Arcadia Imperial Stout

Arcadia Imperial Stout 12 oz bottle Bottled winter ’05 (6 pk), basked in its glory 10/06 Medium pour in an English pint Poured black with a large creamy somewhat lasting light brown head with a small ring of lacing. Smelt strongly of burnt molasses and roasted coffee, some fainter dark chocolates and dark berries, kinda jammy. Taste was upfront moderate dark chocolate with a tinge of sweet fruity esters, some faint sour banana and apple, followed by a strong bitter burnt smokey taste with some creamy feel and light grassy hops on the average to long finish. Mouthfeel was medium bodied, creamy, velvety, caressing, softly carbonated, lightly astringent. Overall, almost perfect. The finish could use a bit more length, and the flavor could be amped up just a bit. As this is a year old brew, these factors could have died down a bit, for a year old imperial stout, this one is as close to perfect as I’ve yet to have. Bonus mystery sludge at the bottom too!

Aroma: roasty, nuts, smoke, woody Appearance: "black as coal", brown foamy head Flavor: Very sweet and bold, very complex flavors must keep drinking a taste is not enough.

Very dark pour. I found it to be a little lighter than what i’d like from an imperial stout, but it was quite pleasant. If i had access to it, i’d certainly drink it more often.

this is a very nice freaken stout. rich, black and malty. A nice thick black foam and aroma that warns you that this is a real beer.....

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 ! ! !

So I haven’t been drinking much beer at all, let alone good beer, but Carolyn was making a trip to lansing and I needed number 700, so I asked her to pick up a few new bottles at Big Ten. And she comes back with this gem. I mean, a brilliant treasure from Battle Creek. Begins with a lucious aroma, exotic and dark and redolent with fennel and cinnamon and chocolate. But the exquisite sensations on the tongue! Huge flavour here - beutiful bitters both from the roast and the excellently accentuated hops and substantial, spiced, malty sweets that roller coaster in and out. OK, maybe giving me this beer was like giving a parched crawler in the desert a dip in lake Michigan, but holy cow did I enjoy this brew!

Poured with minimum head, cellar temp, it is 5 degrees here in Louisville and the cellar is cold, had to let it warm a little.dark and rich smelling. Thick beer reminds me of an Expedition if it were mixed with a Storm King.Rich flavours of coffee, expresso, a quad shot of a beer, creamy, rich, hell I have had three sips and I already want some more of these.TAR is right there is some coconut flavours as well as rich homemade butter, a unique Imperial a definite winner, highly wanted, and Recommended !go get some it is Gooooooood!

Most imperial stouts are known for their big, bold taste profiles. I'd have to say this offering from Arcadia actually may list drinkability as one of its endearing characteristics. Wonderfully strong without being overwhelming. If there was a "session" version of this style, this one would be it.