La Jolla Brewhouse Darkness

Brewed by La Jolla Brewhouse
Style: Imperial Stout
La Jolla, California USA

Tap at Blue Palms. Man this is good! I was under the impression that this was a Foreign Stout (or at least, La Jolla is and so the BP menu is too). This is a position that I buy, as there really isn’t anything imperial about this, but there is that unmistakable roasted bite that ends this flavor, like Zonker and De Dole Export. Full nose of whiskey-soaked brownie. Black as the deepest corners of your cheating heart. Flavor pops with roast, hints of dark fruit, dark chocolate and soft coffee. Brightens in the finish to a robust barley wine reduction or a bruin. Ends on roast. Slam diesel.

On tap at the strong ale fest 08. Very dark brown color with fluffy head. Mostly coffee, with some dark fruit, toffee, roasted malt, and raisins. Some hops in the finish. I nice imperial stout that is not to heavy on the coffee flavor.

Draft. Dark mahogony beer with a tiny off-white head. light coffee, light chocolate, light malt aroma. Dark chocolate flavor with coffee and yeast. Fuller bodied. Chocolate and light coffee lingers with earth and yeast. Just enough hops to balance. Alcohol well hidden.

On tap at the La Jolla Brewhouse. I did not get this at the Strong Ale Festival a few days before and was kinda surprised, and glad, to havev had a chance at it at the brew pub. Poured a dark, dark brown color with a small sized off white head. Almost black in color. Aromas of dark fruits, chocolate, some and some roastiness. Tastes of dark fruits, chocolate, roasty, caramel, and lighter coffee. On the sweeter side.

On tap at the 2008 Strong Ale Festival. Pretty interesting to try a beer named Darkness that is not made by Surly. I can not help but wonder if they were trying to clone it. My guess is not, because of the high malt and hop bill of Darkness, but who knows. Some roastiness. Tap fluffy head, nice. Sweetish chocolatey taste.

1st rating, tap at strong ale 2008. Pours black with a tan head. Nose is sweet and smokey. Taste is sweet, smooth, rich and very malty. I just dont see the belgian style in this beer at all.