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Smuttynose Imperial Stout

Percentile
99
overall

bottled
common

on tap
common

Broad Distribution
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RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
6103.96/5.03.94/5.0Winter10.1%84.1Snifter
Commercial Description:
After a one year hiatus the Imperial Stout is back in action. We figured that after catching a bit of flack for its absence we’d have it return with a bang. We bumped up the starting gravity from 20° P to 24° P. This allowed the beer to finish just over 10% ABV. Like this year’s Barleywine, we’ve decided to play with the hop character, specifically the dry hop presence. Trying to avoid the fiasco of my previous attempt at adding pellets to the fermentor, I did what any good manager would do: I made Charlie add them. He had the advantage of being able to add the hops directly through a top manway and so his besting me in this challenge is not necessarily a sign of his superior brewing skills but more a reflection of my adventurous, try anything spirit (or at least that’s the story I’m stickin’ to). The Charles added 44 lbs of Cascade, split evenly between two batches, or about half a pound per barrel. We then transferred the beer onto seventy-eight pounds of an even mixture of Centennial and Columbus whole flowers, about one pound per barrel. The beer is a little top heavy in terms of the hopping but it seems to be smoothing out a bit as it’s aging. I’d give it six months or so, if you can wait that long. If not, hey, enjoy it anyway.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 oteyj (726), Canterbury, New Hampshire, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/57/104/516/20
Mar 23, 2008  
Pitch black pour with 1 finger lingering tan head. Intense aromatics in the form of the hop- dominated by pine and citrus. Hops were also quite evident in the flavor- too much so. This is quite over hopped, but somehow still managed to be delicious. Excellent smooth malty backbone, but eclipsed by hops. Oily rich and thick mouthfeel with awesome lingering hoppy aftertaste. This would be incredible after a year or two of cellering, which is exactly what I plan to do.


 deftim13 (103), California, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/56/104/513/20
Mar 21, 2008  
220z bottle. Pours black with a two finger head. This is a thick syrupy stout. Smell is straight hops with a light chocolate, dark fruit and coffee. Taste is piney hops, bitter chocolate, roasted malt with a strange metallic after taste, Mouth feel is thick and a little cloying. Decent Imp. but nothing out there. Was hoping the KTG would play a role in this one and it would have the same character. No such luck.


 xmarcnolanx (792), Kirkwood, Missouri, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/103/57/104/516/20
Mar 21, 2008  
This beer opens up into an orange/citrus hoppy RIS which compliments the more subdued oakiness and dark fruits soaked in cocoa. An interesting aroma for a RIS to say the least. Pours completely opaque with a caramel head. A significant amount of hop bittering with dry, chewy caramel, with subtle hints of a fruity ester. Finish is hoppy bitterness and cocoa. Overall this is a really hoppy imperial stout with a nice citrus finish. Smooth, creamy, resiny. Blind Imperial Stout tasting ---re-rate may be necessary---


 emerica56 (579), Bristol, Rhode Island, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/58/104/515/20
Mar 20, 2008  
Pours a dark black color with a thin tan head that fades quick and leaves some spotted laceing along the sides of the tulip glass it was dumped into. the nose is full clove and lactose sugar with some roasted coffee. As you drink it you can really taste the bitter hops and clove along the sides of your mouth. There is just enough carbonation to go with all of the rich and roasted flavors of the beer. The finish is very robust and full bodied.


 shigadeyo (2263), Harrison, Ohio, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
Mar 20, 2008  
Bottle Conditioned in 2006

3/20/2008: Smuttynose Imperial Stout is dark brown (looks like regular coffee) and has a really thin tan head that quickly fades away. The aroma is huge and very inviting. It contains a wonderful combination of vanilla cream, rich milk chocolate, vodka, mocha-flavored milk, and some really smooth roasted malt. The flavor is like a liquid milk chocolate bar with notes of creamed coffee. Roasted malt abounds in the dry finish at first, but then it become more sweet and mocha-like with undertones of licorice and smoke. Some hop flavor (Cascade-like and slightly soapy) and bitterness also appears briefly in the backend of this beer and lingers through the cigar tobacco-like finish that also contains a bit of apricot that seems to grow as the beer warms. This beer is think and creamy, very smooth and velvety, and all-around excellent on the palate. Overall this is an EXCELLENT beer! It is big, bold, and flavorful as well as balanced, dangerously easy to drink, and quite complex. There are many levels to the aroma and flavor of this beer all of which are exciting to explore and enjoy.

22 fl. oz. bottle from adrian910ss. Thank you Adrian! Rating #398 for this beer...


 Dansting (222), Overland Park, Kansas, USA
4.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
10/104/59/105/518/20
Mar 19, 2008  
Bottle. Poured a blackish-brown color with a medium brown head. Good lacing. Aroma is very pleasant, consisting of vanilla, coffee, and chocolate milk. Mouthfeel is very nice and full. Flavor is very nice, with a strong dark chocolate presence and hints of vanilla, bourbon, and coffee. Thanks to TimmyK77 for the bottle.


 Sparky27 (1585), Phoenix, Arizona, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/517/20
Mar 19, 2008  
2006 bomber courtesy of Puzzl. Pours a pitch black with an intial foamy brown head that fades to nothing but an oil slick quickly. Nose is just a touch of hops with a roasty malt and coffee background. Palate is dark chocolate, black coffee with vanilla added, roasted malt and a slight hop bitter aftertaste, though it doesn’t linger very long. Fairly chewy mouth feel. Nice stout. Would drink again. Thanks Andrew!


 puboflyons (600), New Hampshire, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/105/58/102/515/20
Mar 14, 2008  
From the 1 pint 6 fl. oz (US) Big Beer series. 2008 edition. Beautiful ebony pour with a somewhat brownish-red head, that doesn’t last terribly long. Overall the entire body of the beer is brown-almost black. Aroma is strong and of cocoa, chocolates, and hops. Powerful element of hops in the taste too with the chocolate almost taking a back seat. I am more of a cream stout fan than an Imperiial Stout because Imperials are a bit overwhelming for me. Imperial fans should love this one though. There are a lot of ratings so it must be more widely available.



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