Harveys Imperial Stout

Brewed by Harveys
Style: Imperial Stout
Lewes, England

This is a vintage 2001 and i had it in March 2005. I carefully took it out to get the right temperature and in awe I opened the bottle. Automatically I held the cork to my nose, and is like the cork from a wine, that went wrong, like vinegar... The color is pitch black and there is no head worth mentioning. The curtains in the glass are impressive and the mouhtfeel is extremely oily, it feels like I need to srcape it off. I love stouts and porters - but this one is extremely special.... It’s like a very strong "skibsøl" where the volume has been considerably turned up. Salt is the most dominant note - even 2 hours later, when I with shamefully bent head poured the rest down the drain... It also has notes of soy, tar, cough medicine, English licorice of the strongest kind, brief notes of bitter chocolate, and notes of something that reminds me of the smell of coffee that was left on the stove too long.... I’m deeply disappointed - but some day, I don’t know when, I’ll try it again.... - December 2007, I’m ready for another go soon, have one lined up in the cellar, and I have the feeling I might like it a lot better now...

Bottle. "Harveys Imperial Extra Double Stout 2003". Pours a pitch black colour with hardly any head. Aroma of very roasted malt, dark fruits, alcohol, chocolate and coffee. Thick sticky mouthfeel. The flavour is quite sweet with lots of plums and raisins. lots of roasted malt, chocolate, roasted caramel, bitter hops alcohol, bit of smoke. Long lasting sweet roasty and bitter finish.

2000 vintage. This beer punches harder than its 9% might suggest. Almost black color. Plums, chocolate and cherry in the aroma. No head at all, hardly any lacing. Thick, oily and syrupy. Sweet flavor with roasted malt, licorice, raisin, raspberry, porto and alcohol. Very complex beer, delicious and surprisingly fruity, without any doubt a classic.

Bottle 2001. Black beer with small brown head. Sweet winy, oxidiced aroma, Sweet liquerice, chocolate, viny, oxidiced taste, full body, Sweet liquerice, winy finish.

A Mes rate: 2001 Vintage bottle from Selfridges. Yak. Not enjoying this at all. Aroma is certainly intense. Smells like paint stripper to me. Sim said she could smell it from across the room. In fact she said "What IS that smell? Is it your beer???" Looks wise it does not really look like something I should put in my mouth. Looks more like something I would fill up a fountain pen with. Flavour is not as hardcore as the aroma but still a little too much for me. Roasty, lots of malt, bags of fruit and liqourice and strangely salty. Leaves me pulling a funny face after each sip. As soon as I am done with this rate I will try my best to soldier on with it but I am almost sure this one is going to end up going down the sink. Was expensive too. To think I put back a Schlenkerla Rauchbier Marzen in order to get this. NOT impressed.

Bottle. 2001 Vintage. Shared with Grovlam. Pours absolutely pitch black with no head whatsoever. Not even a slight film - nothing! Feels like tar, when you pour and when you look at it. Great aroma - roasted, vinious, sherry, cognac and a touch of berries! Extremely low carbonated making drinking it like downing tar (not that I’ve tried!). Flavour is dominated by a clear and very present roastiness, balanced out well by some sweet berries again. Very complex in its taste.

(Bottle, 2001 vintage) Pours a black (100% opaque) body with a spare brown lacing. Rich aroma of chocolate and roasted malt. Flavor of roasted malt, semi-sweet chocolate, and a hint of alcohol.

2001 Vintage. Served at room temperature (when I ordered this from the bar, the bartender pulled this bottle from one off of one the shelves). Poured a dark black with a smaller brown head. Aromas and tastes of chocolates, dark fruits and coffee. Some licorice. Medium alcohol in the aroma and taste as well. Almost has a whiskey quality to it.