Carolina Imperial Stout

8.5% per the CBC email newsletter, but a dot-matrix 8.8% on the label. Bottled 1/24/07, tasted 1/27/07. Fresh as can be. Pours a deep molten black color where all visible light disappears. Fluffy head of mocha rises then quite quickly settles down into a thin collar. Laces in random patches. Aromas are full of roasted coffee bean and a dusting of cocoa powder. Ample roastiness in the scent. Heavy coffee notes. Alcohol fumes are negligible to the nose. Flavors give the palate a firm whack of coffee bean, chocolate, green leafy hops, and a dash of fiery alcohol. A bit young and burning in the ABV department. Hops are definitely more noticeable on the tastebuds than in the nares. A big roasty stout. Mouthfeel is really not indicative of a BIG impy stout, but this would be an ever-so-solid "regular" stout body. Alcohol makes this an imperial. Quite drinkable, and warming, and a couple of these made for a pleasant night’s sleep.

Wow, I got hit with a heavy aroma of roasted malts, real appealing. Pour gave my a huge head, tan thick and creamy. Nose was all the good things about stouts. The taste was bitter chocolate, sweet malts, touch of hops, lots going on here. I got a touch of licorice, some smoke even cherry? I LOVED this, look forward to more daring attempts from this brewer. OLDGROWTH, you rule my friend.

Bottle of CBC’s Groundhog Day Beer - 8.8% ABV. Deep espresso coffee and chocolate with an acrid dark roast quality. Black and translucent with a frothy brown head which coated the glass. Smooth flavor of dark chocolate coupled with coffee and a caramel character and some presence of raisins in the mix. Hops were present as well leading to a grassy impression. Full and smooth on the palate, but not chewy. Only hints of alcohol come in a light warming after consumption.

Bottle from somebody at the beerinator gathering on sunday night. We tasted a lot of imperial stouts that night. at least 10. This one was dark brown, a lightish shade of black, Had good chocolate coffee flavors with a mild hop bite. Pretty tasty offering from Carolina Brewing Company. Look forward to trying future creations from this brewery.

Pours out a black color with a nice dark chocolate brown head. aroma is sweet and filled with roasted malts. Flavor is very much the same. has a nice slight warming effect from the alcohol, but other than that it is nicely hidden.