Ottos Jolly Roger Imperial Stout

Brewed by Ottos Pub & Brewery
Style: Imperial Stout
State College, Pennsylvania USA

On draft at Otto’s Brewpub in State College, PA. This beautiful ale was served at the proper temperature in a tulip glass and had a thick brown head with dark brown body. Roasted coffee and bittersweet chocolate dominated my taste buds and the aroma was that of toffee and roasted malt. A most delicious stout.

Pretty much black in color, thick deep brown Swedish pillow head. Nose is roasty, lactic, and chocolaty, with slightly boozy fumes, and notes of toffee and/or peanut brittle. Thick, mouth coating texture with sweet, sensuous toffee (health bar) and chocolate flavors. Sharply bitter and roasty, with the bitterness combining naturally with the chocolate flavors resulting in vivid bitter chocolate with a smidgen of lactic tang in the finish. Very warming, very big, very fulfilling. I bet with a year of age, this would be retarded good...that being said, it’s still pretty damn tasty.

22oz bottle thanks to CaptainCougar. Finally got around to breaking this out. Black with a small brown head. Big roasted grain and chocolate aroma with some dark dried fruit. The aroma has lots of dark chocolate but still comes off as pretty sweet and rounded, with just enough hop balance, but still falling on the malty side. Full bodied and smooth on the carbonation. Nothing really remarkable about it, but a well make and very rounded imperial stout that goes down very smoothly.

Bottle courtesy SamGamgee. Pours pitch black with the slightest of brown highlighting the edges. Light tan cap of dense foam. Lots of roastiness and dark chocolate, but the solid smoked character sets this one apart from your generic RIS. Flavor is ashy burnt malts, roasted coffee, the darkest possible chocolate, and a sweetish smokiness that complements the mild dark fruitiness. Nice complexity. Full chewy mouthfeel, very drinkable.

Draught at Otto’s. The 2009 version from the beer engine. Darker tan head than the other two stouts I’ve had today and less of it (no nitro). Picking up more fig and plum in the aroma. Taste brings out sticky red berry as well, but avoids getting syrupy. Raisin, a few handfuls of unfermentables, plum, yum! Full-bodied but controlled. Alcohol kick reminds of bourbon (though I don’t think this is BA) and is gently warming. Depth, gentility, grace - Otto’s beers are all lovely!

shared 2007 bomber with TheBeerSommelier - thanks!!! Big pitch black pour with an average tan head... deep, dark and black... slight roasted malt and deep oat aromas... but lacking overall in the strength on the nose... big chewy body with a lot of roasted malt, oats, some lingering deep coffee and chocolate.... the finish is dominated by licorice notes coating some chocolate malts... big, stiff and powerful ... very nice.

DELICIOUS BOTTLE! Pours a black color with a light brown head. Tons of molasses, chocolate, coffee and prunes in the aroma. Flavor is thick and loaded with raisins, molasses, chocolate, coffee and great toasty notes. Fine impy!

Time to catch up before BCTC. Bottle at CL Rosso release. Thanks to all the RB’ers and BA’s that brought great beer. Dark black with head. Very roasty chocolate coffee with some dark fruit and bitter roasted finish. This was excellent.