 Gusler (2656), Tucson, Arizona, USA
Jun 23, 2002 Updated: Sep 10, 2004
Release 2004:
The beer after defection from the 22-ounce brown bottle sets in the glass as black as a starless night with the head modest and frothy in size, the color that of rich chocolate, the lace a thin and clinging sheet to the glass. Nose has a deep roasted coffee and bittersweet chocolate aroma, toasted grains and a sugary sweetness, the start is rich in malt, sweet with the top as full as they get. Finish has a benign acidity, the hops majestic in their spiciness, quite dry and long lingering aftertaste and a noticeable belly warming, another great release of this magnificent beer, and to think at one time I thought it to strong; your palate does change over the years
Release 2003:
The beer as it sets in my 30 plus year old “Chimay Chalice”, is as black as they come, the head is prodigious in size, a beauteous chocolate brown color and spumous in texture as it evaporates in the blink of an eye, the resultant lace forms a “Victoria Secrets” like sheet of lace “See-through” got to love that? Nose is dominated by the toasted grain aroma, backed up by the coffee, chocolate, and a fresh and pleasing crispness I find so appealing. Start is ambrosial, thickly malted with the top as thick as the “Ice” in Maine Today! Briskly acidic, hops spanking in their spiciness and the aftertaste desert bleached bone dry, and my most highly ranked Imperial, and one of my most favorite Stone Brewing Creations, which is a tie with the rest of their beers, except for that Levitation stuff, just kidding “Arrogant Nipple”, I mean Greg!
ThatBrendan (2), Phoenix, Arizona, USA
does not count  Sep 7, 2008 A perfect example of its style. The color is as black is crude oil and the texture is so thick you could almost take a bight out of it. The aroma is not too powerful but typical of the style, licorice and nutmeg. If you want an Imperial Stout you couldn’t do much better.
hillfiiiiire (170), Atoka, Tennessee, USA
Sep 6, 2008 Black body with tan head. Aroma of chocolate and coffee, as you’d expect. The flavor is quite well balanced. However, I don’t find it interesting, which is it’s one big flaw. There’s no quality that makes me surprised at how good the beer is. The alcohol is nicely suppressed. Sticky sweet too. Creamy, thick body. All right, beer, but I’m a little disappointed.
ketchepillar (256), Des Moines, Iowa, USA
Sep 6, 2008 2007 Bomber. Aroma: definitively some coffee, and currants. More chocolate in the flavor than aroma. The finish is long lasting and exceptional. Pretty straight forward imperial stout. Quite rich. Palate is nice and thick but not that great. Caramel.
tturner (4), , Washington, USA
does not count Sep 6, 2008 this is a perfectly balanced brew. dark, thick, malty, caramelized sweety, yumminess. great appearance, aroma, pour... moves from front to back and beginning to end in a journey of excellence.
Not bitter on the back of the mouth at the end of the flavor, like so many stouts tend to do. When i sit back and imagine what a perfect beer would be like, this fits the mold perfectly.
canary dog (379), Rutland, Vermont, USA
Sep 6, 2008 A very strong beer, obviously. Very very complex notes running wildly and without order throughout the sip. Very strong alcohol presence in the finish-- perhaps too strong. I’m not too wild about this strong a beer. I can certainly drink one now and then, but it’s not my favorite. I really like the Old Rasputin quite a bit better. Maybe I should buy a few bottles and cellar them for a few years.
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