Narwhal Imperial Stout - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

NWer

Washington

4.18/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I was really looking forward to this beer. I always anticipate what Sierra Nevada is doing lately to keep engaged with producing great beer in spite of their growth.
Pours dark brown into a tulip.
Minimal head. Carbonation is there, it just doesn't produce much foam.
Burnt dark chocolate nose & taste. A little edgy that should smooth out over time.
Mouthfeel, burnt edginess lingers. Not to the point of distraction however. Very enjoyable with a great price point for the style.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 21:15:55 | More by NWer

barleywinefiend

Washington

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

A: Poured a jet black, some carbonation, one finger brown head, some lacing

S: Roasted malt, slight chocolate, coffee. Good but standard.

T: Big hearty backbone with dark chocolate, coffee, some burnt notes. Mild Bitterness in the finish.I laso deteced some black liquorice.

M: Heavy bodied, some carbonation, smooth.

O: Good. This should age very well as most SN offerings do.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 21:58:15 | More by barleywinefiend

JamesMN

Minnesota

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

Appearance: In a long list of the most opaque black beers out there. Two finger light brown head that leaves nice lacing.

Aroma: Coffee, molasses, cream, chocolate syrup.

Taste: Heavy on the bitter black coffee flavor. Dark chocolate as well but not as prominent. Not quite as roasty as I was expecting but still quite robust. Very bitter probably more due to the malt bill than the hops utilized because there is no discernible hop presence. Still, a nice change of pace from the usual RIS (although I probably wouldn't classify it as such). Dry finish and lingering black coffee bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Full bodied with a good level of carbonation and pretty easy to drink but more of a sipper.

Final Thoughts: Not my favorite but a very good Imperial Stout, especially if you like coffee flavor in your stouts. Would I drink it again? Yep, got a few in the cellar to see how it does with some age on it.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 03:54:35 | More by JamesMN

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

4.43/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle poured into a snifter

A- Pours syrupy and as black as night. Almost no head to speak of but the head was a deep brown color. Impressive alcohol lacing.

S- A boatload of roasted malts, a slight dark chocolate. A big hop bitterness. A touch of alcohol.

T- A big crisp bitterness up front. Followed up by an absolutely massive amount of roasted flavors. Really lingers on the tongue to the point of being smokey. The beer definitely has a big chocolate flavor and feel which mellows it out and adds a whole new level of complexity. This is a hoppy stout, there are strong underlying notes of citrus and a lot of pine. Very dry and roasted aftertaste.

M- Big and thick, definitely a sipping beer. Almost no alcohol presence, it is hidden extremely well. Dry aftertaste. Really sticky.

O- This is an incredible imperial stout. One of the best non-barrel/aged stouts I have had in a good while. It is also priced incredibly well and is available everywhere. Definitely get some and make sure to keep some aside for the years to come.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 02:01:19 | More by TwelveOunces

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A-comes out thick and black with a nice tan head

S-faint scent of dark roasted grains and cocoa beans. I wish it were a bit stronger.

T-comes in with a wonderful taste of crisp dark roasted grains. It really is so smooth and hits the spot. There's a slight bit of bitterness before the long matching after-taste. It's a great beer. Good hints of mocha.

M-medium dry carbonation with a semi dry finish

O-the flavors aren't unique. They're not strong, but they are flawless. It's really just an easy drinking strong stout that remains true to it routes. The ingredients taste very real and genuine.i love this. It's one I could get by the case.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 00:29:06 | More by AdamBear

writerLJBerg

Oregon

4.18/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle, split.

A: Pure black. Mocha head fades to thin lacing. Sticks to the glass.

N: Chocolate, malt, coffee. Some tobacco and leather. Has a rye type pepperiness. Deep and rich. Molasses. Black licorice.

T: Licorice, chocolate, tobacco, pepper and earth. This is very ’spicy’ and sprucey. Has quite a bit of hop character to match the malty sweetness. Excellently put together if perhaps a bit green.

M: Perfect. Heavy without becoming cloying. Alcohol never distracts.

O: Sierra Nevada waited too long to release an RIS. This should be considered a standard. I’ll be buying more to age.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 23:54:44 | More by writerLJBerg

woosterbill

Connecticut

4.08/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle, 2012 vintage (obviously), into a Duvel tulip.

A: A straight pour yields a solid, dense light-brown head above a black body that glints crimson when held up to light. The head settles slowly and leaves some nice lacing. Lovely.

S: Spicy, with dark chocolate, spruce, and light booziness. The hops are huge, overwhelming everything else - but I expected no less from SN. Really nice, albeit in an almost Black IPA kind of way.

