 brewandbbq (269), Manchester, New Hampshire, USA
| 4.5 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 9/10 | 5/5 | 9/10 | 4/5 | 18/20 |
Aug 23, 2007 Updated: Jan 16, 2009
On tap at Ebenezer’s third annual Belgian fest.
Bottles of the product state the ABV at 10%, but De Struise says the beer finished at 13%, and unfiltered.
Although I listed it here under RIS, De Struise insists that is it’s own style- "Royal stout". Not brewed in the tradition for Russian royalty, but with 100% Belgian ingredients and craftmanship, while dedicated to Prince Albert II, King of Belgium.
An exaggerated pour of viscous black liquid from the tap swelled up slowly into the commemorative Ebenezer’s goblet.
The oily, dense brew barely releases it’s grip from the carbonation. Only near the end of the pour, with a ten inch drop from the nozzle, does the cocoa-brown froth shoulder up to the brim.
A solid inch-plus of dense, spongy foam clings to the glass like whipped black forest cake batter.
The body is jet black with no translucency on the edges whatsoever.
Aromatics are extremely rich, complex, and decadent.
Chocolate fudge, espresso grounds, and evaporated Kahlua pave the way, while layers of vineousity, rum-steeped citrus fruits, and pungent hop resin come forward.
An assertive alcohol component follows through only after the massive, dominant stout character fades.
The mouthfeel is, without a doubt, thick and chewy. Mild carbonation is evident, and keeps the brew from being syrupy.
To say that the oily, velvety liquid lingers would be an understatement. A good several minutes is required between sips for Albert to release it’s grip.
The pallet is incredibly balanced for such a strong, massive beer.
An onslaught of dark chocolate, espresso, and roasted malts lend subtlety akin to a ton of bricks.
Plenty of vineousity follows through, as well as a definate green, citrusy, hop presence. The 13% of alcohol steps forward, evident in a chest warming good-bye.
The rich mix of fudge, Marnier spiked cocoa nubs, coffee bean oil, dark roasted malts,
and wine-like undertones,finish with unrelenting duration.
Each sip waves a final
TheDoctor (44), Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| 4.7 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 10/10 | 5/5 | 9/10 | 5/5 | 18/20 |
Nov 26, 2009 black pour with good tan head which lasts for ages. coffee beans, sugar, dried fruits, some hops. complex, massive, but surprisingly I preferred the Struise Pannepot.
pompelmoes (50), Belgium
| 4.6 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 9/10 | 5/5 | 9/10 | 5/5 | 18/20 |
Nov 26, 2009 Intens black in colour with warm-brown coloured head on top. Aroma is very coffee and chocolate like, it has some hints of Belgian yeast, and an interesting fruity side too, cherries, plums and maibe some port wine.
Taste is very smooth, a little warm, but alc is well hidden, also lots of burned and roasted sensations who are well in balance with the refreshing aspects of the fruity caracter of this original Belgian Stout.
cexshun (66), Portage, Indiana, USA
| 3.6 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 6/10 | 5/5 | 7/10 | 3/5 | 15/20 |
Nov 20, 2009 Pours a jet black. Good head that stays forever, Thick and creamy, heavy lacing. Aroma of dark fruits. Surprisingly bitter flavor. Heavy coffee. Raisin, maybe black cherry. Very strong presence of roasted malts. Hoppy finish. Kind of smokey. Thick mouth feel. Carbonation stings a little. Coats very well. Overall, this is just OK for me. I hate heavily hopped stouts, but this one balances OK.
RollinHard (756), Fort Worth, Texas, USA
| 3.8 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 7/10 | 4/5 | 15/20 |
Nov 17, 2009 Many thanks to dchmela for this delightful brew! Pours an unintimidating shade of black with a not-too-dark brown head that lasts a while. Aroma is pretty sophisticated with dark chocolate, espresso, licorice, big dry red wine, tart raisiny Belgian yeast (reminds me of Trappist beers), and a bit of spicy hops. Taste begins chocolatey, but quickly evolves into its Belgian roots with dry, dry red wine characteristics coming through, raisins, earth, unsweetened coffee, leaves, toffee, and wood. Finishes with the yeast and hops winning the race, leaving dry wood, bitter chocolate dust, spicy peppery hops, and a lingering, very dry fruit presence. Medium to full bodied, the 13% feels so much lighter than it is. There’s heat, but this is insanely easy to drink for the size, and the beer is ROUNDED in feel. No sharp flavors stick out, even though I find my mouth craving a bit more sweetness. Oh well, that’s what US brewers are for! The main point here is to really school other brewers on how to use Belgian yeast in an imperial stout, and the beer succeeds.
coldmeat23 (233), Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
| 5 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 10/10 | 5/5 | 10/10 | 5/5 | 20/20 |
Nov 17, 2009 When poured, slowly, this black liquid still manages to be the bottom third of the glass with a massive tan head filling the other two thirds. Wow. Minimal lacing but great head retention.
Dark fruits and sweet roasted malts. Slight yeastiness mixes with apples and pears. Mild vanilla notes. It actually hints at the smell of a nice top-shelf Rum.
Oh, yeah. That’s what I’m talking about, right there. B-A-L-A-N-C-E. Man oh man.
Dark roasted malts mix with sweet candy sugars and a slight hops bite to create ambrosia. Alcohol is very well hidden. Chocolate covered dark fruit flavors. Slight hint of coffee. Toffee and vanilla sweetness. An ever so slight hint of licorice.
All through this, it retains a nice earthy/grainy quality.
Nice and velvet-like in the mouth. Just the way I like it. Very creamy and smooth. Slight touch of oily-ness.
Exceptional! This is one amazing brew. I could drink this everyday from now on out and be completely happy.
Super tasty and super easy to drink. My very first ’perfect’ rating for a beer.
mcbackus (741), Merritt Island, Florida, USA
| 4 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 17/20 |
Nov 14, 2009 bottle from Growler: pours black as can be with a large coffee colored head. A very odd aroma form the first time i had it. Starts with a sour note then fades right into the dark chocolates, cherry, and some roasted coffee but very little. alot like dark chocolate covered cherry aroma.
flavor is full of chocolate a mix of dark and milky smooth chocolate though, a slight almost burnt roast that gives a little drying in the finish the flavor has a little of the cherry like fruit and a slight tartness, but extremely smooth impy stout. very nice stout with a great little hint of sourness that fits well and gives a different flavor to a stout.
proesti (53), Lille Nord, France
| 4.8 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 9/10 | 5/5 | 10/10 | 5/5 | 19/20 |
Nov 14, 2009 I never tated a beer like this before in my life. It looks very black and the mousse is very dark brown. Smell is coffee, chocolate and hops. Also honey, caramel and roasted malts. A big beer with 13% Alc. Fantstic taste ! Finale is sweet, bitter, roaste and warming. Wow, what a great beer
austone (1039), Turku; Pori, Finland
| 4.1 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 5/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 16/20 |
Nov 13, 2009 33cl gusher, BBE April/2013. Pitch black, huge creamy cappucino head, very tight lace. Looks just beautiful. Very herbal, roasted cocoa aroma, raisins, hint of tar, faint solventy note that luckily fades out quickly. Flavor has raisiny madeira and faint smoke tied together nicely, black coffee, burned malts and natural licorice. Finishes dry and ashy, earhy bitterness and little belgian yeast. More soothing cocoa when warm. Full bodied, full and slightly floury palate. Awesome Impy, actually not as assertive as one could expect from the ABV.
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