Middle Ages Dragonslayer Imperial Stout

Extremely generous 20 oz pour (draft) for $4! at The Blue Tusk in Syracuse.

Gather round, ye young uns an’ I’ll tell ye the tale o’ one’a me proudest moments...the slayin’ o’ the Black Dragon of Syracuse. Now, ye’ve probly heard nought of this great monster, seeing as how he hath been denigrated, underservingly mind ye, as one o’ th’ lesser o’ the Great Black Wyrms of Stoutland. An’ so as I climbed up to his cave in the far reaches o’ the Blue Tusk Hills, I was filled with confidence far beyond yer ken, for I had slain many a’ great lizard o’ that type in me younger days, an’ the brashness o’ youth had nowt left me yet. I climbed the treacherous slippery rocks and after an eternity espied the villainous cretur down his foul wyrm-hole. Black he were, as midnight, and luminous his white crown (for in those days the great worms apparreled themselves at times as men)..sparkly and beautiful he was, and huge and terrifying. His breath as I charged him full on (thinking as I did that he were weaker than others of his kin) was powerful, sweet and succulent cocoa powder and vanilla with fiery wisps of anise...I knew before ere my sword pierced his ebon hide that he were an honest foe, and we battled endlessly it seemed, jousting in the fullness of his chocolate majesty, great gouts of bitter coffee spewing forth from that luscious hide, sour bing cherries erupting from his vitals as I pierced him to the death, decadent old port reviving my famished lips as I lay spent from the battle, bitter baker’s chocolate filling his giant evil old heart as I tore eagerly at it (for thou knowest I suspect that the heart of an old worm can grant eternal life? or the most horrible of deaths, a risk I took joyously...), juicy dark smoky pine needles bursting forth at the very end as his body was consumed in the fires of Hell....I dare say I’ve nought seen his like before, and tiring and dangerous though that battle were, I’d face the old wyrm again on the morrow, joyously. Hear me know and believe me later, my poor lads, this was the real thing.

Note (Jan 2006) this is vastly better IMHO on tap; had it again at the Blue Tusk this Xmas and was not disappointed, but the 22 oz bottle I shared with ClarkVV in the fall doesn’t come nearly up to par, somewhat watery and flimsy though still nicely roasty and balanced. Bottled about a 4-4.2

Thanks to shippos for sending me a growler of this goodness. Seems they don’t bottle it, but they should. It pours an extremely dark color with a small head that fades quickly, but leaves some nice lacing on the glass. Pours sort of like dirty motor oil - very thick, very dark. Nice. The aroma is very nice as well. Lots of dark, sweet malts with molasses. The flavor is right on with this one. Lots of roasted malts. Lots of chocolate notes. Quite a bit of coffee. Very thick and complex. Love the flavor here. Some alcohol is present in the flavor, but it’s well masked. One of the better/best Impy Stouts I’ve had. Mouthfeel is pretty thick - big on the body. Drinkability is very good. Wonderful beer here.

Bottle from the Beer Yard. I can’t remember a period in time when I’ve had more great dark beers, and this is yet another. I’ve been wanting to try this one for awhile. Let me say that this may be the first Imperial Stout I’ve ever had that I would characterize as a Dry Imperial Stout. The pour is as black as Blackbeard’s pubes, with a perfect 1-finger brown head. The aroma sais by the nose with roasty dark malts, chocoff, hazelnut, molasses, a solid hop component. Reminds me a lot of FFF Alpha Klaus and Black Sun’s aroma. The flavor is very complex, with the roasty malts up front, followed by a huge backdoor hop component, and some molasses and hazelnuts. The palate gets drier and hoppier as it warms, but remains thick and rich and delightful. This beer will take its dry impy stout sword, and run it right through your slimey reptilian ass, you fire-breathing douchebag!

Black. Thick. Percolating, fluffy, dark brown top of medium size sits atop. Lacing coats the glass like a fine frosting. Aroma is dark and pungent with a good sized coffee roasted presense mixed with a dark bitter chocolate and rich chocolate cake. Notes of dark walnut, currants, and molasses make up the rest. Thick and rich taster, velvety smooth, dark, very chocolatey, and welcomingly bold with bitterness. Deep and dark roastyness grabs at the front end all while tenderizing it with a semi sweet backing of burntish currants, milk, and molasses. Fills in with rich chocolate breads, fudge, coffee, and other realms of chocolatey goodness thats very bittering with a semi-slide into some oily green hoppyness and woodyness. Scorched, crispened leftovers of fudge brownies, coffee, and a light dance of dark fruit cake stay at the back as the coffee and super dark chocolate bitterness unsues for eternity. Nice... Feel is thick, fairly full, or at least leads to fullness as it goes. Creamy and velvety with a lovely dark chocolate/coffee bitterness that lasts and lasts. A full fledged stout that slays the palate with emense chocolatey bitterness, roasted coffee, and dark thickness. Middle Ages indeed!

Pours a color resembling, Black. Light brown creamy head with good lace. Oaky vanilla, milk chocolate and caramel dominate with some licorice spice and bit of alcohol smell. Smoky burnt chocolate, mole, coffee, black licorice, oaky vanilla, sweet caramel and charcoal smoke. Excellent smooth and creamy mouthfeel; medium-bodied. A bit smoky and a tad light in body, but a great Imperial Stout.