Browns Imperial Stout

Brewed by Troy Pub & Brewery (Browns Brewing)
Style: Imperial Stout
Troy, New York USA

Serve in Snifter

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29.04.06 A very solid imperial stout from these folks. Black and opaque stuff with small but lasting beige head. Aromas and flavors of big roasty malts, chocolate, licorice, and, surprise(!?) big citrus/resinous hops, I think cascades? Well, I am a sucker for a big stout with big hops (as I sit and enjoy my Smutty Impy Stout). Thick palate and pithy-dry finish. Hidden alcohol. Rich and sticky. Very nice.

Seems like every craft brewery is releasing their own ultra-rare imperial stout these days. A lot of people hate this trend, but I’m okay with it since, more often than not, these beers are really good and a great example of what American craft brewers can do regardless of size. The best example of that is Brown’s Imperial Stout, made in my hometown area of New York’s Capital District. They bottled this for the first time in 2012 and limited it to only 84 total bottles (and they were only $6 each - what a bargain!). While not the best imperial stout I’ve ever had, it’s still quite impressive considering it was only made with a few malts and one hop.

I poured a 22oz bottle into an official Brown’s tumbler.

Appearance: By far THE darkest beer I’ve ever seen! Liquid is as black as a black hole and it forms a huge, extremely dark brown, almost black foamy head. The lacing and retention on this beer is fantastic.

Smell: The usual imperial stout aroma of black licorice, black cherry, plum, and a touch of grain alcohol.

Taste: Because Brown’s Imperial Stout pours such a thick, foamy head, that initial taste of that initial swig is quite bitter. It’s a dry bitterness of roasted coffee and dark chocolate. Once the liquid passes the tongue it’s a whole new ballgame. Strong sweet notes of black cherry and plum with slight black licorice as it transitions to the finish. The final third of the palate is similar to the opening with the bittersweet flavors of dark chocolate, French roast coffee and just a touch of alcohol. It’s like a rum without the spice or a clear liquor with a touch of cinnamon.

That’s not to say this beer is absolutely delicious. There seems to be a noticeable lack of roasted malt and the sweet elements seem a little cloying. That being said, the balance of the palate overall is impressive as the sweet side never becomes sickly sweet and the bitter side never becomes too dry.

Drinkability: The bottle indicates the beer is 10.4% ABV, but the brewer’s website says 10.2%. So either way, you can tell Brown’s Imperial Stout is a pretty hefty beer. But unlike most double-digit ABV stouts, there is little to no alcohol presence here. Only the faintest hint of alcohol warmth, which is fine because it blends well with the natural tastes of the beer. The mouthfeel is fairly thick, but extremely soft. One of the most comfortable beers I’ve ever had, actually. The aftertaste is a tad dry and somewhat sticky, but easily tolerable. This would be an ideal pairing with dark, gamey meats or drank alone as a dessert.

A - Pours a very dark black color with a nice finger of dark brown head. The head had nice retention and left behind some nice lacing. S - The strongest scent is of the roasted malt, and there is a nice amount of it. There is also some nice chocolate and carmel/toffee elements to go along with it. Could be a bit more powerful overall. T - Starts of with a really deep chocolate malt taste that really builds nicely. Then a bit of toffee sweetness and a bit of dark fruit flavor comes through. Just a hint of bitterness at the finish that lingers, from a mixture of chocolate and hops. M - Full bodied with a very low amount of carbonation. Super creamy and pretty smooth, D - Fairly drinkable. It is a fairly heavy beer, but it is still very enjoyable and goes down very smooth. The flavors are really nice and pretty well balanced, especially the finish.

On tap at the brewpub. Dark brown, almost black pour with a nice creamy off white head. Aroma is chocolate and coffee. Medium palate and a bit dry. Not what I would expect in an Imperial Stout. Flavor was chocolate, coffee, molasses and an acidic tartness. A bit out of the ordinary. Not bad, just not exceptional.

Bottle shared after the Bruery Reserve Society Initiation. This really must have been an unintentionally sour beer tasting without my knowledge, because this was another one. Looks great on the pour - black in color with a nice heavy tan head. Aroma is roasty with dark fruit, chocolate, and tartness. Flavor is pretty tart and not as intense as I expect from this style, but still not bad. Roasted malt, chocolate, plum/raisin, and some fruity tartness. Medium body with a mildly bitter and acidic palate. Not at all boozy, but a bit weird for sure.

On tap at the brewery. Smell is strong chocolate malts. Appearance is everything you want out of a stout, very dark brown, with a thick, foamy, medium brown head. Taste is watered down chocolate malts and a strong alcohol presence. Overall, one of my least favorite imperial stouts.

Thanks to Ethan for sharing. Jet black pour, thin beige head and spotty lace. Chocolate covered cherry aroma. Creamy up front with a dry bitter finish. Kinda chalky

Thanks hophead75. Pours a dark inky black with a two finger creamy chestnut brown head. The nose is sweet, lactic, some smoke, some fruit skins, chocolate, tart. Flavor is roasty, dark and grainy, fruit skins, sweet chocolate, acidic, bitter grian. Palate is bitter and acidic.

The appearance is jet black and about as easy to see through as a bowling ball. One finger of cocoa-brown head. The aroma is heavy, oily. Milky chocolate, toasted (not bitter/burnt) malt aroma. Strong but not brutal or bitter. A hint of licorice. Plums, raisins, dates. The taste is milk chocolate and dark grapes. Some bitter, roasted malts underneath. The bitterness rises up as it warms. The feel is motor oil, thick and smooth. And no bite whatsoever. It is a terrific sipper, but a tough repeater. The flavor is all there. Even better when it’s warmed up.

A "big" beer somewhat uncharacteristic of Brown’s style, but great malt and chocolate notes make it a winner. Here’s to hoping they make this a year ’round beer!

Rather nice imperial stout with a good balance between the roasted, bitter and sweet. Not very complex but very drinkable and enjoyable. Full of flavour with a pretty ok, medium to full body. Tasty but a bit too simple.