Harveys Imperial Stout

Brewed by Harveys
Style: Imperial Stout
Lewes, England

2001 vintage. With some good age on this stout, I was expecting what I got, quite a similarity to a port wine. Pours a smooth charred wood color with red edges. Aroma was the best part of this experience, very vinous, with a nose of fermented cherry, licorice, and roasted coffee bean. Dry smoky flavor that fades into a tart yet bitter finish. Notes of malt, currants, light ginger and a moderate hops profile. The palate somewhat disappointed me, after the bitterness the nose just fades too quickly for me. Nice mouthfeel though...the age is definitely making itself known. Mediocre overall for an aged stout, I would prefer a vintage Speedway when available in contrast.

1999 vintage. Poured an oily dark brown with some red highlights. No head. No lacing. The aroma had tiny rush of chocolate when it was first poured. As it opened up I got funk, roast and salt. The flavor was sour with salt and a slight roasted characteristic. Slick, unappealling mouthfeel. My first drainpour.

Bottle, 2001 vintage , at københavnske øldage 07. Black colour with no head. Aroma is smoked, dried fruits. Flavour is cellar notes, dried fruits, alcohol, smoked, hop, coffee. Nice beer.

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