Founders Imperial Stout - Founders Brewing Company

fx20736

New York

4.59/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Given to me as a gift by a BA on 4/16/13.

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Sam Smith's Pint glass, served at room temp.

appearance: black as crude oil with a 3 finger mocha brown head, The Lacing is magnificent.

aroma: rich roasted malt, chocolate, some black licorice.

mouthfeel: sinous, silky, velvety, seductive.

taste: thicky, syrupy with chocolate and coffee. Charred bitterness and alcohol on the fade.

notes: Another Founder's masterpiece! Again, a Founder's beer scores high on all criteria. Beautiful to look at, wonderful aroma, amazing mouthfeel and outstanding taste. Little wonder that they are one of my favorite breweries. Like all beers I love this balances rich maltiness with a strong bitterness. In this case the bitterness comes from the charred/ roasted malt rather than the hops. The chocolate and coffee are thick and rich. Probably the best Imp. Stout I've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 22:54:07 | More by fx20736

facundoCNB

New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

one of the thickest black pours i've ever seen, topped off with 1/4" of dark brown head. lots of licorice and dark chocolate hit the nose immediately, sugary sweet, dark fruits. the flavor is that of bitter dark chocolate at first but after a second turns into sweet milk chocolate with a slight lingering bitterness throughout. tastes of brown sugar, mocha-latte, toasted grains, slight licorice.

a full body stout with a slight amount of carbonation. creamy on the lips, slightly chalky after feel. this is an excellent stout that you shouldn't pass up trying. sure, it's not as good as their barrel aged stouts, but it's still DAMN good.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 06:13:03 | More by facundoCNB

Craigory

South Carolina

4.7/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

12oz bottle with 11/29/2012 bottling date, poured into a Libby's stout/porter glass.

A: Pours black, with only a thin, mocha head that quickly recedes to a ring on top of the beer. Holding this up to the light, I don't even get ruby tints; this is just black and beautiful in the glass. Leaves some splotchy lacing as I drink it down.

S: I smell bitter chocolate, bitter roasted malt, bitter coffee, a hint of alcohol, and a bit more bitter chocolate.

T: Follows the smell exactly. The alcohol doesn't poke through too much, but I do get lots of bitter chocolate, typical RIS roastiness, a hint of coffee, and more bitter chocolate. A light vanilla sweetness shows itself here and there on the finish.

M: Full and creamy, with moderate carbonation and a bit of astringency.

O: I take this and Ten Fidy to be the best instantiations of the Platonic Form of a non-BA RIS. This beer is just a fantastic example of the style and would satisfy me any night of the week, any season of the year.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 00:18:13 | More by Craigory

drrone

Arizona

4.3/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a snifter.

A - Pours a completely black flow of fluid. It produced little head that was a light brown color and it disappeared quickly. It left a light amount of lacing.

S - I could start to smell it as soon as I began to pour the glass. It produces an intoxicating wave of cocoa, malted barley, slightly bready, with slight notes of vanilla and molasses. Initially you can pick up a light amount of booze, but as it warmed the booze really became strong.

T - Definitely a strong coffee presence right off the start, with a bitter chocolate and toasted/burnt malt. I pick up a little licorice, just slightly. It was much more bitter than I would have expected. Although, I love coffee and this delivers whole-heartedly.

M- For a dark and thick as it is looks it drinks wonderfully. It is full bodied, but I thought it would be more "chewy". It leaves a pleasant residual taste and it covers the 10.5% quite well.

O - I do like this beer. It is has a pronounced coffee presence and the chocolate is tasty, but more bitter than I anticipated. I think I like Ten Fidy a better, it has more of that wow factor. I have an extra bottle that I am going to hang on for a while and see how it matures.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 16:37:57 | More by drrone

mikeg67

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle. Thanks Samp01 for sharing. Pours dark brown with short lived, creamy, brown head. Aroma is of bready malt, raisins, plums, cacao, vanilla and brown sugar. Body is full and creamy. Taste is burnt grain, bready malt, herbal hops, dark fruit, brown sugar and some alcohol. Finish is long and bitter. Very nice RIS.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 21:24:07 | More by mikeg67

spointon

Illinois

4.78/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

I poured this one from a stubby 12oz brown bottle into a short fat snifter.

