Southampton Imperial Russian Stout

Brewed by Southampton Publick House
Style: Imperial Stout
Southampton, New York USA

Black as night colour with some light brown coloured head. Lots of chocolatey aromas. Lots of roast and chcocolate tatse, some bitterhops in there as well.

I’m cracking this alone in celebration; damnit I’m worth it. 2005 Bottle received, from NYBeer a few days back. Looking into the top of the bottle reveals little patches like oil slicks, radiating a bit of color. Weird. Small frothy bubbles on the pour. Impenetrably black; and the head dies immediately to a tiny ring. Palate a bit too fizzy. Nose of fresh pine and hay, very grainy. Deeply bitter chocolate flavors, with plum, raisin and pine sap, surprising alcohol for only 9.5%. Great beer - I love the bitterness, but could be balanced by more plum (a superbly balanced example I’ve had recently was the Imperial by Blind Tiger). In other words, a bit harsh.

2005 bottle - Black body, creamy light brown head; Great nose with a complexity that is rarely found in a US-style Russian Imp. St. malt, very bitter fruity chocolate, great, very much like a very bitter piece of Valrhona chocolate; Huge very soft carbonation, soft very nice texture, bitter but lacks a bit of power; Very long finish, bitter, lots of alcohol present, bitter chocolate, lots of cane sugar aromas, super long. Amazing beer, thanks Jeppe.

The last beer I had at the Hampton tasting. I am ashamed to say I poured my last oz or two out. My stomach was that messed up. Pours a pitch black color, light brown head. Aroma is sweet, full of chocolate malt and hops. This is really coming into itself. The aging was helping the hops die down a bit. The body was a little too roasty for my taste.

Pours an opaque black with a brown head. Aroma is coffee, roasted malts, caramel, cocoa, and chocolate. Flavor is malty, caramel, molasses, roasted malts, chocolate, coffee, and a bitter roasty finish.

Bottle shared at the Hampton. Pours a thick black with a tan head. Coffee dominates the strong aroma with chocolate. Bakers chocolate, bourbon, and so much roastiness in the flavor, like dry coffee beans on my tongue. A big, thick, and delicious beer.

Big ups and a happy b-day to boboski for sharing this special beer with me. Your generosity is unmatched. Pours pitch oil black with a thick, lacey, well retained brown head. Extremely thick and rich looking. The head stuck around for a very long time, I couldnt believe it. Unusual for an imperial stout. Big, rich chocolate in the aroma, with a touch of coffee which blends nicely, with just a speck of some hops too. Pretty big roasted malts as well. Taste is pretty big coffee, but nothing overpowering, Rich chocolatey goodness surrounds my taste buds and dances on the tongue. Wow, is all I can say with the flavor in this beer. The mouthfeel is incredible as the finish keeps getting bigger and bigger. The roastiness is incredibly blended wth the chocolate, the balance is incredible. Once again thanks boboski for sharing this with me, it has the honor of taking over my top rated beer!

This was out of my bottle at the Hampton, and I can’t remember who I traded to get this bottle. Very dark beer with a foamy brown head. Nose of molassess, tar, roasted grains and expensive chocolate. Rich, full mouthfeel. Lots of roasted coffee, bitter chocolate and a toasted grain astringency that balances out the sweeter flavors. Dry alcohol finish, but not that detracts from the beer. This is a great sipping beer.