Hales Pikop Andropovs Rushin Imperial Stout

this one has all those things you think of in a stout, wouldnt really push it up in to the imperial area, makes me think of a more typical then atypical stout. some dried raisins, choc, toffee, and tart/tang of character at the end, not sure what that is??

Intensely dark head, caramel color on a very black, opaque , very oil-like in the pour. Grape and apple, and perhaps a bit of cinnamon in the aroma, nicely fruity and on their own they would have been indicative of really good beer. But they turned out to be suggested that bad things were to come, but even so, the sour edge on the palate surprised me, lactic. A little bit woody, too. Possibly among the least enjoyable of the Imperial Stouts I’ve had in this tasting.

Bottle. Nose-grape, apple. Taste-vinegar, bitter, very tart and apple juice like. The taste is pretty much a let down. I’ll pass on this one.

(Bottle) Pours a black body with a moderate tan head. Aroma of Welch’s grape juice, apple, citrus, and a hint of chocolate. Falvor of apple cider vinegar, fruit, and roasted malt. A bit hin for an Impy Stout.

damn i don’t know what was harder, reading my notes or finding this on the site, i think my notes are harder to read. from the dfw impy tasting. i believe at this point i had started speaking in a slurred yell and apologizing every 5 minutes for the sppilled food and whatever else i had done at poor bu11zeye’s house. damn i’m a clumsy drunk. ok on to the beer. dark solid opaque with an orange brown head. aroma is alcohol, plum, and orange with a grape vinegar. wow grape and tart and not good. very sour finish with an apple flavor that is just a disguise for the bad flavor. is this an infection or just a shitty beer?

Bottle: Black in color, foamy dark brown head that dies down quickly, spotty lacing.   Heavily roasted malts, apple skin, dark chocolate, and bright coffee beans on the nose.   Sharp fruity sourness immediately up front, followed by heavily roasted/burnt malts.   However, a lactic like sourness takes charge and makes this beer hard to finish.   Moderate body and mouthfeel.   Sour finish, immature fruity aspect.   Overall I feel as if this one is a bit too sour.

4 years later and I still like it. Sample at Hales. Black with a thin light brown skim. Charcoal and roasted malt aroma. Tasty and sweet with a strong sour note. Flavours include charcoal, molasses, alcohol and a gritty dark malt. May 2005.7/3/8/4/16 3.8 Black. Moderate foam ring around the glass. Nice roasted malt aroma. Noticeable alcohol. Carbon roast flavour with a burgundy finish. Delicious.

From the bottle this pours pitch black with a thin tan head. Very nice blend of roasty coffee and chocolate with lots of acidity in the finish and a thinner body. The acidity emphasized the fruitiness in the finish and finished with a bit of saltiness and smoke.