Espresso Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout - Great Divide Brewing Company

JamesMN

Minnesota

4.13/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Bottled on: Jan 10, 2013

Appearance: Pitch black body with a foamy dark brown head.

Aroma: Sweet dark malts, a hint of espresso, and an overall bright aroma.

Taste: Espresso flavor hits the palate immediately and stays through to the aftertaste. Very smooth mix of dark malts and a roasty character that builds in intensity right after the finish and then fades away. No real hop flavor in here but a moderate bitterness that could be both charred malt and hop influenced. 9.5% ABV almost seems light for how much flavor there is to enjoy. Interestingly there really isn't any oak flavor, but perhaps its implementation has gone more towards smoothing all the flavors than adding its own.

Mouthfeel: This is a thick beer by any standards but somehow feels very light and has great drinkability. The carbonation disrupts some of the smoothness of this brew but the feel is still nice overall.

Final Thoughts: I've never had an espresso stout before but if Espresso Oak Aged Yeti is any indication, then it is a good flavor to have. Would I drink it again? Yes, I've got last years vintage to try.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2013 23:41:22 | More by JamesMN

Gmann

New York

4.14/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours a pitch black color with a tight creamy brown head that settles into a light ring. There is no seeing through this bad boy.

The stout has a lovely ground coffee and brownie batter aroma. Some dusty cocoa powder and milk sugars. More chocolatey than coffee-y.

All sorts of roasty and chocolatey in the first sip. Fairly big roasted flavor that brings some anise and burnt toast. The chocolate presence is of the bitter dark kind. Some coffee flavors as well but they seem to get overwhelmed by the roast, though that could be the espresso roast I guess. Deep caramel brings some sweetness. Some berry type flavors that can be found in a RIS. Big bold flavor.

Moderate to full feel, a bit thinner than I expected. Some sweetness on the palate but there is tons of bitter roast notes. Besides the bitterness it does drink smooth and finishes sticky with more bitterness.

A very flavorful stout and quite bitter. The espresso seems to bring in more of a bitter flavor than a coffee flavor.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 18:21:42 | More by Gmann

BigBarley

Texas

4.76/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

A - Extremely thick, extremely black. poured hard into a goblet, the head rolls up to about a finger, before receding by half. Head is a khaki brown color, very deep

S - Oaky vanilla, sweet cocoa, bitter coffee, mild hop notes, roasted notes, more coffee, mild alcohol presence... This beer is packed with aroma. I could smell this all day without having to drink it.

T - I'm glad I decided to stop smelling and start drinking. Sweet all over, with an aggressive coffee profile. Accenting this is that same oaky, wooden presence, and some definite traces of vanilla beneath it all. Plenty of hops to work in conjunction with the dark coffee, and a decent note of alcohol that works well with the chocolate coffee madness. All around delicious and even more flavorful than the nose promised.

M - Very thick, very creamy. Intensely satisfying, but somehow still refreshing. Active carbonation and thick body come together to make one hell of a milkshake. Amazing beer, one of the best RIS for mouthfeel.

O - Amazing beer. Everything great about Oak Aged Yeti, with the compliments added by an aggressive coffee profile. Big beer stuffed with character.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 11:08:07 | More by BigBarley

Ricelikesbeer

Colorado

4.48/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

This would have to be my favorite version of yeti that i've tried. The intense coffee aroma and flavor works really well with the roastiness of the original yeti recipe. The bitterness really accentuates the overall experience of the beer and allows for incredible balance.

A: perfectly carbonated with a sticky tan lacing and jet black ink ina a glass.

S: Coffee! Pure espresso up front, like both brewed espresso and like opening a fresh bag of uncracked beans. There is a whiff of booze and malt, but the coffee dominated the nose. I love it.

T: More coffee up front, and your tongue is blasted with bitterness from the roast barley and the coffee. there is the typical hit of hops and some slight warming alcohol in the finish, and some sugary sweetness as well. The balance is incredible. You get tons of bitterness up front and a sweetish finish. The hops keep everything in check as well.

M: Thick and chewy, but not cloying. Coats the tongue with oily goodness.

