Silver Creek Imperial Mai-Bock

Beer #25 at GTMW ’09. Just looks fine in the glass. Nice lager smell, just a little heavy. Another great imperial lager taste. Just a good imperial bock. And the more beers I sample here, the shorter my review notes get.

Sampled @ GTMW ’09 - Amber clear pour with a small white head. Smells of apple, but not much else -- a little sweet malt. Taste is lots of alcohol heat, more malt, and the same apple in the smell. The carbonation was jacked up to high, and there just wasn’t much here. Not a fan.

Orange-brown color profile. First thing that hits you is the strong peppery alcohol. Then comes caramel, malt, plums and toffee. It has been a while since I’ve had this one but from memory this beer was very enjoyable if you aren’t knocked out by initial alcohol. Very unique offering, to say the least.

Clear dark amber body with a tiny off-white head. The nose is sweet and vinous with herbs, plums and toffee. The flavor is moderately sweet, lightly bitter with golden raisins, herbs and slightly medicinal. Medium/full body is just slightly rough with moderate carbonation and a warm finish.

On tap at the brewpub on 6/21/07: Pours a transparent dark copper orange with a thin white head. Intensely rich sweet caramely German malty nose has a light noble hoppy presence. Starts with a touch of stinging carbonation before a viscous sweet caramel body and drier bittering hop balance before a warming peppery finish. An interesting and fairly complex brew.

12oz handbottle, courtesy of Dickinsonbeer. Thanks, Paul! Pours a bright, orange-amber color; minimal head formation. Dense, candy sugar and slightly sweet aroma; a bit one-dimensional. Medium-to-full mouthfeel: relaxed carbonation; boozy, chewy candy sugar; alcoholic mouthfeel: dried fruits and singular sugar presence; generous but a bit underwhelming. Lengthy, chewy candy sugar finish.

Poured from a 12 oz handbottle. Semi clear dark amber pour. Rye, molasses, and alcohol on the nose; butterscotch, pistachio, hazelnut, and a hint of wild rice fill it out. Similarly dry and earthy flavor with nuts, maple, and very light citrus hops. Medium bodied palate with plenty of heat; a pasty, burning finish of rye whiskey mash. A touch of salt and pleasant munich malt; alcohol weighs a bit too heavily. More or less underwhelming. Thanks for sharing, Paul!

Thanks to Dickinsonbeer for sharing part of his growler. Pours a deep amber with a small head. Aroma is very potent- with tons of caramel, raisins, toffee. Taste is very smooth, with alot of caramel, toasted malts, raisins, brown sugar and caramelized munich-type malts. Finishes fruity and smooth...the body is very full but this never becomes cloying. The aroma and taste suggests of alcohol at times but it is so well hidden for it’s strength. This impy-maibock is just ridiculously good. Thanks again Paul!!!