Nils Oscar Imperial Stout

Brewed by Nils Oscar
Style: Foreign Stout
Nyköping, Sweden

A vigorous pour produces a fat-one-finger thick, frothy, lightly brown tinged, tan colored head. The beer is near black, but shows flashes of brilliantly clear, deep ruby notes around the edges if held up directly to the light. The aroma is somewhat rich with lots of dark malt character; aromas of chocolate, well toasted rich grain notes, a touch of dark roast coffee, a touch of charcoal, and some earthy, dusty burnt grain husk aromatics. Underneath the dark malt is a touch of burnt fruit character reminiscent of overly broiled raisins and prunes.

Somewhat light feeling for an Imperial Stout, but well within character for a stout of 7% abv. The beer is quite roast dominated with burnt malts providing both a touch of acidity and a palate coating, dry burnt character up front. This palate coating burnt note is counter balanced and somewhat washed away by a sweetness that takes hold towards the middle into the finish and which provides flavors of burnt, sweet plums and roast raisins. This has a fair amount of sweetness to it, especially as it warms up; the sweetness is perhaps not as rich and malty as I prefer in an Imperial Stout, but is instead more like a fruit-forward, clean sweetness. This has a fairly low carbonation (thus the minimal head despite a vigorous pour), this makes this a bit smoother drinking. The beer has a medium heft to it, enough to coat the palate just a bit, but not enough to keep this from being fairly drinkable.

As a contemporary Imperial Stout this seems quite week, but even ten years ago this was a decent strength version. A tasty brew that seems a bit more like a strong stout. I almost feel like I could quaff a couple pints of this brew, which says something both about the strength and the flavor of this brew. Tasty!

Purchased: <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp? Liquors, Tucson AZ

Bottle from MaltOMeal at the December Houston tasting. Thanks! Pours a thin, dark mahogony with an aroma of faint molasses plastic syrup and sweet cedar. Flavor is sparkling light chocolate with an earthy cinammon finish. Average mouthfeel. Not bad, but too light bodied for my taste.

<i>Bottle (33 cl) from Systembolaget</i>. Dark brown with a red hue, opaque, with a small beige head. Roasted aroma with milk chocolate, burnt sugar, and manure. Well balanced, but very much overrated.

330 ml bottle, black cap. Pours jet black, light brown, rocky head. Aroma of roasted coffee beans, dark bittersweet chocolate, roasted oatmeal and barley, licorice, and maduro cigar. Very sweet malt flavor. Pleasant fruitiness. Lots of roast, grain, oat. All of these flavors are followed with a coffee roast bitterness. Some residual dark chocolate flavors, vanilla, and creamy caramel. Chewy texture. just like a piece of candy! Cheers...

Nice aroma - bitter chocolate, roasted coffee - but light. Opaque with hints of red - little layer of a head. Fruity, roasted coffee beans - light hoppy undertones. Pricks slightly on the tongue. Long lasting fullmouth aftertaste. Nice and suprisingly very refreshing. Thanks so much Per!

Imperial Stout Blind Tasting (11-16-02): Little to no head on a dark body. Huge aroma: chocolate, cherry fruitiness, slight alcohol. The flavor has a thin bitterness, not sure whether it’s bittering hops or just the burnt malt. The dry slightly burnt flavor is unexpectedly meak after the big bold aroma. Slight woodiness in the flavor.

bottle from pizza port. Black with a fizzy tan head. Good sweet chocolate taste with coffee notes on the back end. Weak aroma but chocolate evident.

Bottle: Poured a deep black color color stout with a medium foamy head with good retention and very good lacing. Aroma of lightly sweet black chocolate with notes of dry roasted malt. Taste is a nice combination between some back chocolate with lightly sweet dry coffee notes. Body is quite full with good carbonation and no apparent alcohol. Very well done but creamier body would have improve enjoyment of this beer.