Verdi Imperial Stout - Birrificio Del Ducato

vacax

California

4.28/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours between black and ruby brown, light brown head with a few arcs of lacing. Aroma is of milk, strangely, not lactose but milk, cocoa, umami, sugary espresso, and unsweetened cocoa. Tastes of dark malts, prunes, coffee, cookie, slight spice from the chiles, finish has cookielike malts, acidity, bready yeast, and licorice. Quite complex, I kept going back to break down the flavors again in my mind. Body is full, silky and oily, as a good stout should be. One of the best Italian craft beers I have yet to have.

Not sure why this is listed as a Foreign/Export Stout when the name clearly says Imperial Stout. It is a bit on the lower side, but it is actually pretty impressive that it is so rich for something with a relatively low ABV. The complexity and body are typically something I would expect from a higher alcohol beer. This is one Italian craft beer I would recommend trying, quite enjoyable.

Serving type: on-tap

05-08-2010 19:24:56 | More by vacax

InspectorBob

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -18.5%

05-16-2013 21:18:09 | More by InspectorBob

ADTaber

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +0.3%

05-13-2013 23:22:05 | More by ADTaber

IdrinkGas

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +0.3%

03-19-2013 01:33:08 | More by IdrinkGas

Belgianbeerbunny

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -6%

03-07-2013 19:53:48 | More by Belgianbeerbunny

madnismo

Florida

4/5  rDev +0.3%

03-06-2013 01:12:37 | More by madnismo

jzeilinger

Pennsylvania

3.91/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A - Pours opaque pitch black with a frothy, creamy toffee colored head, the not much retention when the glass is swirled and the foam settles almost immediately back in the beer.

S - Cocoa, dark chocolate, light coffee beans, and some hot peppers.

T - Dark roasted malt, dark chocolate bitterness, a little bit of dark fruit is buried way down there and there's a noticeable chile pepper finish on the end the warms the back of the throat and has a mild burn.

M - Thick and full bodied, a little frothy and creamy, and some roasted malt and a lingering chile pepper burn at the end. The warming makes the saliva coagulate on thye tongue.

O - The pepper side of this stout makes it interesting, otherwise, without it, even though a solid beer, it wouldn't be as exciting.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 20:57:27 | More by jzeilinger

cvm4

Mississippi

3.9/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours pretty black, two finger tan head with great lacing & retention.

S - Roasted malts, bitter coffee, dark coffee and a touch of licorice.

T - Semi sweet chocolate with a bit of vanilla. Of course roasted malts are present. And the chili peppers are definitely present in the background. O wouldn't have picked that up if not for reading the other reviews.

M - Not as thick as I'd like. Pretty high carbonation for a stout.

O - Interesting brew here and glad I got to try it.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 03:33:51 | More by cvm4

oldp0rt

Quebec (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -12.3%

02-24-2013 23:41:48 | More by oldp0rt

bigred89

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +6.5%

02-18-2013 11:04:36 | More by bigred89

dtx00

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -6%

02-09-2013 04:35:24 | More by dtx00

BartMcStout

Belgium

3.5/5  rDev -12.3%

02-05-2013 12:55:02 | More by BartMcStout

stcules

Italy

3.95/5  rDev -1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Near black, a lot of foam, brown, not too beautiful.
In the smell a good toasted note, coffe and chocolate in evidence. Good chili note.
Very smooth and soft in the mouth, rounding chocolate, some toasted, coffee and chili. