Old Growth Imperial Stout - Caldera Brewing Company

Fatehunter

Oregon

4/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked this up at the tap house in Ashland. It came in a quart jar filled from the tap. I drank it the next day.
Minimal head on a clearer brown body. It's a light color for a stout.
It smells like oak and caramel. Rich.
The taste is oaky and sweet with a touch of bitterness at the end.
Smooth texture with minimal carbonation and a medium body.
Pretty good and very drinkable for an imperial stout.

Serving type: growler

01-10-2013 02:14:56 | More by Fatehunter

hardrock

Arkansas

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-07-2013 01:12:28 | More by hardrock

DrunkinYogi

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%

03-23-2013 22:54:53 | More by DrunkinYogi

djrn2

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -1.7%

02-24-2013 16:15:25 | More by djrn2

chugamugofsud

Oregon

4/5  rDev -1.7%

02-20-2013 21:38:07 | More by chugamugofsud

russwbeck

Virginia

3.2/5  rDev -21.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: The beer pours out of the bottle very dark in color and yields a large brown head. The head hangs out for a long time, receding down to less than an inch of a cap on the beer, lacing minimally as it goes. 4

S: The aroma is roasty with some underlying chocolate. The roast is full bodied and the licorice tries to balance it out with sweetness I worry this is going to be a one-trick poney, however. 3.5

T: The taste, sadly, is the one-trick poney I feared. It's both roasty and sweet, with the sweetness well needed, but all of the flavors sort of exist together, without playing well together. I don't really get much more than a normal stout with some licorice thrown in and typically, I'm not a big licorice in beer fan. It's a good stout, just didn't stand out. 3

MF: The beer is thick and syrupy, but it's a little under carbonated for my preferences. The finish is the highlight of the beer for me, mouth-wateringly roasty. 3.5

O: This beer just didn't do anything special for me. Just an average imperial stout. 3

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 22:44:28 | More by russwbeck

cattersley

Ontario (Canada)

4.6/5  rDev +13%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Blacker than black! Thick, creamy head.

S - Burnt coffee, chocolate, coal.

T - Fantastic, malt bomb! Chocolate, coffee, low hops, creamy taste!

M - Very light on the palate.

O - Would love to have this again... hint hint! LOL!

Thanks to me pal Evan! My father and I loved this!

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 19:27:23 | More by cattersley

dannykugler

Oregon

4/5  rDev -1.7%

02-06-2013 19:46:13 | More by dannykugler

ArrogantB

Colorado

4.04/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

22oz bottle thanks to EgadsBananas, appreciate it. Typical color for an imperial stout but the head was really nice looking, chocolate brown and huge in the snifter. Aroma was good, roasty imperial stout, a little oily with hints of chocolate and malt. The flavor was pretty typical for the style and solid. Alcohol was well hidden and my only complaint was that it seemed just a tad bit thin but that also made it go down fast! I liked it, this was probably the best Caldera beer I've had.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 15:10:16 | More by ArrogantB

calcnerd

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -1.7%

01-30-2013 03:45:47 | More by calcnerd

Axnjxn

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -1.7%

01-12-2013 21:38:28 | More by Axnjxn

notchucknorris

California

4.08/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a rich black color with a one finger khaki colored head. Tons of spotty lace down the glass.

S: Roasted malt, dark chocolate, anise and a touch of smoke. A touch of powdered cocoa as well.

T: Tons and tons of roasted malt, charred malt and unsweetened chocolate. A touch of smooth chocolate malt on the finish and some faint earthy hops. A super dark, bitter and roasts RIS. Pretty good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 04:39:25 | More by notchucknorris

adkieffer

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

12-17-2012 22:51:08 | More by adkieffer

maximum12

Minnesota

4.43/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Big ups to ATLCarl for this bottle, a beer that's been languishing on my wants list for many months. After receiving the IPA as an extra in a trade (& being blown away) I wanted more Caldera. Now, finally. 22 oz. bomber split with my wife.

Pour is a shadow of its former self, literally. Peppy for a big stout, plenty of froth washing off the rocks. Nasal is classic RIS: a bit roasty, sweet malts, chocolatey. Lovely way to kick things off.

Old Growth is creamier than a melting Fudgesicle. There's a lovely roasted edge to this that slip-carves right into the stunningly creamy mouthfeel to create a stellar combination. The depths are subtle & not really necessary, but plenty welcome: licorice, mocha, roast slips right onto the line of coffee before fading back. But the cream really lights this one up, & everything else plays off it like Mel Gibson in Hamlet. Wait, no, actually, the exact opposite of that.

