Imperiale High Gravity Stout - Ninkasi Brewing Company

climax

Missouri

3.4/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Imperiale pours black as night with a mocha head. The retention is more of a film that stays atop, not too far out of the ordinary for a beer of this potency.

It's not as bold in the nostrils as I was expecting. Coffee grounds, smoke, and a dash of roasted nuts is about all I can decipher. Despite the mild nose, the alcohol is hidden extremely well.

Sweet flavors of hit the palette up front brown sugar and , but the hops finally show themselves in the finish which is complete bitterness. Loads of dry roasty flavors entertain the taste buds everywhere in between.

The body doesn't seem overly heavy, and it's pretty easy to drink. Alcohol is a hermit the whole time, so it's definitely sneaky. Overall, there's not loads of complexity to ponder, but it's easy to drink and solid.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2012 05:30:51 | More by climax

shleepy

California

3.51/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Black, with lush, off-white head.

Smell is roasty, with some dark fruit notes.

Taste is fairly bitter, in a roasty way, from start to finish/aftertaste. Light fruitiness provides some balance.

Body is probably lighter than most imperial stouts. No syrupy feeling to it at all.

Overall, it's a relatively drinkable imp stout. Not offensive at all, but not too complex, either.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2013 00:53:28 | More by shleepy

TheCrowsNest

California

3.5/5  rDev -1.1%

06-16-2013 17:08:56 | More by TheCrowsNest

gleemonger

California

3.75/5  rDev +5.9%

06-12-2013 21:58:08 | More by gleemonger

Ilovebeer1549

California

4/5  rDev +13%

06-04-2013 03:53:01 | More by Ilovebeer1549

leftoverburrito

Oregon

1.5/5  rDev -57.6%

05-08-2013 02:44:37 | More by leftoverburrito

elektronen

Washington

4/5  rDev +13%

04-26-2013 04:42:26 | More by elektronen

OBeerMeGreatOne

California

3.9/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I'm pretty sure the low price adds to the poorer reviews on here. I'm not quite an imperial stout veteran, but I'm damn close!

Pours out the deepest dark chocolate, almost black. The head stops at a little over an inch, impressive for 9.5% ABV, the lacing is decent.

The smell starts with hot chocolate mix and earthy hops. Slight dark fruit is noticed as well. Simple, but inviting.

Chocolate, plum, earth, slight rye(?) and some vanilla. The booze isn't too noticable. Decently thick and smooth going down, no complaints in the mouth.

Ninkasi did well in my opinion. I think they are a bit underrated. This, like most of their brews was very solid and enjoyable,

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2013 05:06:02 | More by OBeerMeGreatOne

BESTIALEX

Oregon

3.25/5  rDev -8.2%

04-04-2013 03:33:42 | More by BESTIALEX

irishgreensoda

Washington

3.5/5  rDev -1.1%

03-20-2013 14:44:33 | More by irishgreensoda

604growler

British Columbia (Canada)

4/5  rDev +13%

03-19-2013 22:53:24 | More by 604growler

Amerikon

California

3.75/5  rDev +5.9%

03-15-2013 04:53:32 | More by Amerikon

cougfan2002

Washington

3/5  rDev -15.3%

03-15-2013 01:17:47 | More by cougfan2002

vcoggins

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -1.1%

03-14-2013 02:55:57 | More by vcoggins

chugamugofsud

Oregon

3.25/5  rDev -8.2%

02-21-2013 21:26:44 | More by chugamugofsud

powdersoldier

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +20.1%

02-21-2013 03:08:36 | More by powdersoldier

johnnyboy76

Oregon

3.5/5  rDev -1.1%

02-16-2013 05:07:23 | More by johnnyboy76

ccrida

Oregon

3.9/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Appearance is black with a thick tan head leaving chunky, foamy lace.

Smell is both chocolate and acrid dark malts, and some soft sweet sugars.

Taste is malty milk chocolate, it really drinks much lighter than the ABV would beguile - if you told me high 6% I would doubt it. There's a little herbal hop flavor and moderate bitterness, but by and large it's a pedestrian American start that is most notable for the how well it hides the high ABV.

Mouthfeel is on the viscous side, off-dry.

Drinkability is fine, it's not stimulating, but it's clean and dangerously easy drinking.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 06:27:25 | More by ccrida

warpedrevolution

Washington

3.75/5  rDev +5.9%

02-10-2013 05:49:00 | More by warpedrevolution

thinwhiteduke

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -1.1%

02-04-2013 02:35:10 | More by thinwhiteduke

kemoarps

Missouri

3.56/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

dark cola with a pillowy almond head. Sticks around. Quite pretty.

The nose is roast malts, maybe a little bit of hops in there as well? Somewhat sweet in a toffee like manner. Some vanilla?

Taste is... I can't quite put my finger on it. roasty and dark. Some bitter finish. Almost some smoke to it?

smoothe enough. Solid enough stout, there's something odd about it, but I can't quite put my finger on it. It's tasty though, just not life changing.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 07:02:42 | More by kemoarps

ThickNStout

Georgia

3.1/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

22oz bottle from LetsPour.com. No bottling date. Served in a Wild Heaven snifter.

Pours dark brown with a half finger of tan head. Foam recedes quickly but leaves a decent bit of lace.

Smells of light cocoa, milk and caramel. Not bad but far from outstanding.

Taste is a subdued but pleasent blend of cocoa, cream, oatmeal and caramel. A slight sting of booze towards the finish.

Creamy medium full feel with mild but quite forward carbonation. Fairly dry aftertaste of bitter cocoa and sweet cream.

It's ok. There's nothing here to make me stand up and cheer but I didn't need to pour it either. No off flavors but it just doesn't come across as very "Imperiale".

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 06:34:07 | More by ThickNStout

DerwinWentworth

Utah

3.5/5  rDev -1.1%

12-29-2012 23:52:46 | More by DerwinWentworth

InfernoBoss

California

3.5/5  rDev -1.1%

12-20-2012 08:35:37 | More by InfernoBoss

Backlash209

California

3/5  rDev -15.3%

12-19-2012 23:34:31 | More by Backlash209