T: Follows the nose, but with a bit more malt richness - lovely brownie batter sweetness leads in to the highly bitter, spicy finish. Really intense, quite tasty, but a trifle harsh on the back end.

M: Creamy, substantial but not sticky. Excellent.

O: Really nice stout - reminds me a bit of '09 Imperial Stout Trooper, the year it was super hoppy. Good stuff.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 18:49:30 | More by woosterbill

JEdmund

Kansas

3.88/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Inky black, quarter inch tan head that settles down quickly.

Rich aroma of chocolate, like cocoa powder. Not an especially big aroma, but that might be because it’s not so huge on hops. Still, good and inviting.

Big roast flavor and strong dark chocolate flavor in the finish—not to mention a fairly big wave of alcohol heat on this 10% whale of a beer. Just big flavor in general, all coming together nicely in the finish. Body is also robust, with a smooth texture and enough carbonation to also tickle the tongue. Hops are fairly neutral, providing for a clean cut in the finish. It doesn’t blow me away, but I also have no complaints. I think I’d need to try it against others to see how it really compares.

Sierra Nevada has done a nice job on this style, not surprisingly. I’m going to enjoy savoring the other three, and I’ll see how one evolves with a year’s worth of age.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 17:21:50 | More by JEdmund

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours viscous, pitch black and completely opaque with a two finger mocha head that slowly settles into a lasting ring. Decent retention with streaks of soapy lacing left behind.

Roasted malt aroma with a stronger hop presence than I expected. Floral and earthy with resinous, grassy pine character countering the burnt malt, coffee bean and oatmeal notes. I shouldn't be too surprised coming from SN but the hops are a bit too prominent for this style, in my opinion, taking away from the robust malt profile a bit too much. Even after warming up considerably, the nose is still pretty tame on this beer.

Medium bodied with a deeply roasted dark malt flavor that's complimented by a bitter, earthy hop presence that lingers into a slightly boozy finish. The hops aren't as strong as the nose hints at but there's still prominent in the flavor with sticky pine needle bitterness and subtle citrus. The dryness of the hops compliment the bitterness of the roasted malts. Hints of burnt toast, oatmeal, bitter dark chocolate and espressoo/coffee bean followed by lighter chocolate and alcohol sweetness. The high is relatively well masked but there's definitely some warmth lingering in the finish. Overall, this is a pretty good stout but the strong hop character hinders the malt flavors a bit too much for my preference. Decent but nothing out of the ordinary. Great value for the price of the four pack though.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 09:43:33 | More by corby112

fmccormi

New York

4.43/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Straight pour from 12oz pry-off bottle to a 25cl Duvel Single tulip; bottling date of October 5, 2012 (“2279209 : 46”) printed in white ink on the shoulder of the bottle, making this beer just over six weeks old on the date of consumption.

Appearance (4.0): Body is black as night—no surprise there, but there’s just absolutely no light passing through. The head is a dense two fingers of dark tan-colored foam, which dies down at a reasonable pace. “Dark tan” doesn’t do it justice, though—there’s milk chocolate out there lighter than this shade of brown. Modest lacing and moderate head retention, but both decent for the style.

Smell (4.0): Just roasty as hell—not in a charred wood kind of way, but in a French Roast coffee kind of way, or like dark chocolate-covered espresso beans. Picking up notes of molasses, anise, bitter, dark chocolate, some alcohol vapor, some smooth oat character (seems to me, anyway). Really nice nose on this bastard.

Taste (4.5): Not as bitter or charred as the nose might indicate—but not overly sweet in any way, either. Very satisfying chocolate and coffee notes, mainly a drying bitterness that accompanies very dark chocolate along with the modestly charred, very bitter but deeply flavorful character of espresso beans. Some burnt multigrain toast fleshes out the malt body, leading into a somewhat bitter finish that hangs on and continues for a while. The hops add a surprisingly clear citrus pith-type bitterness along with a somewhat bright citrus fruit (think mixed orange and grapefruit juice) flavor under the roasty malt body. Huh. Was not expecting that, but it’s quite nice. Damn, this is really, really good.

Mouthfeel (5.0): Very full-feeling with a thick, oily body that coats and paints every surface of your mouth and throat. Has that drying, vaporous feel on the finish that comes from the high ABV, but it’s not unpleasant. This kind of forces you to sip—it makes me want to exhale and take a couple of breaths after each sip before I take another, which for this size and style of beer, I really appreciate. Carbonation fits the style very well, never prickly but full and lush with a filling, foaming character on the way down. Holy hell.

