Sweetwater Tavern High Desert Imperial Stout

Hand bottle via Styles - thanks Chris and everyone else who made this happen! Slight hiss as the cap comes off, pouring opaque and inky black in color. Sexy legs and some miniscule bubble lacing serve for the head. Deep, roasty aroma, as it spawns dark chocolate, cinder and ash, espresso grinds compacted together for macho-ness, a slight hint of alcohol, and oatmeal made with a double batch of artesian coffee. Flavor is unforgettable. Full, dark chocolate and dense fudge brownies give us some thick fodder to chew while fully supporting encasing, blackened, flame scorched pecans. Man, this is good. Lingering dark chocolate truffles infused with caramel and Godiva liqueur. This one could run a marathon with Expedition. Feels hot in the mouth but alcohol is barely detectable, save the lightening of whit that signals its strength. Lovely, palatable array of melted fudge syrup. Admirable hop bitterness elevates it to imperial status while malts stay chewy and bear the brunt throughout. Finish is summarized by decadent artesian chocolate that’s almost designed to be looked at, because drinking it would bring the honeymoon to a close. I loved it.

Joel shared a hand-bottled sample of this. The beer pours to a deep black body with no head. The beer coats the glass well. The aroma is strong and good. Chocolate and deep malted barley. Light grassy hops and light fruit sweeness. The flavor is deep roasty malts with chocolate and charcoal. Light dark fruits. The palate is strong but balanced. Nicely coating.

Out of a growler from Pailhead at Styles’ place. Dark beer with a huge (!) rocky tan head that left sticky lace. Roast grain aroma with some ash tray in the nose. Viscous mouthfeel. The beer spilled over the glass when I poured it and it left a very sticky film on my glass. Molassess, tar, dusty chocolate, ash, espresso, celery, leather, and dark pit fruit flavors. This is a very big beer, and is very fresh, even out of a week old growler. Very nice sipping beer.

Growler: Opaque near-black, dark brown with a small, well-retained, brown head that fades slowly to a small ring around the outside of the glass. The aroma is burnt roasted malts, thick dark coffee, bitter chocolate, with hints of alcohol and fruit. Taste is big roasted coffee and malt, dark burnt malts, espresso, light hops that come out fruity and piney, then some late wood notes. Full bodied, creamy, thick mouthfeel, moderate carbonation. Finish is long with dark roasted notes lingering. This is a nice example of the style.

On tap: First I’ll begin by saying that this rating won’t mean much to you unless you’ve had Bell’s Batch 7000. Smells just like 7000 with a lighter hop character. Dark brown, virtually black, with a moderate brown head with great retention. Excellent lacing. Tastes just like 7000 with a tad less hops. Creamier mouthfeel, but not has heavy as 7000. I love 7000, so I love this beer.

Chocolate covered berries are counterpointed by roasted malts with notes of soy, vanilla and herbal, leafy hops. Opaque black body is topped by a low but lasting, fine bubbled, off white head. Berry-like fruits and chocolate are very pleasantly balanced by strong roasted malt bitterness with hints of smoke and warm spices. Medium full body is somewhat syrupy with soft but lively carbonation. Sampled on the PA trip 2005.

Growler from A&K 4th DC tasting - Local, yet first time trying this. Ultra pitch black with a thick tan creamy head. Deep nose of ashy Fourbucks coffee (Starbucks), bittersweet chocolate, and smooth caramel, with softly laced notes of port. Flavor was similar with bold burnt roasted coffee and chocolate at the forefront, some grape notes within, and a late kick of earth piney hops rounding it out. Mega full bodied, pillow soft carbonation, intense bittersweet finish. Phenomenal! Thanks for sharing Jason.

Growler at A&K 4th DC tasting and provided by JasonP (14 is the new 4), many thanks!

Opaque with a long lasting creamy tan head and great lace. The nose detected massive liquorice, burnt and chocolate malts, fresh coffee, molasses, plum, and bitter piney hops. The taste has a wonderful balance of big sweet malts, bitter espresso, mild fruit undertone, and a hint of smoky wood. The molasses and liquorice twang linger well past the final sip. YUMMY! The feel is lush, oily, and chewy because of the soft carbonation. This is an outstanding brew and I am so glad to have tried it (and tried over again).