Southampton Imperial Russian Stout

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

Bottle # 272/450 compliments of laroja. Poured a dark black color with brown tan head. Flavor and Aroma of cocoa, roasted malts, coffee, raisins and some hops. Low to medium carbonation. Overall pretty good.

Wow. It’s been awhile since I’ve been really underwhelmed by a beer that’s been well hyped/rated, especially one like this. Received via trade with daknole a few weeks back and cracked this open the first chance I had to properly share it. My brothers house was the location, and our Thanksgiving after Thanksgiving get together with friends and neighbors. This was one of the beers towards the end. We didn’t have a huge amount of beers to have (7-8) so I don’t think it was palate fatigue. Anyways...

The beer pours out a stunning onyx black body with a huge 3 finger dark brown/grayish looking color, tight bubbles, creamy and nice lacing left behind. Notes of coffee, dark chocolate, rubbing alcohol, black licorice and jammy dark fruits. First taste, I get the coffee/dark chocolate notes up front but there’s something strange. I get a ton of ashy sawdust/bloody/mineral/olive oil thing going on which is strange. Very astringent too. I let it warm-up a little more (we were drinking outside, so it was already about 60 degrees) and nothing changes, except for a nutty bitterness seems to creep in that I didn’t get the first few sips. I kept going back to the beer for about 30 minutes or so, swirling, warming with my hands, etc. It just didn’t change for the better at any point.

I asked my brother, who is also a beer geek, what he thought and without giving him my thoughts, he just said he felt like it was a bloody mucusy mess in his mouth! Yeesh. I don’t know about that but the beer seemed to look good in every aspect save for the taste, which if fell on it’s face I think. A bad bottle perhaps? Maybe, can’t rule it out. But I think this was a once in a lifetime beer, so I doubt I’ll get a second chance with it. Bummer.

Bottle #381 / 450

2009 Bottle # 375/450 - Than.ks Jake65! - Pours thick and almost black with a small tan head...aroma is very nice, dry roasty malt, cocoa and coffee...flavour is similar, bitter charred wood, black coffee, some dark chocolate and malt keep it in balance...great mouthfeel with a lingering, coating finish...very tasty!

2009 Bottle (375/450) - thanks beerbill. Pours a near black color with a creamy brown head. Aroma is a bit boozey, but rich in espresso and heavy roast. This is where it gets tricky... Heavy roast, espresso, dark chocolate, it’s just so rich and silky. Nothing to pick apart, nothing exotic to point out. I enjoyed this thoroughly.

Bottle @ HotD dock sale [I think thanks to Hannont is in order for this one]... Poured black with a reddish brown head. Boozy and warming all the way through. Smoked malts and burnt, sugary chocolate.

bottle thanks to maltomeal. poured black with a copper head. aroma of caramel, dark roast, anise, and vinous notes with the flavor being the same.

Bottle thanks to Maltomeal. Dead black with a nice small brown head. Extremely aromatic, roasty, licorice, alcohol, chocolate. Taste is very alcoholic, syrupy, chocolately, burnt-complex. Thick lucious palate-nice sipper and well done.