Overall (4.5): To be honest, this is quite a bit better than I was expecting, and I was already expecting that Sierra Nevada would do a pretty good job. Turns out, they did an excellent job. This is a full-bodied, full-flavored, but attractive and pleasant-drinking imperial stout with a couple of unexpected and very welcome turns here and there. I’m not into most aged beers, but I’d be willing to bet this would be a good candidate. Outstanding, and a job well done by Sierra Nevada.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 04:21:14 | More by fmccormi

larryi86

Delaware

4.4/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle poured into a tulip

A- Black with a three finger mocha head.

S- Roasted coffee, dark chocolate, some earthy hops.

T- Dark chocolate, roasted coffee, some caramel malts, earthy hops in the finish, some dark fruits, some milk chocolate.

M- Smooth, full body, a good amount of carbonation.

O- A great imperial stout. I enjoyed the 30th anniversary stout more, but I am very happy see Sierra Nevada brewing an imperial stout.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 02:51:28 | More by larryi86

Mdog

Minnesota

3.48/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pitch black with a huge head. Looks great.

Smell: Not much. Mild chocolate shows up eventually.

Taste: Dark chocolate builds in intensity through the glass. Dark fruits hang in the background. Gives a mild dark chocolate bitterness throughout.

Overall: Started out looking like a dream, but didn't deliver excellence in the aroma or taste. Some might be my personal preference in that I like imperial stouts to be a little sweeter than this, but it still didn't give a particularly memorable experience. Kind of middle of the road, not too sweet, not too hoppy.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 22:42:46 | More by Mdog

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle poured into a snifter.
10.2% ABV, number code on shoulder.

A - Almost midnight black, Narwhal quietly fills the snifter, even with a tall pour. The result is a low mocha head which briefly tops the black before sinking into it's depths leaving a ring of foam and a few splashes of lace.

S - Quite simple and closed off at first, Narwhal rises from the depths to a cold but soft nose of rich maltiness that expands from cocoa to dark chocolate developing with raisin and prune, subtle dusty earthiness, and a faint hint of warming alcohol on the finish.

T - Narwhal's flavor starts just like the aroma; simple and somewhat closed off. Rich roasted malt develops into subtle undertones of dark, bitter chocolate and espresso notes with a dry cocoa finish.

M - Like a good imperial stout, Narwhal is thick and rich with a milk chocolate smooth, velvety feel that slowly turns dry and bitter and rough around the edges from the heavily roasted malts. Warming alcohol emerges as this creamy beer coats the throat as it warms up for one pleasing winter stout!

O - Sierra Nevada Narwhal employs dark, roasted malts to create a deep depth of flavor throughout this imperial stout changing as it warms. A welcome addition to Sierra Nevada's seasonal line up, Narwhal is a wonderful sipping beer that encourages reflection on the malts' presence and use.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 20:42:30 | More by BeerFMAndy

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

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

Had this on 2012-11-17 in Columbia, PA

A - Opaque black with a brown 1-finger head and mild lacing.

S - Floral, brown bread, chocolate. Moderate level of aroma but very inviting.

T - Dark roasted malt, soy sauce/umami, significant char, smidge of dark chocolate, not too sweet, alcohol, pepper. Kind of brash. Finishes roasty and spicy. Good stuff.

M - Medium-heavy body and light-medium carbonation. Somewhat creamy yet dries pretty well.

O - Very enjoyable. Big flavors. Had this side-by-side with a 9-month old Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout and the Narwhal holds up quite well in comparison considering it doesn't have the bourbon influence. The KBS is smoother with more coffee, has a heavier mouthfeel and isn't as brash as the Narwhal - in other words, the KBS is better. I'm going to age some of the Narwhal to see if the brashness mellows out.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 19:39:49 | More by Tucquan

jpro

South Carolina

3.98/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz single picked up from Total Wine. Poured into tulip...

A: Pours with an ink-like blackness; two-finger mocha head leaves a ring of retention and few short-lived strands of lace; looks pretty bold.

S: Deep, dark, roasted malt; dark chocolate; coffee notes; sweet.

T: Bitter, charred malt; dark chocolate / chocolate syrup; chicory on end; pretty big oily hop finish.

M: Medium-full mouthfeel; high carbonation with some zing; not quite as full or as slick I'd like in an imperial stout.

O: A very nice Russian imperial stout from Sierra Nevada; is this a new seasonal? a one off? Interesting as its kind of out of nowhere. Big and bold and somewhat reminiscent of Old Rasputin - that's what it initially reminded me of, at least. A good beer, even with the slightly off mouthfeel. I'd have another - maybe on a cold winter night!