A= This ale poured a deep dark black-brown color with nearly zero light penetration. Maybe a hint of ruby color near the edge when held up to light. The dense, light brown head rose about an inch and a quarter with a solid pour, and the head lasted a loooong time, leaving behind some nice lace when it did eventually fall.

S= A lot going on here. I smelled coffee, chocolate, roasted barley, toffee, some dark fruit, and maybe even a hint of smoke and leather. Really complex and wonderful in the nose.

T= Much like the smell, complex and intriguing. I found the coffee/chocolate flavors to be in balance with each other but not overpowering the rest of the nuances in the beer. There was also a slight smoke character that I assume came form the use of black patent malt, and which was subtle/well done. The dark fruit flavors added complexity with out overpowering. Bitterness was high, both from hops and the sheer amount of astringent/roasted grains in this stout. Overall it was all in balance for the style and quite delicious. This had a long chewy aftertaste that made me want it more and more.

MF= Heavy bodied, with a firm carbonation. Spot on in my opinion.

D= Really a nice beer to sip while reading a good book. Very drinkable despite the abv and the big bold flavors.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 01:24:27 | More by spointon

Chrysostom

Ohio

4/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4.25

As always, this beer is reviewed live, not from notes. As always, it is reviewed to style (ala BJCP), modified by personal taste (contra BJCP), unlike the "hedonic scale" of certain beer-review sites. If I reviewed solely to taste, certain beers, poor exemplars of my preferred styles, would receive consistently higher marks than excellent exemplars of styles I do not favour.

Presentation: 11.2 fl oz/330mL stubby bottle, 4 for $10, I believe, poured in to a Samuel Adams' imperial nonic (it barely fills the glass half-way) at around 40ºF (too cold), warming as I write.

A: Pours a dark, thick, engine-oil - or chocolate syrup in consistency - opaque black - absolutely opaque, not even a hint of highlight - and with an apparent high viscosity. On a very vigorous pour, one small finger of head is produced - did I mention this beer is THICK? like unto used engine oil - which has little retention, and recedes in to a scum on the face of the beer and a ring around the edges of it, leaving a spotty, patchy, bubbly-looking lacing as it goes.

S: Toasted and burnt malts. The "ten malts" advertised by the brewer come through strong. Some alcohol. Bitter baker's cocoa. An almost-peaty, soapy aroma peeks through occasionally. Not very complex for the RIS style: it's generally vaguely "stout-y". Avery's Czar - hell, even Leinenkugel's Big Eddy and Guinness' Foreign Extra - all have more going on in the nose than this.

T: Plum, prune, liquorice, sour grapes, vinous alcohol, dry, toasty, pumpernickel bread, southern buttermilk biscuits, bitter chocolate, whole coffee beans dipped in dark chocolate, undefined-yet-present hopping. Most of those flavours are from malts, so, it can not be said this beer lacks complexity on the palate.

M: Smooth and creamy, lacking carbonation, as is standard for the style. Thick in body, as in appearance.

D: Low-Moderate. Alcohol is well-hidden, but drink is very thick, and quite intense with the roasted flavours.

O: A pretty good imperial stout, a fine example of the style, but not up there with the likes of Avery's Czar, which is similar in ABV, or with the weaker RIS examples such as Barley's Alexander or Guinness Foreign Extra (not technically an RIS.. I digress). The lack of carbonation leaves something to be desired, as the beer feels a bit flat, and the flavours never pull together in an ideal way, although they do pull together in some way. Not adventurous or new; somewhat pedestrian, standard RIS (what can be said of a beer-drinker, when he believeth a 10.5% ABV beer to be "pedestrian"?).

Comparable to a coffee/cocoa-forward counterpoint to the liquorice-forward Leinenkugel's Big Eddy Russian Imperial Stout.

To style: 84/100
To taste: 72/100

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 12:54:27 | More by Chrysostom

nimrod979

Maryland

3.85/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Bottled on 12/20/12. Poured into a standard pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a thick black with no carbonation. No head, no retention. Bummer.

Aroma: Roasted malt. Dark chocolate. Lacking complexity.

