Ottos Jolly Roger Imperial Stout

22-oz bottle received via trade with mj. Pours opaque with an average, fizzy, light brown head, lasting with good lacing. Aroma is heavy malt (cookie, coffee, nutty), light hops (perfume, grass), average yeast (leather) with notes of alcohol and smoke. Medium bodied, sticky texture, lively carbonation, and a bitter finish. Average duration, light sweetness, moderate acidity and bitterness.

Appearance: Pours a dark brown, near black body with a short-lived tan head. Smell: Roasted malt aroma with notes of coffee, chocolate, licorice, plums, and with, of course, a meaty smokiness. Taste: Dark, sweet roasted malts with a fair amount of chocolate and coffee showing. Hint of licorice. Gobs of smoke, though. Lil’ dash of fusel alcohol. Twinge of tart plum fruitiness. Earthy, roasty bitterness grows and holds through to the finish. Mouthfeel: Medium-full body. Medium carbonaton. Drinkability: I am not particularly trying to keep anyone in suspense, the short of it is: it’s a pretty decent imperial stout.

Pours a thin brown head with minimal retention and some spotty lace. Black bodied brew with some ruby notes at the edges. Fruity, vinous nose with light chocolate and roast notes. Body is full, oily on the palate, soft carbonation. Lightly sweet malts backed by a subdued roastiness, smoke flavors are really surprising, almost Rauch like in their presence, a touch meaty and woody. Light berry notes and some licorice as well. A tad sweet for me. Lightly sweet, roasty finish. Props to mj for hookin me up with this bomber.

Bottle shared by slob. Poured a nice rich deep dark black, choco-colored head. Aroma was rich and excellent, dark fruits, vinous notes, chocolate, general sweetness. The flavor followed the aroma, licorice started to appear later in the beer. A fair amount of residual sugars going on, a little too sweet and sticky to be excellent. Better attenuation, a few more hops and/or more carbonation would all have bumped this up a little more, perhaps in with the elite at that point. A very nice impy stout, though, enjoyable. Thanks, Bert, for sharing! Re-rate, 11/08, on cask at the brewpub in State College: High octane hot ale from the aroma forward. Fussel type flavors appeared, tar, deep vinous character. Chocolate, caramel, and some faint cardboard. Astringent bittery finish, coming off like a bad WWS... or the less than impressive vintages of WWS anyway. Not nearly as enjoyable as my first experience in the bottle, probably closer to a 3 than closer to a 4 (as originally rated). Bumping the numbers down a bit.

Bottle thanks to artusory. Poured a thick black color with a moderate tan head that diminished to a ring. Aroma of chocolate and a hinky of tobacco. All I really got from the flavor is chocolate and a some dark fruits on the finish. Finishes dry. It was ok, it just lacked any real complexity. I was slightly disappointed, I thought it would be better. I will definitely have to get another bottle, and hopefully i can just chalk this one up to a bad bottle/batch.

This was a overall really good ips.I found it to be smooth and roasty with hints of smoke and lots of chocolate.I love my stouts and was happy to try this and would drink anytime.CHEERS!

Tough going from an 06 Abyss to this. Poured black with a small creamy brown head. Aroma of fruit and chocolate. More fruit flavors then the coffee and chocolate. Almost overpowering.

1-6-08 bottle shared at tasting
Black with tan head and decent lacing. Nice roasted smell with alcohol hints in aroma as it warms. Taste is smooth and roasted as well but also has the alcohol flavor too. Just not all that blown away by this - I was expecting much more depth and flavor and less obvious overpowering alcohol.