Imperiale High Gravity Stout - Ninkasi Brewing Company

cougfan2002

Washington

3/5  rDev -15.3%

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

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

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

Washington

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

TheSixthRing

California

3.53/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - Pours jet black with cola brown edging. The head is tan in color, a good finger and a half thick, and holds with good retention. Lacing is spotty, with fair stick.

Smell - Aroma is faint; mostly anise, with hints of chocolate, caramel and coffee. Hops are present as well, though fairly indistinguishable.

Taste - Starts with subtle chocolate and roasted coffee notes, mid-taste is fairly muddled, then finishes with a touch of roasty bitterness and a moderate anise character.

Mouthfeel - Medium to full body, with low carbonation. Kinda flat. Somewhat chalky.

Overall - This is a decent imperial stout. Nothing that hasn't been done before, and the execution isn't all that great. Drinkable, somewhat enjoyable. Probably wouldn't buy again.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 05:11:31 | More by TheSixthRing

AgentMunky

Alabama

3.58/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22 ounce bottle into a Koningshoeven chalice.

A: Beautiful off-white head tops a dark, translucent, mahogany ale.

S: Sweet-smooth chocolate malt.

T: Bitter-sweet chocolate. Fruity malts. A lingering alcohol. This is an odd imperial stout, tasting more of peach juice than bitter, roasted malt. Aftertaste is full of sugars and light tartness.

M: Smooth, but not very impressive.

O: Solid beer, queer imperial stout. I would try another to see how interesting it is, or different. As it is, MIGHT recommend.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 08:18:24 | More by AgentMunky

BucannonXC5

California

3.88/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22-oz.bomber into a pint glass at my house on Nov. 30, 2012 (purchased the variety 4-pack for $15.99 at BevMo (with card) in La Mesa, Calif. (San Diego) on Nov. 27, 2012. Black with hints of red and 1-2 fingers of tan head. Not as good retention as I would have thought. Above average on the sides, but average on the top.

Smelled coffee, dark chocolate, toffee, roasted nuts and a bit of smoky wood fire. A little bit darker than I expected.

Tasted coffee, dark chocolate, dark caramel, dark toffee, roasted nuts and still that smoky wood fire. Pretty bitter.

Full body. Creamy slick texture. Average carbonation. Long bitter finish.

Not a bad stout. Thick, creamy and does the job. A little bit better than expected.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 08:19:15 | More by BucannonXC5

oregone

Oregon

3/5  rDev -15.3%

11-27-2012 17:12:23 | More by oregone

jessicapreuss

Brazil

3.25/5  rDev -8.2%

11-23-2012 21:29:46 | More by jessicapreuss