Poured at 4:20 pm at the Great Taste of the Midwest, Madison, 8/13/2005. This was one of my last beers of the day, given my wife and I needed to get back to Champaign that night. I’m a big fan of the latest Founder’s Imperial Stout, but this took my experience to a whole new level. Rich flavors of vanilla and dark chocolate with roasted nuts on the nose and then on the palate. More chocolate mixed with wood and toffee working through as it glided down my throat. I really can’t describe this better than StewardofGonder, so be sure to read the previous comments! But I will rate it a bit higher, this was awesome stuff to me. Founders needs to bottle this one.

On tap @ MBGF: Don’t know what the big secret was, but for some reason they didn’t want to say exactly what this was until one of the guys behind the tap inadvertantly shouted it out. Now it turns out he shouted out the wrong name, and now my rating is here instead. Excellent chocolate aroma with bourbon, light alcohol, and a hint of wood. Dark brown with no transparency and a tan ring for a head. Roasted coffee is really subdued compared to the regular version. Notes of bourbon, vanilla, and chocolate. Chocolate increases in the finish and lingers into the aftertaste. As it warms vanilla becomes more noticeable. Absolutely excellent. Please bottle this so I can get more!!! And one more thing, when you brew something this good, tell people what it is.

Tap @ GTMW. Deep midnight brown in color with a thin, creamy tan head. Aroma prominently features chocolate and roasted malts with bourbon, cedar and vanilla serving a sweetening supportive role. Glorious chocolate and roasted pecan flavoring is perfectly complimented by the bourbon traits. Some dark chocolate pulls through the other headliners. Sweet caramel underscored with vanilla. Sauna cedar panels add a unique depth perception. Fudge brownie resonance. Medium-to-full bodied. Creamy, fudgey and enriched with vanilla cedar tones. An improved manifestation of their standard imperial stout and enjoyable in every sense.

Moved from bourbon to kentucky, now back to bourbon.... Draft at MSBF. Pours a dark oily black color with a thick tan head. Nose is chocolate, java and some very light notes of bourbon. Taste is rich and chewy, leaving a velvety feel on your mouth. Enough bourbon is tasted to make an impression but is not overwhelming. Chocolate and coffee also make an appearance.

Smooth, deep, dark, creamy, rich flavor, robust but not overly cocky, pure stout and pure flavor. No nasty bitterness, no sick alcohol overtones. Just delicious, holy crap was this good.