Southampton Imperial Russian Stout

(Bottle 75 cl) Courtesy of MaxxDaddy/jessbnjess. Pours opaque black with a dense and creamy, light brown jead. Fat and rich aroma of burned malts. The body is solid with plenty of hard roasted malts. Ends on a very malt bitter note. A very solid Imperial Stout indeed, just needs some more personality to be way up there with the big ones. 220308

Bottle thanks to Maxxdaddy. A black beer with a big brown head, just beautyful ! The aroma and taste is of roasted malt, rye bread, chocolate, licorice, coffee and hops, light alcoholic. Medium to full body with a long dry light alcoholic finish.

(22oz bottle, vintage 2005, thanks Barry) Medium dark brown head atop an oily black body. Aroma is moderately sweet, rich chocolate, espresso, some roast, light vanilla. Taste is moderately sweet, roasty chococoffee, some lactose. Some hops in the background lend a semblance of balance, but truly this is about the malts. Smooth medium-full body that holds the alcohol quite well -- I was amazed at how quickly I downed this one.

Date: 05/24/2008
Mode: Hand Bottled
Source: Tasting, Cellar Party

Appearance: black, fine dark tan head, bits of drippy lace,
Aroma: sweet dark chocolate aroma with a dark fruity sweetness and light roasted,
Body: creamy body,
Flavor: rich chocolate flavor, nice milky sweetness, balancing roastedness, lasting bitter finish follows the roasted character,

Aroma: 8/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 16/20
Rating: 4/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: ***/4

75 cL bottle, thanks to MaxxDaddy. 2008 version. Pours dark brown to black with a chocolate brown and with a lacing white head. Roasted malt aroma. Smooth roasted malt and chocolate. Smooth roasted finish with a light chocolate note. Dry roasted bitterness into the finish. Goes into a distinct roasted acidic flavour in the far finish.