 Mes_and_Sim (4476), Highgate, Greater London, England
Jul 15, 2007
A Mes rate:
640ml bottle shared at home with Sim. Vampire purple body with a huge tan head that settles very quickly to an oily film. Dark cherry and chocolate aroma with very obvious alcohol. Typically brash American stuff. Similarly unrefined in the flavour but I have to admit it’s pretty good. Heavy, heavy alcohol dominates but it eventually gives way to things much more delicate. Lovely grassy hops and roasted malt. Vanilla and yes the oak is apparent finally. Bitterness rushes around the palate and clings to the side of the mouth. The finish has the most ridiculous length of anything I have tried and is easily the best thing about this beer. It’s like a rich dark chocolate truffle and it really just doesnt shift. Hell, it must have been five minutes since I last had a sip and it’s STILL there. Palate is excellent also. Thick and oily and sumtuous. All this raving sounds like I love it. Sadly I don’t. Like so many American beers it’s close, but it has no style. It doesn’t wear Yohji Yamamoto. It shops at Walmart. It dosn’t do fine dining, it eats all day breakfast smothered in maple syrup. It buys the package deal to t-shirt nirvana.
BarliTruebeard (17), Greeley, Colorado, USA
Oct 3, 2008 This has got to be one of my most favorite imperial stouts of all time. Rich thick head, excellent lacing. Aroma of chocolate, toffee, vanilla, wood. Extra creamy smooth taste. The alcohol bite is covered well by the wood chips. One of the best I’ve had. I highly recommend pairing this with vanilla icecream. Oh so good. Better than Old Rasputin and Stone IRS and Ten Fidy.
Rune (1809), Tromsø, Norway
Oct 3, 2008 Completely black body with a dark brownish, bubbly head. Great glass-lacing. Succulent aromas of cocoa and hops together with a peaty touch behind it all. Well blended taste of chocolate, caramel and roasted malts backed by hops and gentle liquorice acidity. Even bitter coffee notes can be spotted. Smooth and velvet in the mouth. Harmonious and amazingly balanced. Nothing less than a masterpiece (500ml from tap shared with larsga and reakt at Plan B, Copenhagen 15.09.2008, and 250ml on tap - guest brew - at Nørrebro Bryghus, Copenhagen 20.09.2008).
mwelsh13 (189), Maryland, USA
Oct 2, 2008 2005 bomber. Very little pop when I opened the bottle. Poured a jet black with a medium oil consistency. Deep aromas of raisin, fig, molasses, currants, and some wood. Very smooth. No hop bitterness or roast dryness. A lot of chocolate with some vanilla/butterscotch flavors. Aged nicely.
RasterMaster (8), , Oklahoma, USA
does not count  Sep 29, 2008 Updated: Sep 30, 2008Thick dark black pour (almost molasses) from 22-ounce bottle forming into a dark brown head which eventually settles into heavy traces of lacing on the glass. Creamy head lingers giving a strong aroma of burnt oak and roasted cofee with chocolate malts. Strong, heavily charred smoked oak finish with light vanilla flavor, touch of bourbon-laden hoppy bite leaving a pleasingly sweet duration.
Haslinger (549), Syracuse, New York, USA
Sep 29, 2008 22 ounce bottle courtesy of Zinister. Aroma is chocolate coffee. Pours pitch black with a dark head into a snifter. Leaves some nice lacing. Taste is a delicious mixture of roasted coffee, chocolate and definite bourbon. The oak is subtle yet thick. There is a lot of hops in the aftertaste that you don’t notice at first because it’s overpowered by the intensely rich bourbon taste. Great brew.
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