohol aftertaste. great beer.

Dark balck with a hint of red. Very nice aroma. The first sip was smoother than most stouts and stayed that way for the enire drink. A hearty beverage which I will enjoy frequently in the future.

I love this beer--probably my favorite stout so far. Comparable to Rogue Chocolate Stout. Less heavy than the US imperial stouts. Smooth, complex chocolate/coffee/nutty goodness.

Aroma: Rich, dark chocolate and deep licorice undertones. Some coffee, a bit of caramel, and a mild black cherry aroma. Alcohol is also present. Not the most complex imperial stout, but one of the most alluring I’ve smelled. Appearance: Velvety smooth and blacker than black coffee; very thick and opaque. Light brown sugar head with a texture like merengue. Gives the impression of a double chocolate cake. Flavor: Heavy licorice taste, a touch of cola. Very flavorful but also quite smooth and subtle; not overwhelmingly or aggressively bitter like some imperial stouts. Excellent chocolate finish, a great brew to serve with dessert. Palate: Very creamy and exceptionally smooth. Could be a bit more chewy, but overall, outstandingly pleasant on the palate. Overall: Perhaps the most drinkable imperial stout I’ve had, well balanced and with an alcohol content of only 7%. Superb.

Poured black, opaque, with no light shining through. Thick two finger tan head dissipated to a solid film and left nice lacing. Chocolate malts dominate the smell, with some roasted coffee and a bit of dark fruit as well. Flavors mirror the aromas, with the chocolate, reminiscent of dark Wilbur cocoa, strongest up front and the coffee lingering at the end. Full bodied, rich chocolate and licorice aftertaste, and silky smooth mouthfeel. Always a wonderful drinking experience, especially on a cold winter evening. For me, this is the benchmark for what a stout should be.

One of the best stouts available right now in my opinion. Pours thick and deep, dark brown, almost black. Short dull tan head. Flavors of bittersweet chocolate and coffee. Not for the weak of heart!