Empire Strikes Black Imperial Stout - Beer Camp #6 - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

ste5venla

California

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

02-02-2013 21:03:27 | More by ste5venla

t0rin0

California

4/5  rDev -3.6%

01-20-2013 02:41:46 | More by t0rin0

smutty33

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -3.6%

01-04-2013 15:24:36 | More by smutty33

Texasfan549

Texas

4/5  rDev -3.6%

11-10-2012 14:17:18 | More by Texasfan549

ngeunit1

California

4.23/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Served a dark black-brown color with a thin frothy layer of tan-chocolate head. The head fades down slowly leaving behind some good lace.

S - Aroma is full of sweet roasted chocolate malts with some coffee. There is a touch of earthiness and dark fruit as well.

T - Starts off with some sweet roasted chocolate malts with a touch of dark fruit. through the middle some more bakers chocolate comes through with some coffee and a touch of burnt malts. The finish is a mix of chocolate, roasted coffee, and a touch of earthiness.

M - Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels smooth with a dry finish.

D - Very drinkable. Overall nicely balanced. Could have used just a touch more body, but it is still a really nice Imperial Stout.

Serving type: on-tap

04-03-2012 05:29:25 | More by ngeunit1

ygtbsm94

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -15.7%

03-12-2012 04:18:18 | More by ygtbsm94

nmann08

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

03-12-2012 01:41:06 | More by nmann08

John11486

California

4/5  rDev -3.6%

02-21-2012 18:35:36 | More by John11486

PaulStoneAnchor

California

5/5  rDev +20.5%

02-20-2012 17:34:24 | More by PaulStoneAnchor

JAHMUR

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -3.6%

01-14-2012 19:27:34 | More by JAHMUR

jlb502

California

4/5  rDev -3.6%

12-23-2011 23:08:19 | More by jlb502

AlexM

California

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%

12-19-2011 01:16:45 | More by AlexM

photomike

California

4/5  rDev -3.6%

12-15-2011 04:50:47 | More by photomike

Amdy

California

4/5  rDev -3.6%

12-08-2011 08:37:58 | More by Amdy

twelveinches

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%

12-06-2011 06:47:46 | More by twelveinches

codynevels

California

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%

11-19-2011 00:15:27 | More by codynevels

kevwcamp

Washington

4/5  rDev -3.6%

11-17-2011 17:05:14 | More by kevwcamp

thain709

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to StormKing47 for sharing this bottle at Stout Day 2011. A flock of people merged after the cork was sent towards the chandelier.

A - Poured a pitch black body with a creamy, tan head...the head became rocky and fell to full cap...some lacing was left behind

S - Roasted and charred malts jump out...there is an earthiness brought to the forefront as well as some fruity characteristics

T - The roasted malt flavor is present throughout the whole beer...at some points it presents itself with the charred flavor...now, it never becomes burnt, but the flavors do stand out well...the fruity aroma picked up in the nose is also on the palate...it's actually coming across as a bit of citrus and is pairing well the roast and hints of chocolate

M - Medium bodied...wanted just a little more...roasty, a touch of citrus, bitter

O - I'm not sure how old this one was, but I was very surprised with the amount of hops that were left...the malts were nicely roasted and gave that charred flavor...maybe a little more malt bill for some more body...overall, not bad

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2011 14:15:29 | More by thain709

rbrefbeerman

California

4/5  rDev -3.6%

11-17-2011 04:30:26 | More by rbrefbeerman

orangesol

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -3.6%

11-15-2011 22:21:47 | More by orangesol

stakem

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Stormking47 for the sharing of this brew. Corked and caged 750ml into a tasting glass. The brew pours black with a tan head that has a nice creamy character about it. It displays pretty good retaining powers and leaves patches of lacing on the glass.

The aroma of this brew is roasty coming across like dark grainy character imparting a scent of coffee. There is a citrus element that seems somewhat fruity as well from a combined mixture of the hops and alcohol. The back of the nose shines forth with a sweet chocolate scent.