Taste: Big bad ass boozy Russian. Dark bitter chocolate and roasted malts.A little coffee bean. Getting a little black licorice flavor that I don't really dig.

Mouthfeel: Thick viscious mouthfeel, full body. Silky oily. Smooth, No carbonation at all really.

Wasn't overly impressed by this one as I have been towards other Founder's beers. I prefer FBS over this..

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 21:32:06 | More by nimrod979

kojevergas

California

3.55/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Founders Imperial Stout 2011 Vintage (bottled 12/22/11). Acquired from the very generous Duff27 in a trade. Thanks again, buddy! 10.50% ABV confirmed. I love Founders, so I have high hopes for this one. I haven't had it before, but I loved KBS and FBS. 90 IBUs. Label art is okay. 12 fl oz/355ml brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a conical Samuel Smith's pint glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are sky high given the brewery and style (which they seem to be adept at).

Served straight from the fridge and allowed to warm considerably over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a one finger rich vibrant hold-tan head of fantastic cream and thickness, and pretty good (3 minute) retention for the high ABV. I love that gilded tan appearance; few imperial stouts can really pull that off. Body colour is a solid nontransparent opaque jet black. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Nice lacing as the head recedes. That's exactly how an imperial stout should look.

Sm: Burnt malt, light fennel/licorice, creamy roasted barley, dark malts, chocolate, chocolate malt, and hints of light buried stonefruit. Light molasses. Malty sweetness. I can detect some light alcohol, but it's not a hot or boozy aroma; I can tell age may have done this one well. Coffee roast when I look for it. A surprisingly timid aroma of mere average strength. Understated, but I'd stop short of calling the aroma subtle per se. The fennel/licorice has me worried; I have a personal aversion to that flavour.

T: The first thing I notice is the black coffee bitterness and chocolate bitterness on the climax - which is more pronounced than expected, but welcome. It's more sweet in the first and early second acts. Chocolatey throughout - dark chocolate, not milk chocolate, though there is some cream up front. Little alcohol comes through at all; this isn't boozy or hot in any way. Maybe a twinge of licorice, but it doesn't bother me. I could use more roast - both in terms of barley and coffee, but there is some here. Burnt malt is prominent and works well. Dark malts abound. It's well put together and cohesive. A balanced Russian Imperial Stout, if a timid one. I want more depth of flavour than I'm getting, and each note doesn't ring distinct. Good amplitude, to be sure, but because the execution of the amplitude is so high, I have trouble really enjoying each distinct flavour. Any hop character is generic floral and functions here purely as a preservative. It's a rich flavour, but not overly so. The bitterness keeps the richness in check. Low acidity. Not at all a harsh flavour profile; it's quite mellow. Good body and build for the style. It's complex and well done, but I want bolder flavours. I quite like it and it's a tasty brew, but it's not perfect.

Mf: Warm and lightly creamy. Excellent carbonation. Not at all astringent. Good body here. It's smooth and wet. Thick and a bit chewy. Maybe a touch oily. Good presence on the palate. Complements the flavour profile well, even feeling a bit custom-tailored towards it. A bit smacky (if you will). I could use a touch more coarseness and dryness.

Dr: Drinkable for the style, but you wouldn't down it by the glass. It hides its ABV well and is an enjoyable sipper. It's a solid brew from Founders, but it's not quite on the level of KBS or even FBS, styles taken into consideration and all. I'd get it again and it's quite tasty, but it's not exemplary. A good Russian Imperial Stout that fans of the style will be pleased with, but it's not amongst the best out there. I'd recommend it to friends, but Founders does make better beers. I'll have little trouble finishing my bottle, but I do wish I had someone to split it with. Thanks again for the opportunity to try this, Duff27!

Low B

Probably best aged for 1-3 years.

Would pair well with chocolate or truffle.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 23:08:32 | More by kojevergas

DubbelTrubbel

Iowa

4.64/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Bottle into fat tulip glass. Served slightly cool

A- Jet black, brown and mocha mottled head

S- Milk chocolate. coffee, some sweetness

T- Intense, smooth, noticeable bitterness, lots of roast

M- thick, but pleasant, low carbonation

O- Thick, tons of flavor, but still drinkable

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 02:20:00 | More by DubbelTrubbel

JDizzle

Indiana

4.26/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 12 oz bottle that was about 8 months old.