O: I love coffee, and coffee beers, and I think this is easily one of the best out there. I'd buy this before many of the more overpriced, overhyped stouts out there. There's really nothing else you could ask for in this beer, except for maybe year round distro. This will always be a go to for me when I want a big intense stout. It's perfect for dessert as well.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 16:17:43 | More by Ricelikesbeer

Greywulfken

New York

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: center-pour into a large snifter: void black body; finger of dark foam slipped away but left a little frothy dark collar behind, some sticky lace motes clung just above the surface

S: dark roasted cocoa and espresso - as if they'd been ground together and brewed into beer

T: nicely dry and smoothly bitter dark roasted malt with lighter tones of wood hovering overhead; espresso flavors are rich and dominant, chocolate-iness is sublte and bitter more than sweet; the wood aging adds a nice sophistication to this very stout stout

M: creamy smooth and full-bodied; any stickiness is ameliorated by the dryness of cocoa, espresso, and oak

O: excellent craftsmanship is apparent - this is decadent, but avoids the cloying sweetness that some stouts fall prey to; very classy and elegant.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 01:27:34 | More by Greywulfken

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

4.68/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A-pours oily black with a nice sticky tan head

S-definitely a nice mix of oak and espresso as well as rich chocolate. Also a very noticeable hop presence as well, makes it a tad grassy. Good strong scent.

T-comes in with a great oak flavor along with a rich flavor of chocolate espresso. The oak is definitely most prominent here. It is long lasting with an awesome matching after-taste. Great flavors, nothing off.

M-thick and creamy with a dry finish

O-this has got to be one of the best easily obtainable stouts out there. I'm extremely impressed. The oak flavor is done so well, it's very prominent yet it isn't overdone. It's got so much flavor to it that I can imagine drinking this as a meal. Great drinkability, alcohol isn't noticeable

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 02:53:25 | More by AdamBear

ilikebeer03

Texas

4.71/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

22 oz bomber dated 1/10/12. poured into snifter.

A: pours jet black. nice tan head. fades after about minute to a nice tan ring. pretty good lacing.

S: chocolate, coffee, oak, vanilla, leather maybe? coffee is not as strong on the nose as i would have anticipated.

T: I was afraid the coffee would have faded considering the bottle is 13 months old. I was wrong. Very forward coffee. Lots of chocolate. slight vanilla (less than in oaked yeti in my opinion)

M: Very nice. Smooth, creamy, very well carbonated.

O: very good beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 21:57:16 | More by ilikebeer03

chinchill

South Carolina

4.05/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

served from a 22oz bottle, suspected of being a bit colder than optimum. Sampled just after a New Belgium Lips of Faith - Imperial Coffee Chocolate Stout (NBICCS).
Pours black and opaque with a durable tan head.
An extreme beer with loads of flavor, mainly from the roasted malts and expresso.
Notably sweeter, especially in the aftertaste than the NBICCS, which I found too bitter from the finish on. Plenty of oak in the nose but less in the flavor which still has a noticeable oak note.

{Review tweaked with on-tap tasting in March 2013. Excellent and aroma and mouthfeel compared to memory/notes from bottle.]

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 01:18:27 | More by chinchill

stumac

Texas

4.2/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

This beer didn't pair well with me and Amanda's homemade chicken margherita pizza buuut it was a delicious meal in its own. Quick side note: On the side of the label it says ,"Pairs well with breakfast burritos, eggs benedict, and hash browns..." I dont see this pairing with hash browns lol. Goin off a hazy bag-wine-hangover memory, this beer starts completely black and thick with a big 'ol chocolate head. Crazy sticky lacing. Nice subtle aroma of rich chocolate and coffee. I didn't realize this was oak aged even though it says it in HUGE letters on the bottle, so I didn't notice any oaky flavors coming out very aggressively. I didn't notice any oak at all. Pretty cut and dry brew. Coffee, chocolate. But oh so damn good! Just so many levels of those two flavors. It's nuts. Full thick body. Nice crisp carbo. Classic baybuh.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 15:17:52 | More by stumac

chanokokoro

Illinois

4.41/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 22 oz. bottle with a 1/18/12 bottling date into a Great Divide Brewing Company Yeti branded snifter

