Rating from a pint at the brewpub as well as a 22 oz bottle. Opaque black in color with a nice creamy brown head- appearance is spot on. Strong roast and chocolate in the aroma with some touches of raisins. Taste is roasty, with a good amount of chocolate, a touch of raisins and some light citrus hops poking through. Body is full, but only medium for the style. Great flavor, maybe could be a touch bigger but it’s very good for what it is.

Growler. Pours thick and black with a generous dark tan head. Aroma of roasted malts, espresso, cocoa, caramel, and a touch of anise. Thick sticky lacing is left on the glass as the head recedes. Flavor is much like the aroma; thick and roasted, bitter cocoa, and warming alcohol. Hints of vanilla are present. A well-balanced and delicious imperial.

<b>Date:</b> 02/21/2007<br /> <b>Mode:</b> Growler<br /> <b>Source:</b> Tasting<br /> <br /> black with dark ruby edges, wispy head, sweet chocolate and cream aroma with a touch of licorice and background roasted, rich creamy chocolate flavor, roasted is present but not in your face, a hint of stylistic sourness, light alcohol, light bitterness, <br /> <br /> <b>Aroma:</b> 7/10; <b>Appearance:</b> 7/10; <b>Flavor:</b> 8/10; <b>Palate:</b> 8/10; <b>Overall:</b> 16/20<br /> <b>Rating:</b> 3.9/5.0<br /><b>Drinkability:</b> 8/10<br /> <b>Score:</b> **4<br />

Sampled from a growler on 2/21/07: Pours an oily opaque with dark brown edges and a thin ring of tan head. Aroma of sweet dark caramel with a touch of plums and brown sugar. Body starts fairly full and sugary sweet with some earthy dark chocolate caramel and a slightly thinner, drier finish. A little on the weaker side of imperial stouts, but pretty well balanced and drinkable.

A nice stout with an average head, dark black color. The heavy malt released a toasted chocolate aroma that hid the alcohol.