 CharlesDarwin (1406), State College, Pennsylvania, USA
Feb 22, 2007
2006. 12 oz. Holy crap. What an aroma! The smells bowl me over as they race out of the glass. A nonstop cascade of fresh almond paste in a buttery croissant, a slab of hazlenut chocolate spread, blended with fig paste, reduced bourbon and brown sugar over aged mint leaves and a black tea. Dense, sweet and cold creamed. Amazing. This is how all Imp Stouts should smell. A love the deep dark fruits and nut characters, shys away from coffee, char and roast and ebbs towards the real caramelized malt notes. Beautiful. Pours pitch black, with a ruby sienna fringe and a light slick of tan head. Flavors are as bold and complex of the tongue. All the characters quickly invade every corner of my mouth. There’s reduced kumquat juice, mexican vanilla beans stripped and steeped in fresh cream, melding with english toffee, belgian truffles, and a mouthful of espresso beans. So bright and full of character. There’s a great percolation and prickly carbonation that keeps the beer alive on my tongue. In the middle the barrel and it’s alcohols shine in brilliant glory with a ruby fire of passion. Oaky nibs chime in with a faint quaf of parching air and then ebb out towards a charred sensation, with bristling charcoals, seared honey-crusted lamb bones, and toasted nuts. Finally, the deal is sealed with a torch of lemon candy, that reminds me that hops are in this potent brew. Mouthfeel is dense, with coarse grainy sugars and a whole lot of sweetness interplaying with the barrel alcohols. Heat is noticeable in a brandy sense, with coursing vinous behavior, but it’s not upsetting. A little light on the cold cream density texture that I desire, but the individual characters are accessible and well-defined making it well done. Refined. To me, a benchmark barrel-aged Imperial Stout.
Vac (2253), San Diego, California, USA
Oct 1, 2008 Pours with a black body topped by a thin, brown head wtih a little lacing. It’s sweet and full of vanilla and bourbon notes as well as a slight hint of roast. The bourbon notes are overpowering and take away from the stout flavor istead of complimenting it. Full bodied, smooth and warming.
Pawola22 (92), Kansas City, Missouri, USA
Sep 28, 2008 2007 12oz bottle. Pours a very oily looking, jet black. A dark and runny lacing after a minimal chocolate head disappears very quickly. A very strong aroma, I can smell it from at least an arms length away. Lots of vanilla and bourbon. More sweet than roasty although its still present. Woody/oak, dark chocolate caramel, and a mellow fruit background. Fantastic. Mouthfeel is very slick, oily, and smooth with a medium feel. Taste is incredible. Immediate abundance of flavor including chocolate, sweet caramel malts, oak and bourbon casting, and a vanilla backing. The middle kicks in with a very balancing bitterness and a sweet, mellow fruitiness resembling prunes. It finishes incredibly balanced and easy, drying very slowly throughout the aftertaste. Leaves a nice lingering bitterness and a delightful alcohol warmth unlike any beer I’ve had. VERY warming. Overall, this is a fantastic imp. stout. I would love to compare this to Bells Expedition. Great balance, love the bourbon oak smell/taste, fantastic finishing quality. Its a real temptress.
fiver29 (325), Strongsville, Ohio, USA
Sep 24, 2008 Bottle pours pitch black with a thin chocolate looking head. Aroma is amazing. Bourbon, chocolate, bourbon, roasted malts, vanilla, and did I mention bourbon? Has a very dense and heavy mouthfeel with some carbonation. Flavor is just what the doctor ordered. Hot bourbon, roasted malt, chocolate, caramel, dark roasted coffee, and alcohol. Overall, this is one of my favorite beers. This is an over the top, bourbon in your face brew. This is what makes it one of my favorites. Its also its biggest weakness. I really like the over the top bourbon, but enjoy a more balanced bourbon flavor even more.
Rynoplasty (234), Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Sep 21, 2008 Pours black with a small dark tan head. Aroma is malty with dark chocolate and oak coming through. There is a big malt vanilla flavor as well with a big warming finish. Good stuff.
KimJohansen (4285), Copenhagen V, Denmark
Sep 20, 2008 Black with tiny beige head. Sweet aroma with roasted malt, bourbon, chocolate and vanilla notes. Sweet flavour with roasted malt, chocolate, bourbon, coffee nougat and warming alcohol towards the end.
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