Scotch Irish Tsarina Katarina Imperial Stout

Formerly brewed at Heritage Brewing Limited
Style: Imperial Stout
Carleton Place, Canada

Roasted malt aroma is suggestive of coffee with some notes of dark chocolate. Opaque black body is topped by a low brown head that recedes to ring. Some alcohol is apparent in the roasty, sweet flavour. Notes of liquorice, olives, cherries and chocolate are apparent. Medium light body is somewhat syrupy due to low carbonation. Bottle sampled at the Montreal YEHa 2005.

Bottled, thanks to HogTownHarry. Poured a beautiful black with a short cap of loose bubbly mocha head. Deeply roasted coffee, dark chocolate, raisins, figs, and licorice provide a very nice nose. Flavor has a heavy licorice and chocolate base with coffee bitterness around the tongue and some alcohol in warmth at the finish. Leafy bitterness finds the finish as well. Medium-heavy bodied with only a mediocre transition across the palate. Solid brew that I’d certainly drink again.

Thanks again to CaptainCougar. 2005 Vintage. Poured black with a small brown head. Big roasted malt aroma. Spent coffee grinds, ash, and some dark chocolate. Flavor had a malty startthat leaves your mouth full of roasty goodness. Medium body but finishes slightly thiner than expected from the start.

Chocolate, chocolate. Chocolate liquor appearance, chocolate aroma, thick but not very thick chocolate taste, with carbonation behind it. Carbonation eased off, a plus, in second sampling at release at Volo’s

Bottle (341ml - 2005 vintage, from Case #2). case split with blankboy. Poured like motor oil with a ruby tint, decent diminishing brown (not light brown, just brown) head. I poured it again and it turned to perfection - huge dark brown lasting foamy head - it’s a "5". Lovely. Aroma is pretty much all you could ask for in an impy stout, but I will say it’s still an infant - this may morph into a 10 - certainly will be a nine and I’m giving it that. Coffe, red wine grapes, tart black current, coffee, caramalized malt, yeast, chocolate, fruits, maybe a hint of lactose even. Bitter, but in the best way. Tart, but in the best way. Taste follows the nose - bitter chocolate and coffee, plenty of sour fruits (apple, raisins, currents, prunes) - with the anise, enough to keep it from being overpowering. The finish is medium long, smooth and like a strong latte - if there’s alcohol in this, I can’t find it. Mouthfeel is full, nutty, chewy and almost syrupy. This one’s terrific now, and I think will cellar well. Well done, Perry! Wish I’d bought a full case for myself.

Pours dark chocolate brown, neat thick creamy head on top. Sweet malt, dark chocolate aroma, hints of licorice. Very neat. Medium full bodied, leaves chocolate print on palate. Smooth finish, just light alcohol notes. A bit rough carbonation in the middle that should recede with time .late bitterness. Very good stout.

Twas the night before christmas, and deep in the house
A Katrina was pouring, deep black bodied
Frothy chocolate head grips the glasses with care,
best wishes St. Perry had fermented in there.<P> Gorgeously large chocolate milk like head. Dark bitter chocolate aroma, with muted mildly acidic roast. Lots of roasty chocolate bite is front and centre, with sweet chocolatey malt making an appearance before giving way to a mild dry roast bitterness that while muted lasts long into the aftertaste. Notes of chocolate covered coffee beans. Rich full bodied palate. Very nice. A touch more of the sweet chocolate and less of the roasty bitterness would bring it up still further in my books. Am looking forward to saving a bottle for next Christmas!
Rated Christmas Eve 2005 7/4/9/4/17 - 4.1<P> Rated January 2007. Bottle. Black body with a big chocolate head. Dark chocolate roast in the aroma, lightly sour malty tang. (6+) Sour malt takes on a more prominent role in the flavour, light chocolatey roast bitterness. Light hints of raisiny fruit. Dry roast lingers in the aftertaste. Medium palate. Age has not necessarily been kind to this lady. Still intriguing but lacks that special something that it once had. 7/5/7/3+/14 - 3.8

Bottle. Average dark brown creamy head that mostly diminished. Fair lacing. Pitch black colour. Aroma was coffee, chocolate, dry fruit, liquorish, burned notes and very vinous. Medium to full bodied with a soft carbonation. Flavour was moderated sweet malty base with good burned bitter notes. Nice sweet and lingering finish.