If this brewery was local to me, they'd be in my fridge. All. The. Damn. Time. I haven't had a sip of Caldera in a long time, & now I'm wondering why. Four beers, four excellent beers, hands down; this one borders on the elite. Straight-up excellent.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 04:03:38 | More by maximum12

zillo043068

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -20.1%

11-21-2012 20:43:10 | More by zillo043068

acurtis

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%

11-10-2012 23:03:42 | More by acurtis

klipper

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%

11-05-2012 06:44:00 | More by klipper

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

3.98/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22oz bottle, poured into a tasting glass

Thanks to KeanLacrosse for the share

The body sits a midnight black with a small mocha colored cap. Some rings of lace inside the glass. Viscous body. Leaves a little bit of an oil slick when swirled.

The nose is big and bold. Molasses, licorice, dark (almost charred roast), dark cherries, bitter dark chocolate and some burnt caramel. The sweeter elements seem to emerge more as the beer warms.

Robust dark roast just pummels the palate. Molasses, licorice, and burnt caramel poke through mid-palate, before a finishing rush of coffee grounds, bitter chocolate, and some smoke/char.

Full body, rich and lush. However, there was this chalky feel/flavor that emerged in the finish. It was a little off-putting.

Overall, this is a damn fine Imperial Stout. I would definitely drink this again.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 21:33:43 | More by ColForbinBC

djre4orm

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -14%

10-04-2012 15:42:51 | More by djre4orm

let8it8grow

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -1.7%

09-26-2012 03:22:42 | More by let8it8grow

morimech

Minnesota

3.58/5  rDev -12%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Viscous fluid that is pitch black in color. An attractive 2+ fingers of mocha colored head forms and had excellant retention before settling to a thick cap. Heavy lacing is left down the glass. This beer is a real looker.

The aroma is great too. Roasted malt with notes of chocolate, smoke, coffee, dark fruit, and some herbal qualities. Alcohol is not detected.

The flavor was a bit of a letdown compared to what I had previously expected. A little astringent and rough. There is a biting bitterness that is not very pleasant. I can still pick out some chocolate and coffee notes. Finishes a little chalky. Alcohol is well disguised with just a light warming affect.

Big bodied and nicely carbonated. Smooth, silky texture. The only fault is that is falls off the palate a little quick.

This beer was not successful where it counts the most. Otherwise an impressive RIS.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 18:39:02 | More by morimech

monitorpop

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -14%

08-29-2012 01:16:03 | More by monitorpop

Pahn

New York

4.1/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle split 3 ways in wine glasses. Big thanks to generous BA libbey for including this as an extra in a trade a few months ago!

Appearance: Poured slowly; no head but leaves an offwhite foam around the surface. Pours black with no lacing.

Smell: Pale malt, sweet coffee liqueur, some prune-like dark fruit aromas and roasted malt. Malty and inviting.

Taste: Very creamy. Lots of sweetness, but lots of roasted malt and high hop bitterness to balance it. Roasted character dominates most of each sip until the sweet finish. Some dark fruit and coffee liqueur-like highlights.

Some boozy heat comes out as the beer warms up, along with a nice molasses flavor. All in all, this beer has a really excellent balance. Tastes like they used a lot of high quality pale malt, and really got the sweetness / bitterness / roasted malt balance just right. Also, while it's full of nutty roasted malt flavor, it's not ashy or charred tasting at all.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied and creamy. Low to moderate carbonation, semi-dry finish. Could be fuller, but love the creaminess.

Overall: Great beer. Love how smooth it feels, and while the taste isn't too complex, the notes it hits are just right.

Pairing addendum: started eating some salty fries with rosemary and a soy BLT after I'd drank some of this, and the beer only got better (I'm not usually a big pairing guy).

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2012 03:46:30 | More by Pahn

avaldivia

California

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

07-28-2012 22:03:38 | More by avaldivia

Bung

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz. Nice viscous looking black pour. Has that light tan fading to dark tan layer of head.

Aroma, roast malt, dark chocolate, some anise and herbal notes.

Taste, roast malt, some bitter pine and anise. Dark chocolate, a woody/peaty quality. Cocoa and some piney bitter finish.

Nearly full body, a smooth carbonation. A little warming, but on par with the style. Rock solid and worth while.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 03:50:57 | More by Bung