3.9 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 16/20
Bottle via trade with doppelthat. Thanks Byron! Pours a deep black with a really nice tan head. It was nice to see a stout at this tasting with a lingering head and carbonation. Aroma is a nice balance of chocolate, mild roast malt and some dark fruit. Prune? The taste is more chocolate but not overly sweet by any means and again with the darker fruit. The mouthfeel was outstanding as it was pure velvet on your tongue. Overall, for a style that I’m not a fan of this was pleasant and something I could see coming back to on occasion in small pours. Want.
4.5 AROMA 10/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 19/20
Forse la più equilibrata tra le imperial stout bevute, ma ancora una volta, no è la mia tazza di tè...
4.8 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 10/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 19/20
UPDATED: SEP 7, 2011 Serving glass: Poured from magnificent 750ml bottle into Snifter.
Appearance: Exceedingly dark brown that might as well be black with a thick mocha head that mostly recedes, but only after several minutes.
Aroma: Very fruity aroma for a RIS, with a strong citrus hop bitterness. Some floral notes (roses?) are apparent as well as something akin to raw meat. The roasted aroma is quite low, with just a slight touch of chocolate.
Taste: Same as the aroma, it is very fruity, both due to the malts (plum, figs) and the hops (citrus). The citrus is especially off-putting, but in a good "wow I didn’t realize that could work" way. Also notice some rich molasses, licorice and chocolate, with a nice mild bitterness at the end.
Palate: Low carbonation, full chewy body that is exceptionally smooth.
Overall:: I really can’t tell this is over 10% at all. Despite how thick it is, it is very easy to drink. Overall, not a typical RIS at all considering the lower roasted character and the citrus hops, but quite exceptional.
4.1 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 17/20
Vampire (10’) vintage- Pours an oily black with a pleasant tan head. The nose and taste are of coffee, dark fruits, and dark chocolate. This is another great brew from Surly.
3.8 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
Bottle. Pours pitch black with a creamy tan head. Aroma of chocolate, roasted malts, coffee and some dark fruit. Silky smooth flavor of sweet chocolate, coffee, dark roasted malts, raisins, dark fruit and a touch of vanilla.
4.3 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
On tap at the GTMW 2011. 2010 version. Black a large creamy and slowly fading brown topper. Aroma of chocolate, smoke, dark roasted malt, caramel, dark fruit and notes of booze. Taste is silky smooth with dark roasted malt, chocolate, mild peated malts, light vanilla along with some alcohol. Mild burn on the back end and this one lived up to its own hype. Great stuff!
4.2 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
Botella, año 2010, huge thanks to Plovmand for sharing this gem. Pitch black colour, brown small head. So very pleasant chocolaty and roasted malty dark fruity aroma. Good filling mouthfeel indeed. Sweet dark fruity chocolate coffe roasted malt flavour, so well balanced, really lovely. Well lasting sweet dark fruity roasted malty chocolatey finish. Yum yum yum!
4.1 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
A delicious offering from Surly. One of the best stouts I’ve had in a long time.
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