Harveys Imperial Stout

2001, 330ml bottle, quaffed from a Brasserie de l’Abbaye des Rocs snifter. Pours with a minimal, espresso like head. It is Cadillac black. The winey aroma is something I would associate more with a Oude Bruin than a Imperial Stout. This evil looking brew, has a distinct chocolate sourness, that is unique and refreshing in itself. Seems to be one of a kind.

2/6/05. Poured out of 330 mL bottle, bought at Liquorama in Upland, CA some long-ass time ago, probably 2 1/2 years. 1999 Vintage. Black-brown in color with no head at all on a rough, thin, and slow pour. Texture looks oily, even leaving a viscous, mostly transparent coating on the glass with each tilt. Aroma is excellent, containing thick hot fudge, some port (without much alcohol), and an undercurrent of bright, vinous grape-like fruitiness. Flavor is comparatively mild but no less intriguing with a subtle red wine character, dryingly wood-like bitterness, and soft bittersweet chocolate, lightly acidic and corky. Incredibly oily, slick, full body with a bold trail of deep roast and an overwhelming fudgy black malt essence. Slightly sour in its roastiness, but the acidity is also fully complementary to the vinous notes, making a perfect, unlikely marriage of char and wine. Finish is quite dry despite the slickness, gritty and almost tannic with a twiggy chocolate presence and intense sweet roast, even suggesting cherry cordial. A marvel and a conundrum, so unique and perhaps still a bit too challenging to fully enchant.

Bottle at the GBBF, Kensington Olympia 05/08/2005 Black very strong in alcohol and fruity. Some bitterness and a lasting roast finish.

Bottle, labelled as ’A le Coq Imperial Stout ’. Vintage 2000. Pours a murky dark brown, almost black, with a spare diminishing light-brown head -- looks like an oil spill. Aroma, whoa, at first I wasn’t sure I liked it at all but as it opened up and I got used to it I quite liked it. There’s strong dark fruit, a wine-like smell, a strange hop aroma, some sourness, soy sauce and alcohol. The flavour definitely takes getting used to as well but I did and I liked it: very roasty, again a wine-like taste, dark fruit, coffee, salt and a bitter aftertaste -- nice and complex. Full bodied with an oily texture. This is definitely an acquired taste but I really liked it -- it’s interesting and original and I hope to have it again.

forget sherry and/or brandy, this is the new one. very rich and silky look and taste. deep bitterness is enticing though could be to strong tasting to others.

2000 vintage. Pours a deep black, no head at all, no carbonation whatsoever. VERY thick pour, like a light oil. Nose is winelike, like a merlot, with roasted, sweet notes, plus prunes and, oddly, soy sauce. Alcohol hits you right off, then some vinous flavors before a bitter coffee flavor takes over. Very smooth, extremely thick syrupy body. Bitter coffee and chocolate finish, some molasses in the end. Do I like it? I don’t know, but I can say I’ve never had anything like it.

2000 Vintage: I saw this beer in a liquor store early January 06 and picked it up. I read the ratings on this before I had it and knew I was either going to love it or hate it. I personally did not enjoy this one. I thought it was bitter with no real coffee notes. It definately had a Russian characteristic to it. I wasn’t able to finish half the bottle. As always though I never hate to try any brew.

2000 vintage, pour was black as used motot oil with about the same consistancy and no head. Aroma was straight up merlot. It was heavy but smooth with a bitter choclate flavor.