Pours a very black, mocha tan head, nice lacing. Very enticing! I expected more head though(of course I did).

Smells beautifull! Coffee, chocolate, roasted malts, and oak. Smells as good as it looks. O can't smell hops even though the IBU's are way up there. Smokey on tap!

Taste of black burnt malt with espresso, coffee, chocolate and a slight alcohol burn. It all comes together so nicely. It does wear on you over time though. Not as smooth as Expedition from Bell's.

The mouthfeel is full and dry with minimal carbonation. Not the chewiest, but no where near thin. Oily with a nice sheen

I think this may be better with some age on it due to the fact the bitter hops never came through. $11.99 a 4-pack.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 00:36:43 | More by JDizzle

templar316

Pennsylvania

4.81/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Spectacular! I've had a number of imperial stouts this winter that do not measure up to this. Pour's thick, black, viscious with a rich mocha head. It's obviously coated the sides of the glass and informs that the is not for the meek or mild mannered. The noses is all dark fruits and alcohol; raison's first, blending into cinnamon and vanilla, the alcohol is faint but warning, burnt toast around the edges. The flavor picks up all the best of heavy dark roast, creamy bready malts; blackened barely (x3), bitter wheat, bouyant cinnamon. The double headed griffen is a rightous crest as this is thick, powerful and unforgetable.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2013 04:04:41 | More by templar316

TheCondor

Missouri

4.48/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

I typically try to review special beers for my centennial reviews, such as when I reviewed Collage No. 1 Conflux for my 100th review on BA. Not that it's that big of a deal or anyone cares, but its' important to me. So, once I got close to 200 reviews and I found, by happenstance, some of this beer at an out of the way place, I knew what had to be done. Side poured from the bottle into a Boulevard snifter.

Appearance - Pours as black as motor oil with the same viscosity. No light penetration in the glass whatsoever. A small, half finger dark tan head comes from the brew but dissipates quickly, leaving little lacing. Looks just like a RIS should. I am excited.

Smell - The olfactory gland stimulation is, in my opinion, the weakest point of this beer. It is great, no doubt, but doesn't compare to the overwhelming quality of this beer in the other aspects. That being said, heavy roasted malts, chocolate, and coffee are the dominant smells.

Taste - Much like the nose, but wonderfully so. The smoothness of this beer washes over the palate, coating it with chocolate, roasty malts, and a bit of coffee. Not cmplex, but extraordinarily well done. Very sweet, dangerouslly good

Mouthfeel - My favorite part of the brew. This beer is so heavy, so smooth and thick on the palate and on the finish. A bit of warming alcohol, well masked for 10.5%. So much texture to this beer, it is amazing. They have taken a very strong beer and made it seem like it is sessionable (which I would not recommend).

Overall - There is a reason, at the time of this writing, this beer is #25 on the Beers of Fame list. It is excellently crafted by the personnel at Founders, just another notch on the belt of what could potentially be the best overall brewery in all of North America. Highly recommended and approved by the Condor. Very glad I saved my 200th review for such a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 03:39:41 | More by TheCondor

--Dom--

Missouri

4.56/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a tulip. Pours like motor oil, nuff said. Not much of a nose on this actually.

The taste? Exquisite. Starts with deep roasted coffee and dark chocolate, It's dense and the flavor continues to unfold. There is a strong hop presence as well, but not how you would think. The taste goes on for miles. I can't even imagine how much dark malt they use making this. The booze is definitely present at 10.5. The mouthfeel is slightly harsh actually, but it's not bad.

Overall, it's amazing. It's definitely in my top 5 RIS's I've had. It does seem somewhat hard to get a hold of. In my opinion, ten fidy is better.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 04:24:33 | More by --Dom--

blakelive784

Colorado

3.8/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Thanks to Docrock and maximum12!

12 fl oz brown glass bottle served in a snifter, slightly warmed, and reviewed live:

A - Pours an imposing jet black color with a full three fingers of thick, creamy, dark brown head. Retention is astounding given the ABV and when it finally recedes it leaves tight lacing and a bit of boozy legs. I can't wait to try it.

