<b>Date:</b> 12/01/2005<br /> <b>Mode:</b> Draft, Nitro<br /> <b>Source:</b> Brewery<br /> <br /> dark ruby, big brown head, light roasted aroma with a hint of fruit, creamy body, big roasted malt flavor, nice fruity character, aged for two years<br /> <br /> <b>Aroma:</b> 6/10; <b>Appearance:</b> 7/10; <b>Flavor:</b> 8/10; <b>Palate:</b> 8/10; <b>Overall:</b> 14/20<br /> <b>Rating:</b> 3.6/5.0<br /><b>Drinkability:</b> 8/10<br /> <b>Score:</b> **4<br />

2003 vintage on tap at O’Briens: Pours a nearly opaque, very dark brown with a dense, frothy, dark tan nitro head. Aroma is milk chocolatey with a hint of tartness and cream. Starts nicely subtly sweet with good mild dark caramel and light fruitiness. There are hints of tartness in the body, but not too strong, heading toward a dark chocolatey finish. An interesting imperial stout, but could be thicker.

<b>Draft &#64; Ballast Pt.: 2003 Vintage & Nitro Pour</b> Black with a large tan cascading head. Arma of roasted malt and sweet light coffee. Flavor of roasted malt, coffee and bitter sweet chocolate. Light warming sensation. Creamy.

Cask. Poured almost black with nice brown head. Coffee and chocolate throughout. Alcohol finish.

&#40;Nitro Draft: O&#39;Brien&#39;s in SD&#41; Listed as an Imperial Stout on ratebeer.com, but the very smooth and comparatively lighter flavor in no way resembles a traditional American Imperial Stout; From start to finish, the flavor is mildly sweet, dark roasted maltiness with a fairly bitter overtone; Velvety mouthfeel that caresses the palate; Minimal nose; Dark brown and opaque with ruddy black accents along the edge; Thick creamy light tan head with exceptional retention that simply does not die and a thick lacing that completely coats the glass