Boaks Monster Mash Imperial Stout

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

Serve in Snifter

send corrections   |   shelftag   |   edit barcodes   |   add pic

Date: 06/10/2008
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Cellar Party

Appearance: black, fine tan head, bits of lace,
Aroma: rich roasted malt and dark chocolate aroma with a dark fruity character,
Body: creamy body,
Flavor: rich dark chocolate and roasted flavor, touch of dark caramel sweetness brings out the chocolate over the roastes, light fruity character, light bitter roasted finish,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 8/10; Overall: 15/20
Rating: 3.7/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **4

Bottle. Pours typical imperial stout black with a small tan head that dissipates, leaving a film on top of the beer. The aroma isn’t as pungent as others in the style but has some expresso, chocolate, and a little booziness. Taste is very chocolatey with a little coffee in the background. The palate is sticky and full. This one surprised me. One of the better imperial stouts that I have had to date.

Bottle. Pours big opaque black with nice tan tight creamy head. Aromas of pine, choc roast, coffee bean and a touch of touch of smoke. Med light body hoppy pine. Very easy drinking light finish with a touch of roast and choc sweetish balance with the piney hops lingering. Not all that complex for an IS but very good drinking.

Some light fruits on the nose surprisingly - peach and pear maybe, then some licorice, toffee, malt. Real dark, persistent thin head. First you notice its a medium bodied imperial stout - weird for the style. Root beer notes, more of those lighter juicier fruits. Confusing really.

Pours a deep cola, almost opaque hue, with the slightest mahogany-ruby fringes. The head is light and dissipating, choco-tan, leaving thin spotty lace. The nose is of roasted chocolate-covered strawberries. Flavors are almost commercially spot on... there is a definitive roasted note to a bitter and semi-sweet chocolate bark, accompanying a strawberry/cherry citrus that maximizes mid-palate. A roasted bitter closes the finish, providing a smoky effervescence to the pull. As the description suggests, one needs to let this warm before fully appreciating. Straight out of the fridge, it seems thin, stringent and milky. After letting it warm and "open up", many more roasted, fruity flavors come through, as well as a more relaxed, open palate. Appreciated.

12oz bottle. A dark thick brown with nice lasting medium brown head. Aroma of roasted caramel malt espresso note and cacao. Taste is a sweet bitter roasted caramel malt with some notes of coffee and cacao, some dark fruity tones as well with some bitter hops. Palate is a thick sweet full body with moderate carbonation and a rich thick mouth feel. Finish is sweet bitter roasted caramel malts with some burnt espresso cacao, some dark fruit followed by some nice mild bitter hops for balance. Overall a very good, drinkable ( considering a 10% alcohol) and tasty Russian IP.

A: Pitch black head, with just a bit of transparency around the edges when held to the light. A very faint skim of a head. No lacing. S: Bittersweet chocolate and a bit of medium roast coffee. Not too much else. T: More of the same. There is something slightly off, like the chocolate is an inferior grade and the coffee is from a Perkins or something. The two components don’t really come together and there is quite a bit left to desire. Not gross by any means, just doesn’t really cut it with the complex bold imperial stouts that are readily available. M: "Lumpy" At times chewy, at times thin. The mouthfeel just isn’t fine tuned. Earthy bitter finish lingers a bit longer than it should. O: In the end this is a passable imperial stout, but it just doesn’t offer enough to warrant a repeat encounter.

Aroma of roasted coffee, dark fruits, and hints of anis. Pours black with a big foamy head. Tastes manly and dark. Roasted coffee, dark fruits, and delicious malty back. Big fan.

12oz bottle in a snifter. Pours very dark brown with a lacy, tan head. Aroma of roasted malts and chocolate plus some hops. Flavor about the same, not as strong as most other imperial stouts. Smooth texture. A decent beer, not the best for its style.

Bottle: Poured a pitch-black color stout with a large dark brown foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of dry roasted malt with light dry coffee notes and some black chocolate. Taste is also a good mix between some roasted malt with light dry coffee notes with some subtle bitter chocolate with some light lactose notes. Body is quite full with good carbonation. Well balanced classic imperial stout.

Smooth and roasty with hints of coffee and chocolate. A little watery overall, though.