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 18:44:29 | More by jpro

rdilauro

Connecticut

3.78/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tis the stout season and I've been trying them all. Another nice beer from Sierra Nevada.
The pour was black, not quite jet black, but the first thing I noticed as I poured was a lot of carbonation.

The taste was more chocolate than coffee to me, perhaps a little blueberry in there. I was surprised by the amount of carbonation. That was the one thing that sort of left me a bit while tasting this one.

Because of the carbonation, I really had a hard time feeling the complete mouthful and then the final after taste.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 18:38:33 | More by rdilauro

TheRealBigC

Nevada

4.18/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Finally! An imperial stout from the wonderful Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. What should be a recurring rotational release, Narwhal is a textbook imperial stout, only better. It is deep black, huge roasted malt smell and taste. The hops come into play in the complex palate, just enough to bring a pleasantly strong bitterness - if you let the sip sit in your mouth a bit, you will be able to pick it apart. The mouthfeel is ridiculously creamy even out of the bottle. I'm glad to see this one come to life. Sierra Nevada is an excellent brewery and it only makes sense that they would make a great RIS.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 05:26:39 | More by TheRealBigC

mochaguy

Michigan

4.48/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottled: 10/11/12 (from the case box)

Specs: 12oz bottle, 10.2%, 60IBU

Glassware: Founders CBS Snifter

Appearance: Very dark brown but not as dark as some other stouts. Short cinnamon colored head.

Smell: Notes of dark fruit, coffee and chocolate.

Taste: Robust espresso flavor with chocolate and dark fruit notes with a long medium strength espresso finish. Not too bitter but not mild either. Sweetness seemed right to me, not too dry but not too sweet either.

Mouthfeel: Mild carbonation seemed spot on. Substantial full body. Could have been a little richer and more oily.

Overall: Very impressed with this imperial stout. Not as rich and creamy as some of the top imperial stouts but still very enjoyable. Might have rated this a 5 overall if the color was black versus very dark brown and if the texture was more creamy and oily. One of the most well balanced and enjoyable imperial stouts that I've tried. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 21:33:15 | More by mochaguy

Brewsephus

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

16 oz bottle, poured into a Duvel Tulip.

A-Black, completely opaque, viscous pour. Head is dark caramel color, about quarter inch of head, retains for approx 1 min. Thumb-tack sized bubbles appear on surface, small pinpoint carbonation bubbles collect around rim of glass.
S-Chocolate is the first smell I get, followed by some slight fruity esters, raspberry, plum.
T-Big robust dark chocolate flavor, which gives way quickly to the intense warmth from the 10.2% abv. On the finish a little roast malt lingers. There is a slight cherry flavor on the middle of the tongue, until the alcohol warm kicks it away, only to be dominated by the dark chocolate barrage.
M-This is actually a lot more carbonated than I thought it would taste. The carbonation is enough to tingle your tongue, but wouldn't be described as effervescent. It is actually quite refreshing. The beer has a great amount of body to it, and I think without the carbonation it could come across as very motor-oil-esque to some.
O-This is a very OK version of an Imperial Stout. I feel that Sierra opted to side more with the Chocolate Malt than with the Roast Malt, which is fine, but just not my preference. Still, this beer has a ton of character and only intensifies as it warms. There are zero flaws in this beer. I was hoping for a little more excitement in the flavor. If you name a beer 'Narwhal', to unicorn of the ocean, it should have a little more pizzazz. I would have liked to seen a more estery yeast, maybe a little less baker's chocolate or chocolate malt, and a touch more roast malt. After your first or second sip the flavors don't change, which is something I look for in a beer capable of being so nuanced and complex.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 21:04:36 | More by Brewsephus

JasonL

3.98/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I am a big SN fan and this type of beer from them doesn't come out much so I wanted to try it badly. I am a big stout fan and this one from them didn't disappoint me. It has a high price tag but I think its for a good reason. The ABV is 10.2% per bottle and the taste and body is superb. It is a well crafted beer which I come to expect from SN. The first sip from this stout was really bitter and strong but half way down the bottle I begin to taste to nice coffee and chocolate notes which defines a nice stout. Just a warning this beer has a strong ABV content so a four pack is like drinking 9 Budweisers.

Overall I love SN and they always instill to impress me with every new brew they craft and this one doesn't disappoint.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 20:54:26 | More by JasonL

Broden

California

3.9/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Poured from bottle. Beer is jet black with slight opaqueness around the edges of the beer. A slight layer of brownish head rapidly dissipates.

