Harveys Imperial Stout

Brewed by Harveys
Style: Imperial Stout
Lewes, England

Serve in Snifter

An interesting beer for my 100th review. I had this from a 9.3oz bottle from 2008. Pours motor oil black with a big dark tan head. The aroma is huge! I smells lots of oak, spice, earth, brandied cherries and chocolate. This is reminding me very much of a well aged red wine, a nice Burgundy maybe. Taste like complex roasted malts, cola, dark red fruits, earth and some undertones of hops in the after taste. Mouth feel is very smooth for such a big tasting beer. The alcohol is quite present and warming, but seems to add to the experience very nicely. This is such a big and interesting beer that it is hard to be neutral about it. I think the three years of aging probably was very useful in taming some of the intense flavors, but I would like to try some other years of this beer to test my hypothesis. I am all for this big unique beer.

Bottle, 2003 Vintage, Courtesy of Toronado SD (love you guys). Unfortunately, age has not been kind to this one. Heavy fruity vinegar sour notes on the nose immediately apparent. Almost indistinguishable from the Cuvee de Jacobins my bar neighbor is having from draft. Taste has some noticeable off characteristics. Slightly sour, but it tastes heavily oxidized and not pleasant at all. Did not finish my 4oz pour. I still really appreciate the opportunity to taste this!

2008 Vintage. The aroma is strongly malty with notes of chocolate and some spice. The beer is beautiful dark black with a thick tan head. The taste is unique, not necessarily in a good way. There are strong notes of chocolate with some odd flavors and a long strange after taste. The body is thick, but there are some astringent notes. Disappointing for something considered a classic.

bottle - black beer with a dark brown head. Like oil. Aroma has some cherry and spicy notes with a touch of cacao. Flavour is very malty, chocolate notes, decent bitterness. Faint oak hints. Low carbonation.

(*vintage 2008): Au nez c’est le cocktail narcotique (tabac, goudron, cuir), rien de bien chaleureux. Au goût je retrouve le même assemblage mais adoucis de façon spectaculaire par l’age. Ya également beaucoup de résine de houblons floraux partout en bouche et en finale. Seul, l’arrière goût cuiré n’est pas désagréable mais l’ensemble est un peu trop étouffant. Content de l’avoir bu vieilli.

(bottle - corked 330 ml - 2001 vintage) Oily black pour with no head or carbonation whatsoever. Deep wine and earthy aroma with some hints of malt and chocolate and a wet funk to it. Bitter and coffee-like at the start with a very dry and funky middle with hints of soy sauce and wet wood. Bitter and cloying finish. Maybe it didn’t age properly, but I wasn’t a fan.

2001 bottle, pours jet black, though with brown tinged edges, and a thin head. Treacle, liquorice, wine and a touch of coffee on the nose, heavy body with more liquorice, a little coffee, slightly salty, oily yet dry mouthfeel, a touch of burnt raisins and sour-sweet soy sauce, then a burnt treacle, slightly syrupy and hoppy finish. Fascinating!!

Vintage 2003
Appearance: pours black with little to no carbonation – slow pour with no visible sediment. Espresso crema collar, no head. Swirls with espresso crema spots.
Nose: chocolate covered raisins and prunes. Tart little nip in the back. Smoke esters, charcoal. Black licorice root. Smoldering pile of brush – old twigs, leaves, wood. Leathered – gentleman’s club, polished and black with time. Peat and tar.
Palate: wow – soft and velveteen mouthfeel. Tart and leathery – dry, leathered burnt charcoal finish. Cigar and tobacco leaf, smoldering and smoky. Long leathery finish. Black licorice root and candy – raw untamed anise burnt charred and brittle. Nutty date and prune stones. Bakers chocolate. Silky milky mouthfeel – hint of lactobacillus. Leather in the middle. Sour milky tart pitted dark fruits. Iced espresso. Mexican espresso.
Final Thoughts: wowsers! Cellaring beers is a bit of a crapshoot; no matter how prepared and knowledgeable one is there is always a chance that the beer will be long past its prime with no intentions of ever returning. Thankfully, the 2001 Imperial (Extra Double) Stout from Harveys was a winner hands-down as my empty glass eventually proved.