Pours a viscous pitch black capped by a dark beige one and a half finger head. Excellent retention and bunches of splotchy lacing. Roasted earthiness and malt, espresso, vanilla-touched oak, bakers chocolate on the nose. Big roasty and malty espresso notes, underlying oakiness, charred biscuit, earthy dark chocolate, vanilla, burnt raisin and molasses. On the finish bittering hops make their presence known along with bitter dark cocoa, and more general roastiness. Big full body that means business, yet velvety and creamy. Moderate, gentle carbonation. An exceptional variant of Yeti. The addition of coffee here actually adds complexity rather than overpowering the base beer, a downfall of many imperial stouts that have coffee added.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 04:59:58 | More by chanokokoro

mattkoon

South Carolina

4.54/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

i have for the most part really liked the yeti beers from great divide. i also start everyday with espresso, so it seemed like a great idea when i saw it in my local beer sto. this one is black as satans heart... not a trace of light gettin through, with a very slight brown head. the taste is huge, very bold, the stout and espresso flavors pair up very well. as i was drinking this i was thinking how awesome it would be if the crossbred this with their "chocolate yeti." low and behold they do, but seems you can only get it at their taproom in the great divide brewery....alls im sayin is bottle that stuff up and get it to us! this is a great stout- a great beer in general.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 23:33:21 | More by mattkoon

MattyG85

Minnesota

4.49/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 650 ml bottle into a Surly Darkness chalice. Bottled on Jan 10, 2013.

Appearance: Pours pitch black with a moderate amount of bubbles. About one finger of deep tan head that fades into a thin creamy layer. Leaves a good amount of lacing on the glass.

Smell: A big dark roasty coffee infused aroma. Dark roasted malts with big hints of coffee beans and some vanilla and oak chips. Hints of dark chocolate, toasted bread, burnt caramel, toffee, biscuit, and a touch of smoke. Some burnt molasses sweetness. Fairly earthy with a subtle hint of hops and grass. The coffee aroma is pretty strong and leaps out the most. Very roasty and dark smell. Pretty good.

Taste: Dark, rich, roasty, and very coffee forward like the smell indicates. Dark roasted malts with a big taste of roasted coffee beans and dark chocolate. Also in the mix are notes of oak chips, vanilla, wood, dark toasted bread, caramel, biscuit, toffee, cream, and a little smoked malt. Some burnt brown sugar and molasses sweetness. Bitter hops are noticeable towards the finish with some notes of earthy hops and a little grass. Very big on the coffee, dark chocolate, and roast. A very good tasting coffee stout.

Mouthfeel: Full bodied and fairly thick with a moderate amount of carbonation. Creamy, roasty, and fairly smooth considering it's size. Alcohol is masked well.

Overall: A really great imperial coffee stout. Up there with the best in the style. Very good coffee, chocolate, and oak flavor.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 07:54:23 | More by MattyG85

King_KongDCO93

Minnesota

4.61/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Bottled on Jan 10, 2013 had on 1/30/13

A: Dark motor oil, pitch black, with brown head that lingers.

S: The aroma is just like Founders Breakfast Stout. Great notes of Espresso, vanilla, caramel, and cocoa

T: Complex and extremely drinkable. Has great Oak presences and espresso/cocoa balance.

M: mildly bitter and tangy. large body

O: Incredibly smooth and you can put this in your coffee cup and no one would know the difference. Hard to say but this compares equally if not better than Founders Breakfast Stout. The oak characteristics makes its an exceptional beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 01:53:37 | More by King_KongDCO93

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

4.4/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Totally black body, beautiful dark tan billowing head, four fingers that quickly drops to one. Very good thick lacing covers most of the glass.

Nose is almost all coffee. Hints of vanilla around the edge. Chocolate residue at end.

Taste is tons of rich coffee. Not too burnt though. Like that. Good undercurrent of chocolate. Hops jump out of the pool at the swallow like a dolphin at Sea World. The Expresso takes a deep roasty bow in the finish.

