(2006 bottle) Pours black with a light tan head that leaves a ring around the glass. This aroma is very sweet, with scents of cherry, vanilla, prune, light licorice, roasted malt, and a strong smell of chocolate and cocoa. Upon warming, the flavor and aroma begin to taste and smell a lot like a brownie. The taste is also sweet with a lot of chocolate, dark fruits (prune, raisin), brown sugar, subtle soy sauce, and a finish that becomes increasingly roasty but never turns astringent. The finish also possesses a nuttiness to it, but I’m not sure which kind. The carbonation is smooth and though the mouthfeel isn’t thick, it still remains substantial. Although somewhat low-key for the style in both flavor and aroma, this beer is a refreshing change of pace from the roast and hop bombs that make up the majority of impy stouts, and it has aged gracefully.

Very dark when poured but absolutely no head formed. Aroma has a very sweet and sugary smell mixed with a little bit of a fruity prune, smells delicious. The initial flavor is a bit sugary prune mixed with smoke. Flavor afterwords is moderately roasted, very dry finish and a coffee hint lingers after the beer has disappeared from your mouth. Almost zero carbonation in this beer and very poor mouth feel. I was not too impressed with this imperial by any means and think the rating is generous for this very very mediocre imperial stout (at best).

Bottle, 2007. Remarkably little head. Aroma of prunes, roasted malt, roasted coffee, and sweet alcohol. Flavor quite boozy with those dark fruits. Not too much of that roasted malt. Dry, coffee finish. Alcohol taste builds more and more. Too much of it, but ok otherwise.

Ok, Hop Rocket impressed me, so I picked up one of these at Binny’s. Pours (surprise) black with a tan head. Looks like a thin pour though. Coats the glass briefly with a tan cascade. Aroma has some chocolate, but is dominated by prunes and sea salt. Tastes kind of burnt and kind of pruney. Mouthfeel is very thin and the finish tastes like orange juice after you brush your teeth. Off flavors are almost overbearing at the end of the bottle, inviting a drain pour.

Bottle. Pours black as night with a slight copper color head. Very sweet nose. Sweet malt flavor with a salty entry. A medium creamy body. Finishes with a touch of hop bitterness. Slight black currant flavors build part way through. A bit thin at times, perhaps even better aged a little while. Solid IRS!