Oily black with a brown head. Heavy roasted barley aroma with sweet caramel and light hops. The flavor is bittersweet chocolate and roasted malt, with hints of mollasses and subdued bourbon. Lots of complexity in both the flavor and aroma. The palate is a nice thick, smooth stout without being cloying, and there is only a hint of warmth in the finish. The beer goes down really easy for a 12% beer, and I think this beer has huge crossover appeal for those who don’t typically drink stout.

Tap: black with a big brown head that lasts awhile. Aroma is all over, chocolate, licorice, and a tiny bit of coffee. Flavor is very sweet with no sip tasting the same. Again chocolate, coffee, licorice, some dark grain. Just very hard to pinpoint individual flavors though, blends together very nice. Very oily body and mouthfeel. Nice and syruppy. Very well done.

The third on my must have beer list at the MiBG Fest of 2005:<br /><br /> Opaque with a small but lasting tight tan head and very good lace. The aroma has notes of black cherry, espresso, black and caramel malt, grassy and herbal hops, and even a little peaty. The taste is quite complex, bitter and biting at one moment then sweet and fruity the next. I too get a note of bourbon and oak as well on the finish. Mocha, vanilla, apple, and coffee flavors add to the overall enjoyment of this tasty Impy. The feel is oily and lush, heavy but not so much it interfered with me drinking the first sample way too quick! I love it and want more even if it still has an edge about it. A prime beer for aging. Get ya some if you can!

Tap. Deep black in color with a beautiful dense brown head that lingers forever. Great lacing. Full bodied, viscous, creamy. Low carbonation level enhances the body tremendously. Lots of coffee and chocolate aromas working here, a bit boozy in the nose. Full flavored with a ton of roasted grain, chocolate and a bit of fruitiness. Ample hops back this beast up without becoming intrusive. Very well done. They served this at a warmer temp than most bars serve their beer which was also a pleasant find.

On tap @ MBGF. The aroma has lots of chocolate, some fruit, and bourbon. Dark brown with no transparency and a small brown head. Lots of chocolate, coffee, light fruitiness, and light bourbon. Finishes with a hint of roastiness and moderate pine. A touch of alcohol is noticeable in the finish too. Excellent. I’ve been waiting to try this but could never get to the brewery.