S - Inviting chocolates and dark roasted malts. One of the best pure chocolate malt aromas I've ever encountered. Sweet cream and molasses. Hints of licorice. Faint hits of alcohol. Seemingly sweet. Truly inviting.

T - More bitter than I'd have guessed based on the nose. Bitter chocolates and black coffee. Roasted and chocolate malts comprise the body. It warms as it goes down, but the alcohol isn't really detectable as you're drinking it. I wish it'd focus on the chocolate more.

M - Smooth. Not as full bodied and thick as I'd like.

D - Amazingly drinkable at 10.5%. A damn good stout, but doesn't quite measure up to Founder's others. That being said, I'd definitely have it again.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 03:54:11 | More by blakelive784

Smixam

Connecticut

4.41/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle poured into a glass

A - Extremely dark brown, no light transmission. 1-finger head, also very dark brown, heavy lacing as it dissipates.

S - Alcohol, chocolate, malt, some piney hops. Sounds weird but I get what I can only equate to kalamata olive.

T - Alcohol and malt right up front, very deep. Hops kick in as a surprise at the end, finish is subtly spicy and smokey. Alcohol hangs on throughout, malt lingers as well.

M - This is a sipper, very thick/viscous. Heavy alcohol presence is nice if you stretch it out and enjoy it, but definitely a 'sit back and relax' beer. Better slightly chilled than cold, for sure.

O - Honestly, this is an ass-kicker of a stout. Definitely one of the best of this style while remaining a drinkable, enjoyable beer. One to keep on hand when you're in the mood to sip and enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 15:58:20 | More by Smixam

1up

District of Columbia

4.69/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Poured into a Spiegelau tulip from a 12oz bottle.

A- Opaque dark brownish black. No light gets through. A vigorous pour yields a 1.5 finger head. Looks like motor oil which indicates a lot of flavor to come.
S- Aroma isn't too powerful but I can detect lots of roasted malt and dark chocolate.
T- Coffee, heavily roasted malt, and chocolate dominate the flavor profile at first followed by an extremely bitter finish. Make no mistake, this is one of the most bitter finishing dark beers I've ever had. No alcohol taste which is impressive for a 10% beer. Very smooth.
M- Extremely smooth mouthful, full bodied, and perfect amount of carbonation. Not as full bodied as Ten Fidy but also not terribly far off. Carbonation consists of small bubbles that complement the brew and blend in well rather than standing out.
O- Wow this is an excellent flavorful imperial stout, one of the best I've had.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 03:00:13 | More by 1up

robhbest

Michigan

4.13/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Poured into snifter.

A: Pitch black with a large caramel colored head.

S: Sweet, chocolate malts.

T: More chocolate malts, bitter coffee, slightly hoppy too. Not much burn from the alcohol as expected.

M: Thick and rich.

O: I'm digging this beer, excited to age a few. I prefer FBS more but a few of these on a cold night, cant go wrong!

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 00:52:44 | More by robhbest

Omnium

Pennsylvania

3.91/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes
Served on tap at House of 1000 Beers
A - Pours black as black can get, has a very minimal brown colored head, minimal lacing
S - Lots of roasted chocolate malts, sweet alcohol aroma, and what seems to be a little bit of peanut butter.
T - Dark malts, underlying alcohol, but no burn, sweet smoked malts, roasted chocolates and vanilla.
M - The roasted sweet flavor hangs on, but not super thick.
O - This is a powerful beer, decent flavors and aroma, but I couldnt finish one whole glass of this, its wayyy too much at once. Good stout, but I'd rather split one as a finisher next time.

Serving type: on-tap

03-12-2013 22:51:30 | More by Omnium

smcnulty1981

Rhode Island

4.18/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25

A: pours a fairly viscous pitch black color with some dark brown hues almost no head at all good amount of lacing and some alcohol legs

S: lots roasted chocolate and coffee on the nose with a hint of earthy hops there is bit of alcohol on the nose

T: chocolate and coffee taste and finishes with a bit of smoke flavor there is bit of alcohol

M: extremely full mouthfeel a tad sticky and lingers for a long time

O: great flavor and mouthfeel great example of a standard imperial stout

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2013 03:25:16 | More by smcnulty1981

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

4.4/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours dense thick black with a cocoa head of tight bubbles that dissipates to a ring. Some surprising lace.

