Harveys Imperial Stout

Bottle, 2001 vintage. It pours a black, at least almost black, body looking clear, and without any head, except for a few bubbles disappearing quickly. Quite oily pour. Sourish, slightly vinegary aroma, almost cherry-like, with oak, cellar, roasted and burnt malt. Oxidized. Sweet, some soy-sauce and salt, with some caramel. Coffee and roasted malt too. And of course, there’s oxidation. No carbonation at all, full-bodied and oily, with a long sourish stout-finish. It’s a lovely beer in a special way, I guess it’s a beer you either love or hate (yes, I know there’s lots of ratings at the middle of the scale) and it sure takes some time to finish. One hour for a small bottle would probably be quite fast. Rating: 8-5-8-4-17-4.2.

Bottle, 2001 vintage, at Københavnske Øldage. Black, with some brown bubbles on top. Smoked, port-like aroma, with tar and some dried figs, raisins and fruits. Tar, smokenotes, bitterness, coffee, port and some chocolate and hops. Full body, drying coffee-bitter finish. Wonderful. (070512)

Vintage 2000. Dark brown with minimal head. coffee and chocolate malt nose. Similar taste but very sweet with a syruppy body. Dry finish with a fortified wine like alcohol burn.

Tasted the 2003 vintage. One of the most distinctive beers I’ve ever tasted. Notes of worcestershire and aged balsamic vinegar. Cool, funky aroma. Thick and viscous in the mouth. WTF, why is this beer rated so low???

I dont know why this beer is rated so low! This is a very unique and complex stout. Pours dark brown/black with a thin creamy chocolate head. The aromas are of bourbon and bitter dark chocolate. The first sit comes off bitter then turns sweet and dry right away. The finish is extra long and full of cocoa powder and thin coffee. I thought it was quite delicious. Hardly any hint of a 9%abv. Oe of a kind and way under-rated.

1999 bottle. im assuming this is about 6 years aged to long. that being said. how this could ever be a STOUT mystifies me. pours oily RED. head was still good as cork was really good still. but the taste could kill the weak. so sour and over ripe its just terrible stronger sourness than any wine ive ever had and salty soy sauce too. ill assume its WAY over aged BUT it was horrific Baaoowakk

Vintage 2001- probably sat too long with a bad cork. Poured with zero head.. oily and completely flat. I couldnt even finish it.

Bottle. Impeccable presentation with unique corked 11.2 oz bottle. Shiny black licorice pour. Limited crystal bubbles of carbonation rin the suface. Grapes, sweet barleywine-like scent. Similar taste with grassy, farmhouse finish. Antithesis of what I expected. I’m sure someone is a huge fan but not this guy.

330 mL bottle. 2001 vintage. pours black with no head. Aroma of soy sauce. Taste of soy sauce and salt. I think I’m going to go scrub my tongue now. In a word, blucky!