Plead The 5th Imperial Stout - Dark Horse Brewing Company

MrVonzipper

California

4.8/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Thanks to MrHirshybar for this fine piece along with aging it a year for me.

Oilslick black along with it's oily glass coating viscosity. Mild foamy 1/2cm brown head with low retention and light spotty lacing.

Deep, dark and bold nose. Notes of rich bitter chocolate, rich liquored dark fruit, bourbony oak and deep rich soy sauce. They soy sauce stands out at first, you really gotta swirl to open up the other characteristics.

Flavor is huge and bold! Big robust notes of bitter chocolate (cacao), dark fruits, vanilla, bourbon, oak and faint black licorice. The Flavor is amazing.

Full bodied mouthfeel. Silky and viscous. Wonderful palate coating creaminess with low carbonation.

Overall this beer is pretty fucking awesome. I'm really interested to try it fresh, cuz the age is apparent and great. I can't imagine it getting any better with any more age, so I think a year is about right on for this piece.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2011 06:31:53 | More by MrVonzipper

spitshaded

Virginia

4.75/5  rDev +10.7%

05-19-2013 06:41:37 | More by spitshaded

jakeox

Illinois

4/5  rDev -6.8%

05-19-2013 00:48:15 | More by jakeox

beerinNV

Nevada

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%

05-18-2013 16:00:44 | More by beerinNV

cosmonick

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%

05-18-2013 14:51:31 | More by cosmonick

Jamison85

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%

05-18-2013 03:09:59 | More by Jamison85

Honus1

Ohio

4/5  rDev -6.8%

05-18-2013 02:39:19 | More by Honus1

rkf1976

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%

05-18-2013 02:17:50 | More by rkf1976

carlosega

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%

05-17-2013 16:46:40 | More by carlosega

GinsuDave

Michigan

4/5  rDev -6.8%

05-17-2013 00:53:15 | More by GinsuDave

DruRho

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%

05-16-2013 23:12:05 | More by DruRho

djre4orm

Virginia

4/5  rDev -6.8%

05-16-2013 20:51:31 | More by djre4orm

iHeartMNBeer

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%

05-16-2013 20:31:37 | More by iHeartMNBeer

trapper2408

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -6.8%

05-16-2013 18:20:59 | More by trapper2408

Auror

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%

05-16-2013 13:32:18 | More by Auror

jhillwastaken

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%

05-16-2013 11:49:24 | More by jhillwastaken

Pelican5

California

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%

05-16-2013 07:18:46 | More by Pelican5

stereosforgeeks

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%

05-16-2013 02:21:15 | More by stereosforgeeks

cmdmzmjm

Illinois

4/5  rDev -6.8%

05-16-2013 02:18:45 | More by cmdmzmjm

smooth_aleing

Pennsylvania

4.26/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured into over-sized wine glass.

Pours coal black with a thin head the dissipates to a fine mocha ring. Lacing dissolves quickly.

The nose is a bit lacking. Expected big chocolate malts and espresso, but they were faint to the nose. Suggestions of smoke and dark cherry liquor. Alcohol is certainly detectible at 11% ABV.

Taste - immediately roasted chocolate and bitter coffee (in a good way). Smokiness and light bitterness throughout the tongue. Dark, roasted malts, and cherry/brandy-type liquor.

Mouthfeel is good, decent carbonation. Well balanced throughout the tongue.

Was excited to try this beer, since it's so highly rated on B.A. A great stout, but not the best. But, maybe the expectation let me down slightly. Would still drink it again, tough.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 01:03:42 | More by smooth_aleing

twkirkby

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +10.7%

05-15-2013 10:11:09 | More by twkirkby

hopspine

Colorado

3.45/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured to a snifter.

A- Motor oil, thick black. Dark espresso head dissipates quick, leaving some chocolate lacings on the glass.

A- Cocoa, lots of roast, char, oak. The char was a little dominant for me... stingy, thick booze. A little metallic to my nose.

T- Roasty, with some chocolate on the tongue. A lot of booze, again, like the nose, a metallic flavor is there. Not dominant but there. Really smokey and lots of ashy, char in the finish. Flavors don't seem to meld well.

MF- Very thick. Sticky. Chewy.

O- I've had this a few times and my experience always seems underwhelmed. Too boozey for me, and just don't dig the roast/char combo it has. I'm a little alone on this one I think.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 01:41:58 | More by hopspine

rboinski

California

3.5/5  rDev -18.4%

05-13-2013 17:15:29 | More by rboinski

EROCK75

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%

05-13-2013 15:38:23 | More by EROCK75

tubbnik

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%

05-13-2013 13:41:41 | More by tubbnik