Lake Louie Mr Mephistos Imperial Stout

Pours a dark but translucent cola brown color. A small, foamy, cream colored head settles to a thin film that lasts, with fine sheets of lacing marking the glass. Aromas are heavily roasted and bittersweet, barley, baker’s chocolate and scorched caramel showing well. There’s also an oatmeal like creaminess, as well as a healthy dose of robust, earthy hops. Flavors follow suit, showing both roasty and creamy elements. Bitter chocolate, burnt caramel malts, barley, oatmeal, and bitter, woody, earthy notes all play nicely together. The body is substantial, but a little light for an imperial. Carbonation levels are moderate and balanced. The finish is ultra-long and roasty. This feels like an 8% beer, not a 12%. I enjoyed this one. Sure, it’s not your every day imperial, but it’s pretty darn nice, and unique to boot.

bottle. Black, a bit of brown shines through at the edges. Solid tan head. Nose is roasty malt, chocolate, dusty wood, earthy cherry. Flavor is cocoa at first with a nice woody cherry tartness. After that some toffee comes in, held in check by the hops. The finish is fruity with a bit of alcohol & hops, a slight burnt character make it’s presence known. At the tail end the cocoa returns & lingers with just the right amount of bitterness.

12oz bottle: This one has a few years on it, not sure of the exact bottling date, but I am thinking 2005. Midnight black pour with a mocha colored, thick head. Only the slightest signs of oxidation are mixed with a lovely roasted nose. The body is decadent - fudgey chocolate, powdered cocoa, lots of nut and vanilla too. A nice mix supported in by creamy, thick body. Looking at subsequent ratings, I believe they may have downplayed the ABV in recent years as this tastes every bit of 12%. Thick, rich and full of flavor, this is a nice Impy. Thanks a bunch TAR.

Pours brownish red – a couple tads darker than root beer from a 12 oz bottle. It looks black in the glass, with a small 1/8-inch light tan head. Smells of coffee, chocolate, and malt. First sip is super light for an Imperial Stout. It is also bitterer and less sweet than typical IMP Stouts. Tastes of malts and tobacco dominate. As it warms, the coffee taste blossoms. I am amazed how so many flavors can coexist so peacefully in such a light bodied beer.

Bottle from pepsican. Pours a dark brown with a tan head that settles to a tan film. A ton of crap floating around in this. The aroma is of sweet chocolate and roast. Very earthy too. Has flavors of chocolate, roasted and burnt malts. A good deal of hops give this one a definite big earth presence. Somewhat bitter in the finish with a lingering hop/dry roast on the palate. There is no way this is 12%. It can’t be. Maybe. Who knows?