12oz. bottle to snifter. Pours a thick, black, a little mahogany hue as the glass tilts, with a dark tan head that diminished fairly quickly, and leaves a small ring, and some light lacing. Aroma is of roasted malt, sweetness and alcohol. Coffee and distinct hop bitterness hit you in the flavor, with the alcohol and dark chocolate following. Full bodied with a viscous texture. Finishes pleasantly dry with that touch of sweetness.

Winter 08-09 bottle. Pitch black pour that doesn’t appear as syrupy as many imperial stouts. A finger of pretty lasting creamy milk chocolate head sits in the snifter and leaves good spotty lacing when swirled. Aroma is big chocolate, burnt and roasted malt. Black malts and light alcohol. Taste is big roastiness, minimal chocolate, oily but not heavy, some sour notes and soy sauce comes through, with a big bitter finish.

Pours black with brown head. Big roasty, chocolate aroma. Flavor is sweet burnt malts, chocolate and alcohol. The alcohol is noticeable, but not overpowering, and adds a nice warming element. Full body with a thick, oily mouthfeel and minimal carbonation.

Blind Tasting. Boozy coffee, aroma, hints of dark chocolate, smoke, toasty malt. Black/brown dark head. Coffee and dark chocolate flavor, minimal red fruit, mostly toasty and boozy. Warm oily palate. No real aftertaste, doesn’t seem to cling at all.

Bottle. Pours very dark. Nice tan head. Aroma was malty with a nice hit of chocolate. Taste is chocolate and a touch of coffee, can taste the high ABV too. Nice.