Harveys Imperial Stout

Brewed by Harveys
Style: Imperial Stout
Lewes, England

20022000 vintage. O my God this is delicious. Melt dark Belgium chocolate with prune juice, fresh plums, fresh figs, Navy rum and a vintage 1987 Chateau-Neuf Du Pape. Stir well, then leave to age in a corked bottle for two years. I enjoyed everything about this beer - from the little wisp of smoke that rose from the neck when the cork was pulled, bringing the fruit, alcohol and chocolate odours out that had been trapped for two years - through the little glug glug noise that the beer made as it travelled along the thin neck toward the glass (I enjoyed this so much that I did it a few times!) - through the first astonishing gulp of this astonishingly smooth, oily, thick, heavenly beverage - through the dark as diarrhea colour - to the long bitter chocolate finish. An absolute delight! A beer to die for! It is a crime this is lying down at 135 in the best beer list! [4.7]
Feb, 20072001 Vintage. The first sip (or gulp) and you know you’re experiencing something a little different. A little special. Huge body. Intense, stunning flavours. Yet, nothing aggressive. Nothing overwhelming or out of balance. This is big alcohol - and the mouthfeel and the warmth is plenty evidence of that; this is like drinking a warm, furry blanket -yet is never biting, never plastic, never overwhelming, never revolting - just warm and inviting. But, despite all the warmth and softness, the tones and flavours are unusual and slightly challenging - and therein lies the beers character and distinctiveness. And it is that distinctiveness that raises this beer to the highest acclaim. This is an extraordinary ale. Full of flavour. Full of history. Full of character. Warm, tasty, flavoursome, unusual, slightly challenging and very distinctive. There are sour notes,. Wine notes, Dark, bitter chocolate. There are all the usual flavours one would expect from a decent enough Imperial Stout, and then there’s the special flavours you get from one of the world’s most distinctive Imperial Stouts. The cobwebs, the chalk, the mouldy, fermenting licorice. The smelly green duffel coat covered in fungus and rain. The leather belt left lying under the sea for a thousand year. The snail encrusted compost heap at the bottom of the garden. The odour of a virile bull in must. This is a masculine beer of demanding character. This is top drawer. I learned today that Chrissie was pregnant. This was the only beer that I thought would do the occasion justice. Fucking awesome.

2001 drank in 05/04. Absolutely pitch black color, very thin dark brown head. I held this up to a light bulb and it blocked the light. If I held this up to the sun, I am sure it could block it to as well. The bottled opened up with huge whiff of port, I then smelt the cork which I took from the bottle and it smelt like an extremely complex cabernet sauvignon. A spicy nose is filled with plum wine (umeshu), molasses, cherries, port, sherry, liquorices, oak, dark chocolate, nothing short of orgasmic. Bitter hoppy mouth, coffee, chocolate, oak, very rich and intense, hints of dark fruits and liquorices. It also has a smooth, very low carbonation mouthfeel, lingering bitter finish with some strong dark chocolate notes. This is hands down the best imperial stout I have ever had and due to everything about it, I am going to award my first perfect score on ratebeer, which seems very appropriate for my 1000th rating (off ratebeer) 500th on rate beer. I just can�ft find anything I dislike about this style and this beer. If this is what Royalty in Russia drank, I am going to get a time machine and merry into the family, just so I can drink this stuff every day. Perfectly balanced, unbelievable nose, great depth. I am also drinking this in celebration of the Calgary Flames accent into the Stanley Cup semi-finals (2004). I gotta pick me up a case of this stuff to age. My new favourite beer. Despite being my new favorite beer, I don�ft think I would want to drink more than one bottle due to its intense richness. This would go perfect with a big Cuban.

This stuff pours as black a overused motor oil w/ only a shallow, beachball spattered froth. Smells like a Congnac aged in a Bordeaux cask. Medium full nectar and still as night. Lays heavy on the palate. Flavors are very earthy w/ hints of ginger bread, plums, vanilla, leather, sodium, iodine, cedar, w/ only slight cocoa. The roast factor is predominant here w/ a slight souring. The finish is bittered perfectly. Nice balance. I highly recommend this to the connoisseur. It’s not your typical style, very English.

hell yea

a near perfect brew. wonderfully dark. very complex tastes here nutmeg, madeira port, tofee, cloves are the most prominent. nice full palate with a creamy mouthfeel. a slight oily quality in the palate is the only point this beer loses. a great ’big’ beer that disguises its alcohol well. pity about the price and availability.

Rich, complex beer. Noteable bretamyces flavor in beer, which some take as ’sourness,’ but well within style. Tastes surprisingly like a ten-year old bottle of John Courage Imperial.

1999: Aroma of passion fruit, roasted grains and some spice. Slick oily body with no head. Flavors of espresso come to mind alongside bakers chocolate, fruit and some nice sweet and sour splurge. This makes for a perfect match for the cellar for many years to come.

Bottle @ HBK Black Beer Festival, Nynäshamn Backlog 26 Nov 2004
2001 vintage. Acidic aroma and raisins, and whatever you call that white stuff under an orange peel. Full bodied mature cheese. Black currant? 5/4/5/5/12 3.1
RERATE:
Gravity @ 32nd Cambridge Beer Festival, UK. 25th May 2005
Wow! My beer of the festival. Cask was marked 9.5%. Rich and so full bodied that you can almost chew it. Slightly sour (old - as in matured), complex. Quality chocolate. Quality red wine. Smells like a summer’s day. Papery, peppery and a bit salty. A beer to hunt for! Wow!