Free State Owd Macs Imperial Stout

Brewed by Free State Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Lawrence, Kansas USA

Serve in Snifter

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Chalk this up as another re-rate...that earlier description of mine just was no help at all to anyone. In addition to amending my rating, I am also awarding this beer a perfect 5...more on that here in a bit. Firstly, I was led to believe that the beer I tried was aged approximately 6 months, so the late 2001 batch, then. The aging process takes place in old whiskey barrels appropriated from McCormick’s brewery and distillery in Weston, MO. It is, like the Barleywine, also served at proper cellar temperature and in a brandy snifter. It has an intriguing, partially opaque red/black appearance, with a small number of tiny bubbles that cling lightly to the side of the glass. The head is very slight, and also composed of some of the smallest bubbles I’ve yet seen in a beer. The aroma is roasted, but also very sweet, with some licorice and alcohol...this is certainly one of the most complex aromas I’ve ever experienced. Words (or, at least *my* words) do not properly do it justice. The flavor is also very, very complex and hard to describe, but has sweetness, alcohol, a very small dash of whiskey, licorice, raisin, and a minor amount of chocolate as well. I was unfortunately unable to determine the malts used in this beer...another time, for certain. It has a slightly syrupy finish, and an interesting thing struck me as the flavors faded away -- this beer has no coffee flavors whatsoever. Interesting to have such maltiness in such a huge beer but no coffee. Anyway, there is some hoppiness, mostly apparent in the finish, but overall the malt flavors dominate. Finish is very, very long and sweet, not dry. Here are the few stats I was able to retrieve: 27.5 P, 1118 O.G., with an alcohol content of 9.4% by vol. This is such a unique and astoundingly complex (not to mention indescribably delicious!) beer that I feel it deserves a 5. Every sip I am newly amazed at the panoply of flavors on my tongue, and it makes me shake my head in wonderment, quite literally. I have never had anything like this, and I sincerely wish there was a way for me to share it with all of you!

Ohh baby. This beer is a beast, but what a beast it is. Deep and dark, with a wonderful rich fruity aroma and a mouthfeel like liquid eider down. Only drawback -- two of these and I’m reeling, and the next day the hangover is sheer torture.