Samuel Smiths Imperial Stout

Brewed by Samuel Smith
Style: Imperial Stout
Tadcaster, England

Pours clear but very dark with a head more brown than tan that fades quickly. Lacing remains and is thick and smooth. Lovely in the glass. Nose is sweet like brown sugar and molasses with a hint of something green (cucumber or broccoli, maybe?) giving it a nice, sharp edge. Flavor is rich and complex, a roasted, bitter coffee balanced by molassesy sugar. I could use a bit more sweetness to go with the mouthfeel; there’s some heft on the tongue, and it leaves my mouth a bit sticky. Sips finish dry with little alcohol apparent. A hefty beer flavor-wise with a relatively low ABV makes this one right up my alley.

$8.99 / 4 Pack- Been trying to track this one down for a while. I wouldn’t say this is Smith’s specialty, but not a bad showing. Surprised how much hops come through on this one. Probably wouldn’t classify this as an "imperial" at 7 % ABV, but this is more of a triviality.

From bottle shared by awiseman. Nose is of dark molasses and brown sugar with some alcohol. Pours a thick deep brown with a fading one-finger tan head. The first thing i notice is some sour funk, with a little bit of malt in the finish. Some dark chocolate notes as well. The sourness lingers to the next sip, with kind of an oily mouthfeel. Very strange IS. Don’t know that its one of my favorites.

Bottle from Red Barrel in Mooresville, shared with Brother Nathan. Pours dark black pearl with slight brown edge and thin creamy beige head. Nose is sweet licorice and molasses. Taste is dry, nutty, bitter, mild hops, on top of dark roasted malt and rich black licorice. Flavor is pretty dry and earthy overall. Not bad.

Beautiful looking. Dark as night with a nice two finger caramel head. Aroma is sweet with some fig, dates, malty chocolate, and alcohol. Taste is pretty lacking comparatively. Malty taste with barley and a little alcohol. Nice brew

Solid black, creamy brown head. Aroma- malty biscuit, fruit, milk chocolate, nut, mocha, vanilla, butter. Taste- sweet light milk chocolate with a dark chocolate bitter finish. A lighter Imperial stout than others for sure. Good creamy texture and roast finish.

Pours a sizable tan head, mostly dinishing. Aroma of dark roasted malts - coffee, chocolate, dark fruits. Nice though as it is not "smoky" - not a fan of smoky beers. Thick mouthfeel with a slightly bitter finish. Nice offering of the style, just not my style of preference.

Pours black with a large crema head that fades to an inch or so quickly, then is just lacing. Roasted malts, cocoa, stewed and dried fruits - prunes, raisins, figs. Some smoke and earth. Quite full bodied, has rich sweetness but no port characteristics. Sweetness is shortlived and then there is a long, dry but not particularly bitter finish. A bit salty too. Pretty restrained all around for the style and lovely for it.