Sonoran Inebriator Stout

Brewed by Sonoran Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Phoenix, Arizona USA

Name: Inebriator
Date: 05/16/2007
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting
Vintage: 2004

black, fine beige head, drops of lace, sweet roasted malt aroma, sweet malt flavor, lots of roasted, nice licorish sweetness, touch of bitterness for balance, warming,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 13/20
Rating: 3.3/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **+/4

Had this one on tap at Pinnacle Peak Patio. Pours so black you could hold it up to your car’s headlights, turn the high beams on and still not see through this one. Head disappeared too quick though. Very malty, with strong hints of caramel, chocolate and molasses. Real tasty! Finish was long and refined. A must if your in these parts!

Pours a black color with a brown head. Aroma is malty roasty, and diacetyl. Flavor is malty, fruity, and a nice buttery diacetyl finish.

THanks to Weeare for sharing this one. 12 oz bottle from 2004 I think. Starts off looking pretty good- light blackish- deep brown with amber highlights and a nice tan head which fades. Aroma starts out with some coffee, chocolate and sweet caramel malts but ther eis a hint of sourness and lactic acid. The acidity is amplified in the flavor, probably due to the high levels of roasted malts and whatever was causing that lactic slightly sour smell (possibly bacteria?). Red wine, oak, vanilla, rum, and dark fruits like raisins are also noticed. The finish is a bit tart and the alcohol is detected. Ok overall, but not that great. Possibly past its prime.

12oz bottle shared courtesy of weeare138 (thanks for letting me pull this one out of your cellar!). Labeled bottled on July ’04. Poured a dark, dark brown color with a small sized off white head. Aromas of chocolate, dark fruits, and a little smoky. Tastes of the same with an underlying sourness starting to come on. I think we saved this from Mike’s cellar before it completely turned south. I’d like to try a fresh sample (send me one if you can get it!).

Reading the other reviews on here it should be noted that any bottled reviews are old since that was done by the old Sonoran Brewing Company, the new company does not bottle but the beer is only available on draft. The beer is a very strong, dark stout. Very well done. Personally I think it could benefit from having a little bit more chocolate flavor than it does. A good beer for a winter day nonetheless.

I was given this growler from Scott Yarosh, the brewmaster and basically the only dude at Sonoran. PRECURSE: There are to brew houses, Sonora, and Sonoran, this is Sonoran. Sonora only recently actually obtained a brewery. Both their’s Papago’s, Pinnacle Peak’s and of course Sonoran’s are all made by Scott. Thanks for the beer Scott. That being said... Pours black as tar, with a surprisingly lighter tan head. This bad boy is 9 malts and all 9 of them are fighting to take the nose. It’s all dark fruits, brandy, plum currents, sweet dark chocolate, bitter coffee, toffee, molassis, and peanut brittle. The taste is remarkably smooth. this is so developed and balanced. It’s absofuckinlutely intense. The alcohol is so stealthy it’s ridiculous. It breaks my heart that this is in Phoenix, and not here. The only reason that this beer isnt perfect is because the alcohol makes it slightly less than quafible. They serve this at Pinnacle Peak in Scottsdale. Go there just for the beer, and stay for a steak, I guess. I think that this beer is best when poured by the brewmaster himself.

Very well done Imperial Stout from an impressive Arizona brewery. At 9.1% abv, its a very warming and soothing brew, perfect for cold desert nights. Inebriator pours to a jet back color with a slight tan head, and a soft to moderate amount of carbonation. The nose on this beer is excellent, with lots of big aromas of dark chocolate, coffee, roasty, licorice, and a touch of smoke. The palate is rich and full, with big flavors of sweet malt, dark chocolate, anise, and coffee. Inebriator finishes with more dark chocolate malt character and roast, then ends with a soothing, warming, peppery burn. Excellent Imperial Stout. A beer that would work very well the deserts, and makes a great night cap.