Boaks Monster Mash Imperial Stout

Boaks
Brewed at High Point Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Pompton Lakes, New Jersey USA

Got this bootle from Oak Tree Buy Rite...wasn’t expecting it to be this good, but it is a big beer with a complex flavor. Bitter and metallic like most stouts, but alot of other flavors, fruit smoke, coffee. Small head which mostly diminishes but leaves some lacing on the glass. Color is very dark but not straight up black, you can almost see a reddish brown tint. Super.

Tap at GL. Pour is midnight black with small dark brown head. Aromas of roasted malts, sweet chocolate, and slight coffee. Flavor is much of the same. No alcohol is present at all which made this one so drinkable and great. Got much better as it warmed.

From one of the most knowledgable and friendly brewers in the area, this stout surely did not disappoint. Pours a dirty used engine oil black, complete with brown bubbly foam at the top. If you’ve ever changed your own engine oil, you’ll know what I’m talking about. No real lacing to speak of. "Mocha coffee with cream" would be my best attempt at describing the aroma. Flavor and drinkability is just out of this world, though. It isn’t that syrupy thick flavor you’d expect from the coloring and alcohol percentage. More of a nutty coffee flavor with a slight tinge of dark chocolate. Although, the extremely low carbonation would let you gulp it down if you braved, the 10% alcohol makes this something to sip slowly. What I liked best about this was the lack of the typical "dark fruit" flavors typically found in the style. That and the fact that it wasn’t as thick as the afforementioned used motor oil. Great stuff from NJ’s newest brewer.

Enjoyed on tap at the release at Andy’s Corner Bar in Bogota, NJ. Initial nose is very fruity and stout flavor is reserved, the 100 IBUs are hidden as is the alcohol. But don’t be fooled, this is a monster of a brew. After several sips, roastiness and coffee is released, anise, caramel and the full body begin to become more prominent. This is not an overpowering IRS but don’t be fooled by it’s drinkabilty. The 10% alcohol will sneak up on you quickly. This is the type of beer to have a growler of in front of crackling fire in a Vermont during a howling winter storm.

Another great bottle from CaptainCougar. Thanks again Tom. Opaque dark brown color with hilites at the edges. The tan head went nowhere. Aromas of dark toasted malt and light treacle. Full bodied with smoothly creamy carbonation. Flavor is dark toast, mild treacle, and hop bitter. The soul drains away with the sugars. Finishes mildly sweet, darkly toasted bitter. It’s an extremely good ale.

Pours a mostly opaque with dark mahogany edges and a nicely-lacing dark tan head. Complex aroma of sweet toasty dark caramel and chocolate malts with nice dark fruity character. Body starts fairly full and silky smooth with a nice earthy dark malty flavor and good roasty smoky flavor before a slightly warming, drier dark chocolatey finish. A nice imperial stout.

This Imperial Stout pours a dark black color from a 120z bottle. Small sized tan foamy head. The aroma is chocolate and coffee. A medium to full bodied Imperial Stout. The malts are chocolate and coffee. The hops are earthy and floral. Nice balance. Very smooth tasting. Touch of alcohol bite. Touch of smoke at the finish. Nice Imperial Stout. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.

Pours dark brown with a thin tan head. Smells of roasted malt, some pepper, chococlate, light spice, hints of booziness. Tastes of sweet malt, roasted malt, peppery, dark fruit, light spice. Nicely done.