 garthicus (550), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Apr 10, 2007 Updated: Aug 29, 2008
Complete re-rate almost a year later: My bottle, bought by my Mother in Dublin and sent to me in Toronto. Appearance: Lovely deep black colour with a somewhat wispy caramel-pancake mix colour head. Aroma: Chocolate, hops, alcohol, peat/turf, some licorice and Christmas pudding attributes in the aroma also. Very comforting. Flavour: Wow - smokey, chocolate, turf, brandy-alcohol, some cream too, like a Baileys finish, very light on the palate for such a complex and alcohol strong beer. This truly is a one of a kind beer and is aging well (2 years, as this was a once off brew in 2006 to celebrate their 10th anniversary) very smooth, very very drinkable considering the strength. I think this deserves a special place in Irish brewing history. Incredible.
Glouglouburp (1935), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Aug 10, 2008 In short: An over-the-top imperial stout saved by a crazy fresh hopping profile. Very good beer.
How: Bottle 500ml. From HogtownHarry, thanks a lot Harry for this rare treat.
The look: Black body topped by a small tan head
In long: Nose of black liquorice, dark fruits, rubber and chocolate cake. Oh boy, that smells like a big beer. Big is indeed big and sticky. I could eat this beer from a bowl with a fork. Sticky molasses bordering tar texture. Medium roastiness level, flavour of burnt toasts, molasses, raisins, extra-thick caramel, deep fried beans (!), black cake, black liquorice and more. Alcohol is somewhat well hidden which is not surprising with such a big body. If that’s all there was to it I wouldn’t be impressed at all as I’m one who doesn’t care for over-the-top imperial stouts. But what saved this one is the truckload of hops. I mean, this beer must have gone crazy on the hops here cause the beer felt well balanced, and with that syrupy sticky body that’s quite an achievement. The hopping had this green fresh feeling with a flavour that reminded me all to well of me chewing on a nice green hops pellet, something I can never resist when I see one. Ok now looks like the Irish has joined America in the bigger-is-better trend. Oh boy, as it the Irish weren’t drunk enough already.
Kalli (407), Falun, Sweden
Aug 1, 2008 (From the archive)
Surprisingly hops are most notable on the aroma. Some smoke from the malts as well.
railcat1 (488), Hammond, Indiana, USA
Jul 6, 2008 This was a very good and roasty IPS,with hints of coffee and chocolate and a nice strong abv was present as it warmed and poured a nice dark black with a small brown head and it had a nice bitter finish to it very interesting and enjoyable.CHEERS!
tupalev (2296), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
May 11, 2008 Bottle shared with Hogtown Harry - thank you to both Harry first and then Al originally giving me the opportunity to try this beer!!! Hint of ruby in otherwise pitch black pour, bubbly tan head. Licorice, tar, sticky syrup in aroma. Huge roast and hop taste - roof of your mouth sticky sweet molasses and malt. Despite the tar/stickiness, the body is actually quite light for the style, and this really accentuates the hops. This is a terrific, complex unique imperial stout. Not in your face like typical U.S. interpretations of the style, nor is it as sweet and overpowering as Baltic/Foreign Stouts/Porters. It finds a unique place somewhere in the middle of those two and the end result is a must try beer. Thanks again Al and Harry for this opportunity.
HogTownHarry (3186), Toronto (Harbourfront), Ontario, Canada
May 7, 2008 Bottle (500ml). Shared with tupalev, courtesy of Garthicus - danke, Al!. Poured near opaque ruby-black, not muddy, but very lively near the surface when swirled; smallish creamy tan head (4+). That’s quite an aroma - alcohol, but subdued, strong character of tar, molasses, gons of herbal hops, and a nice dry peatiness and undertones of dark fruit (cherry, cassis). The taste - yowza! - incredibly herbal-bitter, was not expecting that - good, though! - with roast coffee bean sweet caramel malt, fruit, port (the name suggesting?) and carrying the lot a strong wave of raw cinnamon and near-burnt malt - and yeah, it’s imperial strength in ABV. What made it unique to me was how light in body this was - more porter-like, but quite slick on the tongue, and definitely not shy with the alcohol and herbal/bitter astringency, which combined with the deep roast for a long finish, although of delicate weight. This is a VERY good imperial, and quite unlike most that I’ve had - sinfully easy to drink, too.
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