S- Smell was subtle for me. Roasted malt, chocolate, and some coffee. Not terribly impressed with the smell.

T- Taste was of coffee, chocolate, and roasted malt...a lot of roasted malt. This beer came across as very, very bitter. SN puts it at 60 IBU so it seems as though a lot of the bitterness is coming from the malt. I little bit to bitter for my taste when it comes to this style.

M- I did not feel the body to be as full as other reviews have stated. I felt it to be medium bodied, and on the dry side of this style.

O- A little disappointed with this beer. I was VERY VERY excited to give it a try as I am a big SN fan. I will be giving this another go in the near future, and then keeping a few bottle to try after its got some age on it.

I think UNDERWHELMING is how I would describe this beer.

EDIT - 11/20/2012

Just had Narwhal on tap at a local bar. They paid attention to glassware, and proper serving temp. I enjoyed this beer significantly more on tap. Still a tad on the bitter side of where I enjoy my Imperial Stouts.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 08:14:32 | More by Broden

stephenjmoore

Maryland

4.2/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- Pours pitch black with an enormous thick mocha colored head.

S- Roasted malt, chocolate malt, cocoa powder, bitter dark chocolate.

T- Very malty with roasty flavors coming through the most with chocolate malt. The middle to end has notes of bitter dark chocolate that lingers as an aftertaste. There is a noticeable hop bitterness in there as well, along with a slight coffee flavor.

M- Full bodied, heavy, but drinkable, medium carbonation, smooth and frothy.

O- I am actually surprised with how different this beer tastes than other RISs. Very complex combination of flavors that border on cluttered, but make it a unique offering.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 03:44:27 | More by stephenjmoore

DrinkMoreBigBeers

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle has a date of 285

A - Pours out thick deep dark brown, once in the glass it pitch black. Produces a nice finger worth of dark rich mocha head which dissipates rather fast leaving big bubbles along the glasses edge.

S - Right away I get a nice bold-sharp sweet bitter roast with dark chocolate, wood. No alcohol detected. A nice swirl of the beer in the glass really gets the aroma's going and is a must which helps release this beers nice bold nose. I could smell this all night!

T - Right away this one is creamy, with a rich dark roast, cocoa nibs, anise, slight raisins, bitterness in the finish that lingers. A rather nice sipper that delivers a massive flavor profile that keeps giving. Slight alcohol here but blends well with the rich flavors. Once I poured the yeast in it became more bold, and rather bitter. I suggest keep the last bit of yeast in the bottle.

M - This one is a full bodied smooth drinker, that does tingle the tongue from the bitterness. Carbonated well which keeps the flavors going over the palate. Some beers this full bodied leave a sticky residue but this one does not seem to.

O - I love SN and this one delivers. It is a sipper that is great in the cold weather season. It to bad it is hard to get a-hold of at this point in time. I believe this beer will become better with age because it has a pretty bitter aftertaste that kinda distracts from the dark flavors which I believe is from the hops. Also, this beer has some alcohol which will fade with age. It may get a higher rating when cellard for a while, but for now its just excellent. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 00:05:23 | More by DrinkMoreBigBeers

popery

California

4.18/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

It's a really pretty stout. The head is a thick blanket of brown foam. Fine bubbles stick to the walls of the glass with each sip. The body is jet black. It's hard to see any color even at the edges of my glass. The aroma is full of chocolate and coffee. There's some caramel and roast beneath those initial notes. It smells rich and sweet. A touch of hops blends into the background. The taste is also quite good. Heavier on the roast and coffee than chocolate. Starts with lots of caramel and chocolate sweetness before the more bitter flavors take over. Mouthfeel is soft and full. Excellent. This is a great example of the style. I wish it was a bit more chocolatey and even less bitter, but I could see my score going up even higher upon subsequent tastings.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2012 05:35:41 | More by popery

emerge077

Illinois

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

Poured into a goblet, there was a brief crest of mocha tinged dark tan foam that receded after a few minutes down to a creamy collar at the edge of the glass.

Deep roastiness in the aroma, slight ashy char, mild dry bakers chocolate, coffee.
Flavors follow suit, huge roasted malt, blackened and ashy. Bitter dark chocolate and mild coffee notes dominate. Long lasting flavors of roast and chocolate that linger into the aftertaste. As it warms, some hop greenery comes into the picture. Reminds me of new green shoots extending skyward post-forest fire. For being 10% it's fairly approachable for the style, though still a slow sipper. Very tasty and palate coating.

As with most Imperial Stouts, allow to warm up as much as possible to get the full range out of it.

Review #2700

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2012 03:54:02 | More by emerge077