 Frank (1062), Chicago, Illinois, USA
Jan 4, 2003 Updated: Jan 19, 2005
<br /><br />2004-05 Vintage sampled Jan 2005: Mildly roasty nose with some vinous notes and chocolate coming through. Definitely one of the smoother drinking imperials but still quite substantial and fruity. Some alcohol shows through but it actually works well with flavor and doesn’t come off harsh or medicinal at all. A bit of tartness comes through in the finish as well as a balancing touch of bitterness.
<br /><br />2003-2005 Vinatage sampled Jan 2005: This vintage didn’t age well at all. It’s rather sour, even to the point of being unpleasant. Not infected sour, just overly tart. A bit of a dusty cardboard character developed as well. Still very drinkable but not nice. This isn’t to say this is a poor ager. The 2002-2003 vintage aged beautifully. This vintage was lackluster to begin with so I’m not suprised it went donw hill.
<br /><br />At the Blind Tiger Ale House in NYC, there’s Iggy and the Stooges on the jukebox and Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout on tap. It’s like heaven only better. The perfect imperial stout in appearance--dark brown with a slightly lighter brown head. Roasty chocolate aroma. Exceedingly complex and well balanced. I just don’t know where to begin... I joked that this was the only reason I visited NYC before I left. Now that I’ve tried it, I won’t be kidding when I say it’s the best reason to go back. Better than watching the ball drop over Times Square on New Years.
<br /><br />Update: I re-sampled this in a bottle recently and while it was still excellent, it didn’t live up to the tap version. The bottles had a bit of alcoholic harshness around the edges that covered up some of the more subtle flavors. So if you like the bottles, you owe it to yourself to find this on tap.
tmoreau (72), Lombard, Illinois, USA
Jan 7, 2009 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.
lithy (555), Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Jan 7, 2009 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.
smith4498 (459), Miami, Florida, USA
Jan 5, 2009 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.
pjweaver (125), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Jan 4, 2009 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.
n49921 (92), USA
Jan 3, 2009 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.
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