Tasted 9/9/08. Pint from the brewpub during the KDHX Tastes for Tunes. Pitch opaque hue with a layer of beige head. Aromas of raisins and port with woody notes. Noticeable alcohol in the nose with dark fruit notes. Dark chocolate and vanilla. Full bodied with a BIG palate. High bitterness and abundant alcohol. Coffee astringency. The Port aspect is noticeable. Full flavored but the body is just a touch thin. Fruity berry esters. Dark cherries and figs. Bitter citrus notes as well. Roasted malts and a creamy middle. Rolling, all encompassing palate. Lingering heat and woody character. Berries, molassis and a lotta vanilla woody notes. The Port is overt, but totally adds to the fruity aspect of the Imperial base beer. It adds such a pleasant dimension! Rock solid!

Aroma is initially sour, sweet, dark fruity malts, some hints at alcohol. Rich, but a bit thin in the aroma, not the aroma itself, but the implication towards the body itself. Taste is sweet port with some sourness, some alcohol, chocolate, a bit of coffee and alcohol. Wow, this is nice and drinkable. Finish is semi-dry, a rarity for good imperial stouts recently (Darkness and Dark Lord for example). I really like this.