Sandbacka Imperial Stout

Brewed by Sandbacka Bryggeri
Style: Imperial Stout
Sandviken, Sweden

2009-12-01, draught at Nya Tröls, Malmö, 10-5-8-4-18=45
Black color. Wonderful and original aroma, distinguishing this beer from all other Imperial Stouts: black bean sauce, liquorice, light smoke. The flavor mixes well roasted malts and chocolate; there is also some liquorice, and it has a salty feeling.

2009-11-29, draught at Nya Tröls, Malmö, 8-4-9-4-17=42
Black color; creamy head, big, with a thin persistent layer. Mild but very nice aroma: chocolate, roasted hazelnuts, light vanilla, hop, chinese kitchen spices (black bean sauce...). Medium body strength; dark caramel and chocolate flavor, rich; vibrating; it has a strange but interesting spice profile; also a very light sourness from the roasted malt. Correct bitterness; the final is drier than most Imperial Stouts, with a bit more black malt showing up. Excellent.

On tap at Örebro Öl & Whisky Festival. Pitch black color. Very nice vinous aroma of dried fruits, raisins, chocolate, and almonds. Flavour is nicely fruity (for an imperial stout) and vinous with lots of raisins, chocolate and almonds in harmony. Complex and enjoyable. Fullbodied. Really good and underated. Really thick and impressive body. Would love to try it again!

From tap at Nya Tröls. Poursblack to dark brown with a chocolate brown and dense creamy head. Aroma is dark malty, chocolate, roasted and wineous to alcoholic. Thick mouthfeel. Wineous, oxidised, wooden, dark rich chocolate and heavy breadish malt and dark roasted flavoured. Bitter, slight acidic and light metallic touch. Lingering dark malty flavoured finish.

Draft. A pitch black beer with a brown head. The aroma is very powerful and at first dominated by wood and alcohol, and peat, but also with medium notes of roasted malt - a bit too much. The flavor is sweet with strong notes of prunes, alcohol, wood, thick soy sauce, and peat, leading to a dry, alcoholic, and roasted finish.

On-tap. Bishops Arms Järntorget, Porterveckan. Black colour with a brown head. Aroma: vinous, fruity, a bit sourish, light roast, chocolate, raisins. Flavor: roasted & sweet, fruity, a bit sourish, chocolate, salty licorice, light bitterness, some alcohol.

Draught@SBWF2009. Pitch black colour, small brown head. Aroma is liquorice, strong maltyness, mild roasted notes, coffee and some mild nuttyness as well. Flavour is roasted malts, liquorice, sweet salted liquorice and also some wooden and nutty notes. Very nice. Alcohol is high, but only gives a mild burn in the finish.

Draught (Stockholm Beer Festival 2009) - Black with a tan head. Roasted, malty and fruity aroma. Fruity taste with rains, chocolate with hints of coffee. The finish is slightly sour and rather rich.