Deep roasted malt, dark rich coffee, a little booze, some earth and some carbon.

Smooth rich brew with dark deep charred malt, and associated bitterness. As the palate clears, some hop leaf, but not enough to get in the way. Some alcohol, but you'd never know this is 10.5%. Long smooth pleasant bitter finish.

Full and thick brew, with a little carbonation tingle on the tongue, almost acidic.

Been looking for this for years. Wonderful and dangerously drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 01:48:10 | More by OtherShoe2

jpro

South Carolina

4.55/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle poured into a snifter... (bottled 12/7/12)

A : pours a thick, opaque, black; light brown, one-finger head leaves some rings of lace.

S: dark roasted malts; dark chocolate; molasses; dark fruits; a lot of darkness in the aroma.

T: where to begin... dark chocolate - super dark semi-sweet chocolate; dark roast coffee; notes of chicory; pretty big bitter finish, too;

M: full full full bodied; moderate-high carbonation; chewy, creamy texture.

O: one of the better (best?) imperial stouts I've had; will get this again and seek it out in the future...

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2013 02:39:03 | More by jpro

richj1970

Alabama

4.38/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from 12 oz bottle into snifter glass.

A: Pitch black with small one finger chocolate brown head that settles with some lacing.

S: Roasted malts mixed with big coffee and dark chocolates.

T: Big roasted flavors of coffee / expresso with bitter chocolate and hops. Almost smoky at times.

M: Full bodied with all of the things you would expect from an Imperial Stout.

O: Very nice stout. Lots of big flavors and smells. The bitterness is almost of bit too pronounced but otherwise one of my favorites in the group.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 00:54:07 | More by richj1970

ONUMello

Ohio

3.88/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass. The bottling date is somewhat faded though it appears to be 1/27/13
A: Black as night with a one-finger milk chocolate colored head that slowly settles to a fine lacing
S: Freshly brewed coffee, toasted grains, a bit of cream... very rich; smells great
T: Bitter, with lots of coffee, burnt malt, a bitter hops - it goes too far. Everything is there just overdone, to the point that it makes my mouth pucker like the coffee is overbrewed to the point of being burnt. Too bad as everything else about it is great
M: Medium to full-bodied, extremely bitter
O: This would be such a good beer if it didn't taste like everything was burnt. This has so much potential and overall don't get me wrong it is a good beer, but if everything were kept in check it would truly be 'world class'

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 23:29:18 | More by ONUMello

MaximalC

Illinois

4.39/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

As a big Founders fan, I've been on the lookout for this for years to no avail, and finally stumbled across it in the unlikeliest of places. Here's hoping it lives up to my very lofty expectations...

Pours the color of motor oil, almost startlingly opaque as it exits the bottle. A healthy mocha-colored head, perhaps the darkest I've seen, adorns the midnight body before slowly settling into swaths of froth and bubbles. Patchy lacing clings attractively to the glass.

Aroma smells of roasted malt and dark chocolate, along with a touch of dark fruit and alcohol. Flavor is similar to the nose, with an up front roasted character and dark chocolate to match. There's also a strong warming quality on the front end that dissipates in the long, smooth finish, allowing the bitter character of the roast to shine through in a way that evokes both chocolate and coffee. The perfectly harnessed bitterness of the roast is reminiscent of Sprecher's Black Bavarian, and the hops are just present enough synergize with the malt without disturbing the other flavors. The mouthfeel is lush and sticky--exactly what I look for an an imperial stout. The taste of alcohol is fairly well tempered for 10.5% ABV, and completely acceptable for the style. Some dark fruit starts to come through as it warms as well.

Overall, this is a big, smooth, beautiful RIS with good balance and an impeccable finish. It manages to be luxurious and easy to drink in spite of its bold flavor and high ABV. While not particularly exotic or unique, it excels in its exemplary execution of the fundamentals. It's a textbook example of the style, and easily on par with the best that Founders has to offer.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 02:20:48 | More by MaximalC