The taste is roasty from the level of char to the grain. There is a bright citrus hop flavoring present which adds to the bitterness already present from the char of the grain. The alcohol is evident with a fruity ester aspect. As the brew warms a bit of depth comes out tasting minorly of licorice and molasses.

This is a medium bodied brew with a modest level of carbonation. Fairly easy drinking and surprisingly still fresh tasting. This was one of those stouts that was on the verge of being overly hoppy and going into black ipa territory but it carries enough roasty character to keep it in check. Other than the fruity indication of alcohol, it was fairly well integrated and not all that noticeable for an offering creeping up on double-digit strength. I have a bottle of this I've been meaning to open, with this experience I feel there is no rush, it is holding up quite nice.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2011 20:14:06 | More by stakem

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to stormking47 for sharing this at International stout day. I enjoyed this from a goblet.

The color is like very dark chocolate, deep brown verging on black with a light tan collar. The lace sticks in spots. The smell is very nice with a sweet and slightly fruity nose with some roasted malt odors and slight hoppy floral fragrance. The feel is surprisingly vibrant for the style, standing out among the other stouts I had with a pretty high hop bitterness in the feel with moderately high roastiness and semi-dry finish with a light alcohol influence overall.

The taste has a strong chocolate element from the malt with mellow spice taste which I believe is hop derived. The taste is full with slight fruit note which comes off as lightly citrusy with a taste that seems like bitter chocolate and dried candied grapefruit with light alcohol as it finishes with mild toasted flavor and gentle coffee-like quality which is more in the realm of citrusy beans with slight hints of pine in the back end. The overall drinkability is really good, but comes off almost like a Black IPA as the hopping is very high and if not for the sweetness. I consider this to be a pretty tasty if not unique take on the style.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2011 21:28:56 | More by Slatetank

Phelps

Arizona

4.05/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A big thank-you to flexabull for sending this bottle my way. Poured into a Russian River glass.

Darkness! Burnt black in color, completely opaque. One finger of dense foam colored like coffee with cream sits atop the brew, and some thin lines of delicate-looking lace decorate the glass as I drink.

The nose is packed with dark fruit, like prunes that have been sitting under a smoking campfire. Some burnt toast, oak and dashes of espresso are also noticeable.

The flavor exhibits the same prunes-and-grapes-in-a-smoker quality. I get tons of charred toast, molasses and seared steak, with oats at the finish.

Gloriously creamy body. Medium in fullness, it has weak carbonation but continues to break into fizz as it moves. Alcohol is impressively hidden, and only noticeable as heat in the chest.

Pretty damn good, lads. It’s nice to see a big, traditional RIS, with all the dark fruits I know and love. Big, creamy, rich and delightful. Impressive that this came from one of Sierra Nevada’s first Beer Camps.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2011 23:24:12 | More by Phelps

ottovon

Arizona

4.05/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

shared by fowlelanguage

A: dark brown almost black with a brown, creamy head.

S: lots of roasted malt, coffee, burnt sugar. Nice aroma of dark fruit with hints of sweetness.

T: a lot like the aroma. roasted malt, dark chocolate, dark fruits, molasses. finishes bitter like dark chocolate or roasted malt. hints of coffee.

M: smooth and creamy. low carbed and thick.

O: a really good beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2011 19:27:28 | More by ottovon

litheum94

California

4/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml cork and cage. Reviewed 8/28/11, cellared since it's release (can't remember exactly when).

Pours an inky black, letting no light through. Thick, mocha head forms and then wanes, leaving spider webs on the glass.

Loads of dark chocolate and fresh roasted coffee. Very smoky, like BBQ meat. There's a fruit sweetness there as well, plums and some raspberries. Light hopping.

Tons of bitter chocolate right off the bat. Underlying milk chocolate sweetness as well. Fresh brewed coffee and figs. Smoked meats towards the end. Decent hopping on the finish, with a touch of alcohol. Bitterness subsides as it warms, revealing a more creamy, milk chocolate flavor.

A very good RIS. Wish I had bought more bottles of this.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2011 04:55:33 | More by litheum94