ketchepillar (234), Des Moines, Iowa, USA Jul 6, 2008 The Kaiser is to Oktoberfest as WWS is to RIS. It really was very similar to that in the crazy sweet but fake tasting fruitiness accompanying alcohol taste. Tasted like what I imagine a strawberry wine cooler would taste like then finally in the finish a bit of roasted malt comes through which is fine, but overshadowed by the fruit which just occurred and soon buried by some alcohol burn. Considering 18%, the alcohol is pretty well hidden badbeer (357), Iowa, USA Jul 5, 2008 Poured a thick black color with a tan head that dissipated and left no lacing, I expected that at 18% alchohol. Still looked tasty though. Smell was of alcohol and some cocoa powder, didn’t care for that too much. Taste is a completely different story. It’s full of chocolate and roasted malts, has vinous qualities as well, very complex. Mouthfeel is thick and syrupy, low carbonation. Very nice to drink, I’ll consider picking up some to age. CaryTheDude (98), Ripon, Wisconsin, USA Jul 5, 2008 Got this with Rybra. Smells like a port wine, tastes like what God probably pees on a regular basis, and is in every sense of the word overwhelming. Wow. Merrill (17), Chicago, Illinois, USA Jul 3, 2008 Wow! This smells so much like a good Port, it makes one wonder - Until you taste it. Pours dark brown from the bottle, with a brown head and tenacious lace. Port wine, caramel and alcohol immediately hit you; dark chocolate and brandy follow, Lighter than Dark Lord, but more alcohol, the finish stays and is very pleasant. I wish I could have tried the earlier versions, and I hope to lay one of these down for about ten years! 502Flavors (137), Kentucky, USA Jun 30, 2008 12 oz bottle into sniffer. Pours a pitch black with a thin and short lasting light tan head (not dark enough or big enough head to get a 5 for appearance). The pour was a lot thinner than expected for an impy, not to mention the 18 abv. Vinous aroma - very complex: chocolate, molasses, dates, wood (oak), earth, toasted nuts, alcohol (vodka), and more. Flavor was a surprise (not a great one). It isn;t bad, but it has that subtle soy sauce backbone that leads me to think my bottle might be bad. But besides that, there are some good chocolate and coffee notes, with a sweet feel and still a bitter finish. Maybe it is the sweetness that leads me to the soy sauce flavor. Either way, the alcohol is hidden very well (I have had 8 %abv. brews that taste more alcoholic). It is way thinner than it should be on the palate for the style and the abv. Overall - drinkable for abv. Good, unique, but not as good IMO as people make it out to be. That said, it isn’t worth the ridiculous price for a 12 oz. (I got it for 8$ and thats the cheapest I have seen it for). Worth a try I guess, but I doubt i’ll buy it again.
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