sfhodense (554), Odense NØ, Denmark
| 4.4 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 9/10 | 5/5 | 8/10 | 5/5 | 17/20 | Aug 3, 2009 Pours black with a large light brown head. Aroma is oak, roasted barley, chocolate and some blackberry. Flavour is oak, smoke, liquorish, vanilla, chocolate and blackberry Gypsy19 (617), California, USA
| 3.9 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 5/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 15/20 | Aug 1, 2009 Bottle from Bottle Trek, into snifter. Pours a blackish dark brown with a medium to large medium-brown head. Head starts to collapse quckly, then slows down a little. Aroma is pretty hoppy for an impy, then follows with light chocolate aromas. A little coffee as well, but a pretty subdued aroma overall. Flavor comes first with espresso and, well, oak. Then comes a little chocolate in the middle. Burnt malts all the way through. Hoppy, bitter finish. A second sip reveals more hops. Not really as complex as I expected for a Top 50 imperial stout, but still quite good. Full palate, bitter aftertaste. A chest warmth comes on after about half a glass. A very nice stout all around for me, but if you’re one who likes hops in your stout, this one will have you wanting a few refills to your snifter. Overall, very good to excellent. deyholla (520), Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| 4.1 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 9/10 | 5/5 | 7/10 | 4/5 | 16/20 | Jul 30, 2009 Bottle. Pours thick black with a long lasting dark brown cream head. Laced very nicely. Aroma is full of chocolate notes with an undertone of coffee. No hints of alcohol. Flavor starts dark and chocolaty and oak flavors come in. A very good beer. chronictonic (401), Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania, USA
| 4.5 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 5/5 | 9/10 | 4/5 | 19/20 | Jul 24, 2009 Tap @ McMenamins! Pours oily black with tiny whisps of mocha tan head. Aroma is vanilla, molassas, dark candied currents and malt. Alcohol notes well hidden. Big mouthfeel and flavor. Smooth and malty with only hints of vanilla oakiness (unlike so many other oak beers that I don’t like). Medium malt body balanced nicely with the hops. Finishes with a nice hoppy cleansing bite. TampaBrew (805), Tampa, Florida, USA
| 3.9 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 7/10 | 4/5 | 16/20 | Jul 19, 2009 Updated: Nov 15, 2009Poured black. Nose is oak, roasted grains, mild smokeiness and sweet molasses. Flavor is big roast, fresh wood, earthiness, bitter hops, cocoa and coffee. FlyingTaco (112), Massachusetts, USA
| 4.4 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 9/10 | 5/5 | 9/10 | 4/5 | 17/20 | Jul 9, 2009 Original review date 2/18/2008...
Bold, tar-black colored with 2-finger head of milk chocolate-colored, sturdy head. Amazing-what every imperial stout should look like.
Essence of hardcore malt and sugar with deep caramel, strong natural vanilla backbone. Hops are in the background but make their presence known in the balance.
Wow - this is powerful, luscious stuff. Caramelized sugar from the aroma is here in spades; the oak meshes well with the strong malt and mild hop presence with some added toasty coffee grounds and toffee. Alcohol is very present but this is very well-balanced.
Coats the mouth like the best stout sundae you ever had - cold but velvety.
Defintely something to sip and savor - extremely enjoyable. One of the best in its style.
joeneugs (308), Livermore, California, USA
| 4.2 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 9/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 3/5 | 18/20 | Jul 6, 2009 Pours very dark brown with a dense, creamy, dark brown head that forms fun looking mountainous formations as it settles. The aroma is of liquour, chocolate, oak, vanilla, berries, and prunes. Very intoxicating. The taste is smooth with low level carbonation and lots of alcohol and chocolate and dark fruit. The oak flavors are in there, but take a back seat, which is refreshing. Good bitterness. Medium roasted. Medium/Full bodied. Overall- very well balanced and good. The oaky, roasted quality builds as you near the end of this really nice beer. Cavie (1369), Fort Worth, Texas, USA
| 4.1 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 17/20 | Jul 1, 2009 No light gets through this. Gorgeous aroma. Smell of chocolate and alcohol. Taste is right away dry cocoa and alcohol. Excellent.
|