Cybercat (778), Georgia, USA Oct 18, 2009 Pours a deep, opaque sable with a thick, fine-bubbled tan head. Smoky coffee-ish aroma has a hint of unsweetened chocolate. Flavor is smoky and surprisingly bitter, and has an undertone of chocolate and a hint of molasses. Texture is very smooth and tingly, and leaves a rather bitter aftertaste, not hoppy bitter but a tad unpleasing. Nevertheless, this is overall a darned good beer. 41cubs (131), , New Jersey, USA Oct 17, 2009 Smells like someone figured out how to make saturated dark chocolate coffee milk. With strong bitter hops and a healthy alcohol burn, it starts better than it finishes. First thing on my tongue is molasses; after that comes a heavy malt sweetness with raw bakers cocoa and a deep dark rum-like alcohol burn and a finish of heavy bitters. Mouthfeel is full, heavy, dense, slightly oily and coating and every other adjective you can use for a luxurious palate with sticky lips to follow. Legendary brew, would be fascinating to sample barrel aged. Thank You Bells. 2009 12 oz. Slayer85 (582), Firenze, Italy Oct 15, 2009 Bottle. An opaque black beer with a small, almost creamy, lacing and mostly lasting brown head. The aroma is incredibly atrong and powerful, malty with a hint of hops and notes of roasted grains, chocolate. coffee, vanilla and a touch of dark fruits and alcohoi. The flavour is heavily sweet, lightly acidic, lightly to moderately bitter. Certainly one of the creamiest beer I’ve ever tasted. Fruitier in the mouth than in the nose. Very roasty, almost burnt maybe, but well balanced. Full body, soft carbonation, very long finish with medium to high bitterness, lightly to moderately alcoholic. Simply outstanding, I wish I lived nearer Kalamazoo. Rynoplasty (500), Louisville, Kentucky, USA Oct 11, 2009 Pours black with a dark tan head. Aroma is roasty, with lots of dark fruit and citrusy hop coming through. Flavor is rich, roasty, bittersweet chocolate with a big roasty bitter finish and a nice slight warming. Very good. NayTron (31), Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA Oct 10, 2009 I gotta say one of the best Imperial stouts I have come across as of yet. Chocolate, coffee, raisins and thats just the start. A very slight hint of alcohol. Stains the glass ever so much, finish on the mouth keeps you wanting more. matthewjk (45), Cincinnati, Ohio, USA Oct 6, 2009 poured from standard 12 oz bottle. Overall, this is a great imperial stout with no head to show for. Who cares? Great bold flavor. tokyogoat (505), San Diego, California, USA Oct 4, 2009 Poured black as motor oil with a very attractive deep chocolate head on top.
Nose is well crafted, nice dark chocolate, roasted nuts, vanilla, and a little bit of figgy-pudding.
Taste is almost silky, very luxurious and creamy chocolaty body, not cloying though, paired very well up against a strong roasted dryness. Nice hint of vanilla creme, and various toasted breads and nuts.
phaleslu (427), Cincinnati, Ohio, USA Sep 30, 2009 12 oz. bottle from The Party Source. I had this once before, courtesy of shawnm213, but that was a little before my rating days began. Glad I got to share another one with him. Pours black with a creamy tan head that vanishes relatively quickly. Aroma of dark chocolate, dried fruits, dark fruits, coffee, roast, alcohol, and malt. Perfectly-balanced flavor of chocolate, coffee, roast, malt, alcohol, dark/dried fruits, licorice, hops, and syrup. Dangerously smooth and full-bodied. Sweet, roasty, bitter, and a little smoky. This is amazing stuff, one of the gold standards for imperial stouts.
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