Triumph Imperial Stout

On tap at GABF 2009. This was decent but not one of the better RISes I had there. Nice appearance, jet black with a large tan head. Aroma is pretty good, with roast, coffee, chocolate, and dark fruits. Flavor falls a bit short. Sweet malt, roast, coffee, chocolate, red berries, alcohol, and...well...water. Nice flavor but it’s just not all there like I expect for a RIS. Palate is somewhat weak and watery for the style, and a bit boozy.

From the Jug at the GABF, Colorado Convention Center 11/10/2007 Fruit and coffee aromas. Small beige head. Black rich on the palate and strong in alcohol with a bitter lasting full coffee roast finish.

Nitro at Philly location. Aroma of chocolate, cream, nuts (almonds?), sweet roasted malt. Flavor suddenly has tons of incredibly sweet, dark fruits and an equally intense, sweet, alcohol character. There is also a chocolate creaminess and nice dark grains, but there is way too much sweetness and alcohol getting through here. The palate becomes quite cloying and alcoholic very fast. I have to think this would be better taken off nitro, but either way, sadly this beer with some really nice aromas and flavors turned into a sweet, alcoholic mess.

On tap at the brewpub in Philadelphia. Pours black with a thick nitro head. Aroma of chocolate, and chalky roasted malt. Flavor of sweet rich malt, chocolate, alcohol. A bit heavy on the mouthfeel. The aroma is better than the flavor. Hard to drink. 7/4/6/3/13 (3.3/5)

GABF 2007. Nice sweetness at first. The initial flavor is of chocolate hop oil. After that it opens into a fuller hop-forward taste as the malts fade. Finish is dry and dusty, earthy, and it goes on forever. One of the hoppier stouts I’ve had in a while. Smells of toffee, caramel, and roasted malts, but none of the coffee or chocolate that I’ve come to expect from this style (a nice change of pace).

On tap in Philly. Very dark black with a nice rich chocolate head. The aroma is potent and full of chocolate, coffee, and alcohol. The taste is smooth, creamy, and delicious. Lots of espresso, cocoa, spice, heat, oak and roasty notes. Delicious.

On tap at the Brew Pub, Philadelphia 18-11-08. Pours black with a creamy very Guinness like head on top apart from the head is tan in colour. The taste is exceptionally smooth and creamy with some nice soft and roasty flavours a bit like Irish coffee at times in both appearance and smoothness but with less of a coffee edge. The alcohol whilst ever present never intrudes and is a warming presence. A good beer that I was hoping would have been even better, but it lacked overall complexity to move it onto the next notch. A6 A5 F6 P4 OV14 3.5

Philly location. Now this is a great stout. Rich white head, creamy mouthfeel and good taste. Chocolate, coffee, roasted malt, and balanced well. Very drinkable.