Thick rich and smooth mouthfeel. Not oily, though.

A very enjoyable imperial stout, well worth seeking.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 05:42:12 | More by RonfromJersey

TBoneJones

Texas

4.28/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

Pours a slick black beauty, with a towering dark tan root beer float-like head that sticks around and looks terrific in my pint glass.
Smells like cocoa with an oaky rye scent, malt. Pleasant indeed.
Whoa the first sip hits hard! I didn't smell the alcohol but here it is now. But this quickly settles into a deep imperial stout taste with roasted notes and bitter cocoa, dark fruits, slight anise. I always prefer big stouts sweeter and not bitter, but this is not stopping me from liking this one. It really is smooth to sip, and for my taste couldnt really be better in that regard. Sticks to the pint as well.
Oaky, roasty, bitter. A big stout but very well done.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 05:02:10 | More by TBoneJones

Gatch

Massachusetts

4.54/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Bottled on: Jan 02 2012

A: Super black with a medium brown head that settles into big craters and bubbles. Huge, sticky lace and great retention. Can a Stout look better? Not really.

S: Fairly complex and so inviting. It smells creamy and luscious, if that makes sense. Roasted malt, charred wood, molasses, caramelized brown sugar, some booze, and espresso beans. The coffee isn't as strong as expected but it allows the beer to be balanced from start to finish in the nose.

T: Everything in the nose and sooo smooth and creamy. Incredible finish. You notice the mellowed qualities after some age but some booze is still there that lends a great sweet quality to the beer. The roasted malt and espresso comes out in full force.

M: What can I say? Incredibly smooth, body is full and divine, perfectly toasty and sweet, carbonation is spot on, and the finish is top notch.

O: A little over a year in the bottle has treated this beer well. The flavors have mellowed and melded to create a superb Imperial Stout.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 00:33:23 | More by Gatch

AC-Mivsek

Ohio

4.36/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A- Pours opaque black with a creamy 2-finger mocha brown head, sticky lacing.

S- Espresso and coffee is very evident along with some roasted malt and chocolate.

T- Very robust, charred malt and dark chocolate stand out first, followed by espresso/cream, roasted coffee, and vanilla. The oak comes in the aftertaste and it is lighter than I expected, but it is very palpable and adds a bit of smokiness.

M- Full body with moderate carbonation. Thick and creamy just like it should be.

O- This is a very rich and tasty stout. The oak is a nice touch and I enjoyed the subtly of it. Usually I find the oak to dominate in barrel-aged beers, but this has a lot of balance. Great Divide never seems to disappoint.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 01:59:23 | More by AC-Mivsek

denver10

Colorado

4.33/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5

Pours black with a slight brownish hue throughout and a nice full chocolate milkshake like head. Nice lacing. Aroma of the oak chips, chocolate, espresso, and some roastiness. A little alcohol is there too, as is the norm with all Yeti variants. Flavor is a burst of espresso out the gate which then transitions into some nice chocolate, roastiness, some oak giving off some vanilla, closing out with a slightly bitter espresso bean finish. Again a little alcohol is noticeable. A fuller, creamy mouthfeel. Overall, my favorite of the Yeti series and one of my favorite coffee stouts without a doubt.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 21:57:50 | More by denver10

kojevergas

California

4.19/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

9.5% ABV confirmed. 650ml brown glass bottle with foiled-over pressure cap and simple stylistic label acquired at a local SoCal bottle shop for $9.99 USD and served into a New Belgium stem-goblet in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are very high; I've looked forward to trying this Yeti variant for a long time.

Bottled 12/18/12.

Served straight from the refrigerato and allowed to warm over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a gorgeous two finger rich tan colour head with beautiful frothy cream, fantastic thickness, and excellent retention for the high ABV (~5+ minutes); the head just sits there for a good two minutes before receding at all, and when it does it leaves sticky thick lacing on the sides of the glass. Beautiful. Body colour is a predictable solid jet black - typical of the style. Nontransparent and opaque; no yeast particles are visible as a result. No bubble show. A great appearance for the style. Constructively, the head could be richer and darker, and a bubble show would aid presentation (albeit superficially).

