 Pailhead (2339), Allen Park, Michigan, USA
May 15, 2004 Updated: Oct 23, 2006
Bottle: (Re-rate) Lots of licorice in the aroma with some dark chocolate and coffee. Pours motor oil black with an insignificant tan head that becomre almost nothing right away. Lots of black licorice in the initial flavor. Some malty chocolate and coffee in the background. Real black coffee and very hoppy finish and aftertaste. A little salty. No alcohol is all that detectable in the flavor and it lacks that alcohol bite in the finish of a Speedway or the Rogue. Better than the last time I had it which is why I re-rated it, but still overrated in my book. I prefer my stouts and imperials to not have such a overpowering black coffee hop presence. ******************My second re-rate and finally I have a bottle that resembles what everyone thinks. My two previous tasting where just overly loaded with bitter black coffee. This one was completely different. Lots of coffee and black licorice in the aroma. Also some dark chocolate and light caramel. Flavor is rather malty with lots of chocolate, molasses, and caramel. Light licorice in the background. Coffee presence is more in the finish with a some burnt flavors. Coffee aftertaste. Much better than my previous 3.5 rating.
poolboy (28), Lafayette, Indiana, USA
Nov 29, 2008 A great imperial stout. Good in the bottle, even better on tap at the brewery. Dusty, chocolate, cherry, coffee raisins. Small head. Not heavily carbonated. Creamy taste. There is some slight taste of hops, but not much. More citrus I would say.
estoppel (1023), Buffalo, New York, USA
Nov 29, 2008 Bottle. Very dark brown body, small to no head, lightly carbonated, light coffee nose. Citric hops, moderate bitterness, not particularly sweet, coffee/chocolate roastiness, slight sourness, not really much different than the much-lower-rated Victory Storm King.
ATLBeerDog (279), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Nov 29, 2008 2007 Version
Poured from a 12oz bottle, Pitch Black with ¼ inch dark tan/light brown head. Smell of carmel/toffee malts, coffee with hops in the background. Totally black with no light able to show thru. Heavy, heavy lacing. Strong coffee taste of espresso along with a lot of hop bitterness. Mouthfeel is creamy.
Not my favorite of this style. The hop bitterness does not balance well with the rich malts and coffee. It’s a clash, like an unhappy marriage. Why can’t they get along? This beer is not very complex.
guyinchicago (275), marengo, Illinois, USA
Nov 29, 2008 Pour was black and thick with thick brown head aromas of heavy malts and hops,from the first taste you know you were drinking something special a world class imperial stout, taste were of heavy malts a shit load of hops coffee undertones,molasses and honey
taalhiker (172), Dayton, Ohio, USA
Nov 28, 2008 From bottle. Part of January Dayton Beer Tasting event. Pours black full brown foamy head. Aromas of coffee, hops and chocolate. Sweet complex flavors include smoke, vanilla, coffee and licorice. Outstanding effort.
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