Sweetwater Tavern High Desert Imperial Stout

Brewed by Sweetwater Tavern (Great American Restaurants)
Style: Imperial Stout
Falls Church, Virginia USA

Name: High Desert IS
Date: 05/22/2008
Mode: Hand Bottled
Source: Tasting

Appearance: black, scant beige head,
Aroma: sweet dark chocolate aroma with a fruity winey character,
Body: creamy body,
Flavor: rich dark chocolate flavor with a nice roastedness for balance, milky sweetness from a dark caramel character, light bitterness,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 15/20
Rating: 3.7/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **4
-------- /> I would like to rerate this beer.

(2/9/05 -- cask) Black body with no head. Aroma is medium sweet, chocolate, vinous. Taste is moderately sweet, strong dark chocolate. Very smooth full body. Yummy! (7/4/8/5/16). (1/17/03 -- aged in a J.W. LEE Harvest Ale cask) Black body with no head. Mildly sweet aroma, woodsy, hint of port. Sweet taste, with good bitterness. No carbonation, but the richness compensates somewhat. Very nice imperial stout. (7/4/9/3/17).

Impressive lacing scatters around the glass, the body is opaque, almost black, the head of perfectly regular small bubbles. Heavy chocolate density in that one, desserty and almost oatmealish. It is quite sweet and with a most appealing fruitiness reminiscent of grapes and dates. Marshmallowy and smoky thick malts leave a brown sugar impression that is virtually erased by the still abundant herbal hops, disturbing the cigary roastiness a bit. Velvety palate, limited carbonation. Good flavours, this must have been quite hoppy back in the days. Kudos to you Jeff!

Draft... This beer rocks!... Pitch black ale with a small, creamy, tan head. Espresso, licorice, cherries, alcohol and dark chocolate notes in the aroma. The flavor offers blasts of burnt and bitter coffee and chocolate. Very malty and not-quite-balanced... but darned close. Quite a feat for a big ABV beer... 10.8%, according to the beer board. Full-bodied with lively carbonation. Lengthy, bitter-sweet, burnt finish. World class imperial stout!

Completely opaque darkness with a 3/4" well-lacing tan head. Very rich complex aroma of sweet caramel and roasted malts, brown sugar, black berries, and a hint of oaky tartness. Starts rich and caramely sweet with a full, syrupy mouthfeel and a touch of smoke. Plum, molasses, and milk chocolate lead to a robust, lingering roasted coffee finish. Hides its alcohol very well and is tremendously balanced with a thick complex sweetness and moderate hoppy bitterness. Many thanks to jeffc666 for hooking me up with a growler of this gem!

growler@Vero Beach Throwdown-pours a tan head that dissipates to a ring of bubbles and black color. Aroma is dark malt-licorice/chocolate, some acidic. Taste is dark malt-licorice/chocolate, some acidic-hops/alcohol bite. Thanks hopscotch for sharing.

Growler courtesy of kmweaver. Pours brown with a rich, creamy tan head. Smells fruity with some elements of spice, chocolate, hints of vanilla. Tastes of dark chocolate, some bitter hints, some warming alcohol, lots of spiciness, elements of dark fruit. The alcohol interferes a bit with the beer on the finish. Decent.

The Lure:
Vanilla beans within the chocolate. Soy fruitiness somewhat bothers the quiet interplay of sweet malt emanations. Straightforward, obviously imperial stout.

The Festivities:
Big bubbles enliven the multifaceted malt character. Chocolate and vanilla again come to mind, this time backed up by coffee beans, molasses, and cigar tobacco. Smoky fumes are evoked, as fruitiness lightens the sugar load. An efficient rendition of a most luxurious style.

Transcendence:
A dark hood somehow commends respect.