Drakes Drakonic Imperial Stout

Brewed by Drakes Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
San Leandro, California USA

Serve in Snifter

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Fairly light colored for an Imperial Stout, meaning it is black with a touch more brown than one might usually find. The head is a frothy, light brown color that starts out almost two-fingers in height. Aromatic notes of chocolate are quite apparent as I pour this beer, again reinforcing that this beer did not go the heavy handed route when it came time to add the dark malts to the recipe. The aroma is actually quite nice, it is very smooth, especially since it is lacking in that acrid, overly burnt character that many an American Stout (much less the Imperial Stouts) have. Instead the focus remains on a concentrated, dark, yet not overly burnt, malty note that accentuates aromas of chocolate, toasty malt and a nice nuttiness. I really can’t quite help but think of some sort of candy of my dreams, made from chocolate freshly ground malt with a hint of espresso for that extra boost. While this isn’t the most complex beast out there, there is just something about the aroma of this brew that I am really digging right now; the aroma is much bigger than the 8.75% alcohol would suggest.

Soft and creamy up front, this beer grows in heft and palate coating character as it passes through my mouth. The finish has a solid bitter note to it that is a combination of hop bitterness as well as a drying, roast grain derived bittering. The flavor has a solid chocolate component to it as well, but in the taste a lightly roasted coffee character becomes much more apparent. Dusty cocoa, some roasted nutty notes, a perception of vanilla, something like subtle hazelnut. I really like the weight of this beer, it is not too heavy, yet is certainly thick enough to demand a sipping experience.

While this has lots of big flavors (as is expected of an Imperial Stout), it doesn’t bang you over the head with the roast malt like many of the American beasts do. Sometimes the extreme is appreciated, but at other times (right now is one of these for me), something with a bit more restraint and a bit more balance (if such a thing can really be said for an Imperial Stout) is just what one wants. A very well crafted beer, that I am certainly enjoying quite a bit. I also have to praise the 500ml bottle size, not nearly as intimidating as a 22oz bottle would be.

Solid stout with good roasted malt aroma and hints of dark chocolate. Small creamy tan head that dissipates quickly with good lacing. Medium-bodied for a stout, smooth, light finish.

Medium dark brown head. Opaque black body. Deep black chocolate and earth aroma with cocos notes. Dry-sweet malty alcohol and cocoa taste with roasty notes. Fullish body. Mild, faintly hot mouthfeel. Dry-sweet roasty caramelly aftertaste with mineraly burnt alcohol notes. Very nice and highly drinkable. (0.65l bottle from City Beer, San Francisco.)

Bottled. Caramel and liquorice. Intense flavour. Tar, coffee, treacle, port. Strong alcohol edge.

655 ml bottle. Black and seemingly clear. Small beige head. Caramel and roasted malts. Very rich and complex. Sweetness but body is light enough for it to be very drinkable. Coffe, chocolate, licorice and tar. A classic American imperial stout. Lots of caramel. Delicious.

Bottle. Dark khaki creamy head on a nearly black body. Lots of prunes and milk chocolate in the aroma with slight roast. Quite sweet with dark fruits and prunes dominating, with lighter chocolate notes and just a bit of roast. Medium body that’s a bit soft with soft carbonation. More like an imperial porter to me...

Bottled, thanks fiulijn! Pitch black. Aroma of licorice and pears. Full bodied with underlying sweetness and solid mouthfeel. Heavy roasty flavours of licorice and tar supported by slight perfumy pears and warming brandy. Mellows out to coffee and tobacco is a salty finish.
Earlier Rating: 12/25/2004 Total Score: 3.4
Bottled. Very black, brief jead. Saölty licorice aroma. Sweet and very roasty. Very rich with some molasses and coffee, salty bitter finish. The mouthfeel is a bit mellow.

dark sepia, near black with puffy cream head, considerable lace. Nose of considerable chocolate and oat, light toast. Flavor is more oat and chocolate, no-bake like, some stinging paper and hops through finish, balance though astringent.

Sweet and dark fruit nose. Soft creamy milk. Lots of milk chocolate, light cola and squishy bland malt. Rather dull.
Earlier Rating: 5/5/2007 Total Score: 3.5
Bottle from marcus. Dark brown/black body with creamy tan head. The aroma is roast, burnt, molases and milk chocolate. The flavor is molases, brown sugar, cola, burnt, toffee and oats. Full sticky body, fizzy carbonation and a bitter end.

Bottle. Pours opaque with a medium, fizzy light tan head, short retention with light lacing. Aroma is dark chocolate and roast malt, earthy hops, raisins and prunes with leather notes. Flavor is malt dominant, alcohol, dark fruity esters, oak, and a dry finish. Full body, medium retention and carbonation.

Dark brown pour with a great tan head. Earthen chocolate and caramel escalate into vanilla and tannic dark sugar. Quality for sure, but not exceptional by any means. Medium body with lower attenuation than i would hope for.