Arcadia Imperial Stout

Brewed by Arcadia Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Battle Creek, Michigan USA

2006 bottle. I’m not sure if there was something wrong with this bottle or what, but it was pretty weird. The aroma had a strange fruity estery smell to it that went with roasty malts, cocoa, and coffee. The flavor was weird too. There was a strange sweetness to it that was also somewhat fruity and cidery, bu it was joined by the bittersweet chocolate malt. Given that this beer poured with absolutely 0 head, I think there’s a good chance that this bottle was oxidized. I still have 2 more so I’ll give them a shot down the road.

2006 bottle; pours a deep brown with a minimal dark tan head that dissipates to a thin outer ring; no lacing. Aroma of burnt malts and slight chocolate. Taste is more like a porter, burnt/roasted malts, a bit of a carbonated mouthfeel, lots of roastiness to start followed by some burnt espresso with a slight alcohol warmer on the finish. Some slight lingering bitterness. Not bad if you’re thinking strong porter, not too good if you’re expecting an Impy Stout. Maybe some age will help...

12 oz. 2005 vintage. Pours jet black with a dark tan head. The bottle still had a big lump of sludge stuck to bottom after I poured it. I think I am in for a treat here. The aroma is unreal ! ! ! Massive malted, roasted coffee, and dense ripened fruits. Flavor is liquid heaven. BIG black currants and creamy malts. Touches of roasted nuts and coffee also. This must really be hit and miss because I cannot believe some of the low ratings. Maybe the 2005 was a HIT ! . WHY IN THE HELL DID I ONLY BUY ONE BOTTLE ! ! ! ! ! Bravo Arcadia. BRAVO ! ! !

Bottle.2006 Vintage. Pours black. One finger thick tan head. Aroma of roasted malts, coffee, and fruits. Flavor of roasted malts, coffee, chocolate, caramel, and a sweetness from dark fruits in the back. As it warmed the hops were more noticeable, as well as some alcohol notes toward the end. Medium bodied. Oily and chewy mouthfeel. I didn’t finish the bottle due to the alcohol flavors when it warmed, but I did enjoy what I had. Not bad.

Bottle from 1FastSTi. Black with dark tan head. Smells like roasted malts, slight coffee, and soy sauce. The taste was the same with bitter soy finish. Medium bodied. Could not finish the bottle....Drain pour.

Pours straight black body with a tight, lasting brown head. Strong coffee and cherry aromas. Big malty flavor with coffee, chocolate, and lots of hops in finish. Soft on the tongue. Very tasty.

This a very dark, nearly impenetrable black. When held up to the light only a faint hints of ruby seep through the edges. The pour leaves a dense one finger head, that’s slow to settle to a fairly thick cap, leaving behind a thick webbing of lace. Smell; dark roasted malts, with coffee, and a bit of a smokey aroma. There’s a bit of anise and molasses, with a little hint of dark fruits. After this gets a little warmer, some chocolate comes out as well. Very nice. Taste; bold roasted malt flavor up front, almost like slightly burned toast. This settles down after a little bit, and I’m glad, because I;m not mush of a burned toast fan. The molasses, anise and dark fruits come out in the middle some, and finishes with a bit of a smokiness mixed with a little chocolate. I was expectng much better after the way this smelled, so overall I was a little disapointed in the flavor of this. Mouthfeel is kind of thin for what I’ve come to anticipate in an RIS, so it was a bit of a disapointment, and the drinkability is hurt, atleast for me, by the burned toast flavor.

Poured almost black with a thin head. Almost a little dark fruitiness, roastiness, and chocolate. A little alcohol in the taste and the aroma. pretty sweet taste and not to bad.