Sm: Delightful assertive espresso and a bit of coffee/java roast. Coffee notes come off cold-pressed rather than freshly brewed, but that's fine - the coffee here is well balanced against the chocolate and dark malts of the body. Cream. Underlying sturdy oak foundation. Hints of light vanilla. Espresso - and espresso specifically, not just coffee - is dominant, to its benefit. It has a unique presence that coaxes you into trying it. A moderate strength subtle aroma. It could be more complex, but I'm already enchanted. It could use a roasted barley presence; not just coffee roast but actual roasted barley. I'm nitpicking, but it's worthy noting. No yeast or alcohol is detectable.

It hasn't warmed too much, but I can't wait for the first sip...

T: Chocolate up front playing with the vanilla sweetness; ultimately the vanilla wins - but the battle is enjoyable. The vanilla is less a vanilla bean character and more an oak-derived subtle vanilla. Unobtrusive dark chocolate malts fill out the foundation, but the body is dominated by the namesake espresso - and it works wonderfully here. Very little coffee roast, but lots of deep evocative espresso and condensed milk. Not at all too bitter, but it does have that espresso bite. Oak is present s an undertone and gives the flavour profile guidance and unity, but it doesn't contribute all that much in itself. Some may find this too sweet; I do not. That said, I would like more roast to hone the balance. It really does sorely lack roasted barley, but it's forgivable. Hop presence is minimal (as it should be); hop character is generic floral. Not quite the "bold hop profile" suggested by the label, but I'm glad. The creaminess is a highlight - as is its interplay with the rich espresso notes. Complex, balanced, and very enjoyable.

No yeast character or alcohol comes through.

Mf: Delightfully creamy and smooth, with a lighter more fleeting presence than expected. Smoothness aids drinkability and evokes espresso texture - and aptly so. Slight overcarbonation. Perfect thickness. Good presence on the palate. Complements the flavour profile wonderfully.

Dr: Obscenely drinkable for the high ABV and for the style. My favourite Yeti variant yet (and only Barrel Aged remains). A fantastic brew from Great Divide, Espresso Oak Aged Yeti provides what the other variants lack. I'd definitely pick this one up again, but as far as aging goes, I'd be worried the espresso would fade. Still, I wouldn't mind finding out. I'd easily recommend this to friends. A fantastic beer in the style that sets itself apart with unique characteristics; you have to bring a lot to the table to compete in today's imperial stout market, and this one provides. Fairly priced at $9.99; I'd pay more. Give this one a go and you won't be disappointed.

A-

Probably drinks best from a snifter; my goblet did alright though. Also a teku would suit it nicely I imagine.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 06:10:32 | More by kojevergas

hctap00

Maryland

4.03/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle on 12/22/11. A little over a year old.

Near pitch black. Solid reddish-brown head, nearly an inch thick, which is impressive considering I poured into a red wine glass. Decent retention.

Aroma was initially very chocolate heavy, with some roasted coffee aromas and a slight hop presence. As the beer warmed, chocolate faded and the vanilla sweetness emerged. Coffee remained but vanilla was most noticeable.

Taste was similar to the smell in that the vanilla, oak character asserted itself as the beer warmed. The coffee flavor is very strong, and I like a fair amount of coffee in my stouts. Almost too much. Very bitter, but still a hearty, roasted flavor. Did not get too much chocolate, but there was just enough malt presence and sweetness to counter the coffee. After about half the bottle, the vanilla kicked in. Tasty, but a bit too sweet I think. It quickly becomes a very rich beer. Coffee is still there, but it does not blend terribly well with the sweetness.

Maybe a tad thin on the mouthfeel. Not very carbonated, which for me is a plus.

Overall, a very interesting beer and I like what Great Divide did with this one. I would highly recommend splitting this with someone. I am now regretting my decision to kill a bomber by myself. It becomes a bit of a chore by the end with the sweetness. I would like to see more balance of all the flavors. Each on their own is great, but a bit too intense. Worth a purchase for sure.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 05:14:11 | More by hctap00

richj1970

Alabama

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from bomber...

