Emelisse White Label Imperial Russian Stout (Ardbeg BA )

Brewed by Bierbrouwerij Emelisse
Style: Imperial Stout
Kamperland, Netherlands

Serve in Snifter

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No head, ink-black liquid. Superb woody-smoked Islay malt nose; peaty, phenolic, tarr and seasalt. Even more phenolic & tarry than the nose, but in the background, retronasal, an alcoholic fire of toasted and roasted malts is burning. Sweet black coffee notes. This is unidimensional AND balanced - rare! Warming, slick-viscous but not really thick MF. Oh, I know, I’m a s*cker for anything Islay and smoked. Even more thanks, thus, Kees!

DArk almost pure black with small brownish foam head. Smell is charcoal with whiskey. Taste is burnt malts with whiskey. Do I taste a 3 days old wet sigar? Bitter? Don’t know. Not quite my style, liked the Glen Elgin better. (Bruinisse 201205)

Bottle @ Haand festival. Pour opaque black, with and average sized tan head. Aroma is really smokey, with lots of roasted malts to it. And tons of peat and whiskey as well. A bit off balance imo. A little sweet, with a whole lot of bitterness. Average body, with a fizzy carb.

(Bottle) Pours black with a pale brown head. The aroma holds aggressive peaty smoke up front (tart, asphalt, smoked chilly, wet wood, dry concrete and whisky) with undertones dark bread, liquorice, coffee/chocolate, alcohol and subtle hops. The flavour is light sweet, medium bitter and light acidic with notes of smoke, roast, alcohol and resinous/citric/grassy hops. The mouthfeel is round, oily and numbing with a light carbonation. Smoke, alcohol, bitter hops and bready malt on the finish. Medium bodied.

330 ml bottle bought @ Être Gourmet. Pours black with a small bubbly pale brown head that quickly dissipates without leaving much trace on the glass. Smell is intense and sweet with peat, wood, smoke, alcohol, bitter chocolate, single malt whisky, tar, asphalt, vanilla, resin, ash and hints of burnt caramel, dark bread and wet soil. Taste is sweet, bitter and tiny metallic with roasted malts, coffee, tar, peat, wet soil, wood, green chilis, single malt whisky, orange zest, pine, asphalt, salty liquorice and hints of cocoa powder, mango, pineapple and lemon zest. Mouthfeel is intense, slightly dry, tiny tart, boozy and medium to full bodied. Finish is slightly sweet and bitter with roasted malts, coffee, peat, lemon zest, tar and salty liquorice.

Aroma di Whisky torbato con note di liquirizia, caffè e malti tostati. Perfetta corrispondenza naso-bocca.

Botte: Medium fluffy tan head, disappears slow and leaves a sticky foam on the glass and vast tan lacing on top of a black colored beer. Smell glue, wood glue, whiskey tones, hint of sharper plastic and hints of coffee, cream and vanilla. Taste lots of earth, some roasted barley malts, bitter, light creamy sweet tints, wood, tar, wood lactose bacteria, hint of clay, woody herbs, some chocolate. A bit weak aftertaste of earth, medium bitter, some bitter chocolate and roasted herbs/hops. Low carbo, soft oily mouthfeel, full body and a creamy oily texture. This beer is ok, maybe a bit out of tune, but guess that they have to figure out how long to add these Imperial Stouts to such specific barrels.

Bottle. [thanks noize/skortila/caesar]
Completely black with a small, creamy, beige head. Aroma has tar and lots of peity smoke. Sharp. Roasted and light sweet. Low carbonation with a fine, dry and light creamy mouthfeel. Flavour is strongly smoky, roasted, sweet chocolate. Strong, vinious and fairly sharp. Not really my thing.

Bottle at Haand festival 2012. Lovely whisky aroma and flavour on top of a well rounded imperial stout. Lots of nice smoke.

Sample from bottle at Haand Festival 2012
Black, thin laced tanned head. Smells of peaty and smoky islay whisky, some liquorice, coffee and roasted malts hidden behind that islay wall. Fantastic aroma i must say. Nice malty body, heavy sweet, then there really is some nice dark flavors ruled by the peaty whisky. Full body, soft carbonation, some bitter finish. This is beer for the whisky lover for sure

On tap @ Haand2012. Pour black with a brown head. Aroma of peat, whisky ,roasted malt and chocolate. Flavor is sweet and peated with some oak, roasted malt, coffee and chocolate. Medium to full body, soft carbonation.