Dominion Winter Brew (Imperial Stout)

Formerly brewed at Old Dominion Brewing Company (Coastal Brewing Co.)
Style: Imperial Stout
Dover, Delaware USA

Serve in Snifter

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Old Dominion Winter Brew is changing seasonal, and some yearr it is an Imperial Stout by style, and is a very good one. Dominion uses five different types of malts, and four different hop varieties in this beer. This brew is a rich, roasty, warming, hoppy, flavorful beer, everything an Imperial Stout should be. Bell’s Expedition Stout is my all time favorite in this style, Winter Brew isn’t nearly as big as Bell’s, but it doesn’t have to be. You can have range within a beer style, with beers like Bell’s, and Old Rasputin being on the high end of the scale, and beers like Winter Brew or say Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout on the lower end. All four beers fall into the stylistic parameters of Imperial Stout, and its great that a beer lover can taste different breweries take on this style. Winter Brew pours to a deep black color with a nice tan head, and soft carbonation. The nose on this beer is wonderful. Big chocolate malt aromas mingle with notes of roasted barley, peppery alcoholic strength, and citric, piney hop aroma. This beer has a very "stout" malt back bone. Pale, caramel, black, wheat malts, and roasted black barley make this beer very complex and flavorful. There is a lot going on in this beer, flavors of bitter sweet chocolate, coffee, toffee, and a touch of vanilla, coat the tongue. The body isn’t as hefty as some of the bigger examples, and that makes this beer dangerously drinkable! This beer finishes with more chocolate malt character up front, then leads into a warming, dry, bitter, roasty, high octane burn. Imperial stouts are know for being rich, powerful, roasty, strong brews. Winter Brew has all those qualities. This beer has quite a kick at 8%abv. Another fantastic seasonal from one of the finest breweries in the US. This beer is one to be sipped and savored. I would pair this with red meats, it would work well with a hearty beef stew. This is a great desert beer, match this with milk chocolates, or German chocolate cake.

Courtesy of Jasonp <P> 2004 12 oz <P> Intense chocolate, roasted and burnt malt notes, coffee and chocolate liquor aroma. Fantastic aroma. Pours a slightly brown tinged black with a creamy tan head that last. Fore is very chocolatey (both dark and milk varities) with bready pumpernickel notes, creamed espresso, dark fruit notes, firm, but not strong alcohol and the finish is burnt and roasty with smooth dark chocolate and vanilla lingering into the far aftertaste. The middle of the flavor profile is like iced chocolate liquor cake..delicious. I guess I just like lower abv Imperial Stouts because I thinkt his is fantastic. It is pretty thin for the style, but the flavor is amazing. Wish i had more of this.

Tap at Tower Oaks Lodge. A nice winter treat. Thick, rich, deep dark stout with a shy dark tan head. Dark chocolate, coffee, roast and just enough of a taste of alcohol to warm you up. Malty without sacrificing too much hoppiness. Delightfully intriguing. I’ll go back.

Pours dark brown with a tan head. Smells of raosted malt, chocolate, some dark fruity undertones. Tastes of rich chocolate, some light spicy character, touches of dark fruit. Enjoyable.

this impy stout was a super dark brown in color.by the time i got to rating the head,it was gone.the aroma is a wonderful roasted coffee. would agree that this isnt much of an imperial stout,but its a top notch session stout.nice coofe,chocolate flavors.mouthfeel is full,but still smooth,very light acid.where is the 8%?this is a nice session stout.

Pours black with a small head. Aromas of sweet malt and chocolate dominate. A bit sweet up front, chocolate dominating through a medium/heavy mouthfeel. Slight bitterness creeps in, cocoalike. Finish has a slight alcohol kick, mildly sweet.

Rich and thick. Tastes like chocolate going down. Unfortunately it finished rather poorly as the alcohol flavor is just too overpowering. Otherwise a great Winter Ale

Growler. Nice malty aroma - chocolate, coffee, caramel; floral hops come through as it warms. Dark mohagany color, nearly black; thick, lingering tan head. Smooth, round flavor, chocolate, coffee, floral hops, lingering roasty bitterness in the finish. Medium-full bodied and smooth. A very easy drinking and well-rounded imperial stout. Not as intense or fruity as other versions, which is not surprising given this is a lager version of the style.

Pours black with a thin tan head. Aroma is of chocolate, nuts, and a slight coffee. Flavor is chocolate, a rich nuttieness, and a slight coffee. Nice nutty mocha aftertaste. Rich but very drinkable.

Draft... Poured a dark mahogany color with a small tan head and left light lacing on the glass. Aroma of sweet chocolate, roast, and alcohol. Dry tobacco taste, smokey, chocolate, roast and a light alcohol finish. A fuller mouthfeel on this would have made it real nice.