A: Pitch black with nice three finger dark tan head that hangs around for a bit. Nice lacing.

S: Roasted malts, coffee, bitter chocolate and maybe some burned toast.

T: Big flavors. Coffee tones up front mixed with roasted malts, and sweet caramels. Some bitter chocolate and bread tastes in the back. Lots to enjoy here.

M: Nicely carbonated. Thick in a good way. Very enjoyable.

O: Very nice beer. It's easy to drink this one down quick and wonder where it went...

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 23:42:57 | More by richj1970

lovindahops

New York

3.95/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A- espresso oak pours a mocha opaque body with good creamy head of foam that lingers on the edges

S- creamy vanilla, oak, cocoa nibs, and some coffee with massive cream and sugar

T- so creamy with the dark cocoa and chocolate flavor. Good vanilla and oak flavors slides through

M- smooth and creamy as it gets

O- nice brew from great divide. Put some more coffee in this and I'll buy a case

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 17:30:55 | More by lovindahops

KajII

North Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

[Suggested Glassware: Snifter]

The pour was a deep dark pitch black with an average (1-2 finger) medium brown frothy head that slowly receded, eventually puddling with very good sheets of streaky lacing.

The aroma was robustly bold of a dark roasted malt, light resin hops and a strong leathery yeast with notes of molasses, baker’s chocolate, dark roasted coffee, a bit of oak, a touch of vanilla and a very mild alcohol tinge.

The taste was lightly sweet and a tad bitter with a good malty feel and notes of bitter chocolate and molasses early on, progressing into a slightly bitterer taste with a strong espresso flavor with a mild woody alcohol finish. The flavor lingered for a good long while after the swallow, with a nice espresso mocha taste left behind to settle on the taste buds.

Mouthfeel was on the high side of full in body with a dry, oily texture and a solid medium carbonation.

Overall can I say "WOW", this is one tasty fulfilling brew. It possesses tons of flavor, a bold roastiness and an awesome drinkability and on top of that does a great job concealing the high ABV. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves dark beer, give this one a try it is truly exceptional...

http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 16:59:31 | More by KajII

spoony

Colorado

4.38/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From a 22 oz bottle (bottled on January 11, 2012) into a snifter.

A-The brew is, uh, espresso brown. Almost black, and you can't see any light through it. The head is pretty dark brown, too. There is about one finger of foam that sort-of percolates as the beer settles. I saw just a few tiny bubbles on the glass.

S-The smell started out like milk chocolate and caramel, with a touch of oak and vanilla. As the brew climbed toward room temperature, the coffee came on stronger. There was just the slightest whiff of sweet alcohol, as well.

T-The espresso/coffee flavor is quite apparent even though this bottle is nearly a year old. For an espresso brew, the flavor is only mildly bitter. There is also some of that milk chocolate and a nice, smooth oat flavor. Very little in the way of hops, but you do get just a touch of hoppy bite on the finish.

M-Definitely on the heavy side, but not as oily as some imperials. The feel is creamy and there is just enough carbonation to keep things alive and moving on your palate.

O-I enjoyed this imperial stout quite a bit. I typically favor sweeter stouts, but the bitterness on this Yeti was kept in check (perhaps by the age on the bottle?). The coffee flavors really came through in a pleasing way without tasting fake. Mouthfeel was balanced and all of the flavors really combined well.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 02:48:01 | More by spoony

ummswimmin

New Jersey

4.23/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I had this beer during the power outage. I new the heavier beers like this one would hold up really well at room temperature (or close to it). My review is taken from notes.

I poured this beer into a snifter glass, and it is really black. I can't even see through it with my headlamp. You gotta love the dark beer on a very dark night.

This beer smells amazing. You get a ton of coffee. I love the espresso presence. The oak even comes out in the background. There is lots of roast.

The taste is almost as good as the smell. You continue to get lots of roast coffee. I like the chocolate in the background.

This is really a delicious beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 01:32:41 | More by ummswimmin