Destihl Chocolate Raspberry Imperial Stout

Brewed by Destihl Restaurant and Brew Works
Style: Imperial Stout
Normal, Illinois USA

Serve in Snifter

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On tap on 12/18/09. Pours a very dark black/brown with some soap sud type of head -sparse, big bubble, with some light sediment that settles out on the bottom. Aroma has an acidic dark malt presence, fruity raspberry at the verh end. As the brew warms up, a dark fruit note comes out. Flavor has a dark chocolate sweetness and bitter bite coming through early, light raspberry in the middle, light black malt and very low hops bitterness with some dry and slightly oaky barrel notes at the very end. Modest body, dry texture and low carbonation define the brew. A pretty well done cask brew. The sweetness from the raspberry quells the bitterness you would of found from the malt, almost like when using raspberry in dark chocolate cakes. The dry ending really compliments the early chocolate sweetness making it a very solid brew to try out and enjoy for the limited time.

Sampled on tap at Stoutest (Chicago, IL). Pours a near pitchblack pour with fark brownish edges, a small tannish head that laces small. Aromas are light cocoa and raspberry fruit, touches of coffee, roasted malts, lighter overall on the nose. The raspberry fruit, a bit jammy and tart, takes hold. Initial is medium bodied, tart and fruity raspberries with cocoa and coffee, toffee and swet caramel, some roast and toasty. A bit lighter bodied than expected. Medium bodied, a touch of tart tannic raspberry with dried out cocoa and roast, touches of sweeter toast and toffee. Finish is raspberry, cocoa, dry. Nice. I liked it. A great offering here by the Destihl boys.

On tap at the brewpub.
Pours a nice dark brown-black with creamy bubbly head. Aroma is chocolate, coffee, and indiscriminate tart fruit that honestly smells more like cherry to me than raspberry. A bit of a metallic tinge in the aroma too. Flavor more or less follows the aroma, but more roast-grainy and not as chocolaty. Flavor also isn’t quite as intense as I had hoped for an specialty imperial stout. [ETA: it becomes adequately intense close to room temperature.] Lively, tingly yet creamy palate. Lots of promise, but not fully realized. Still a decent brew all things considered, just not a great one.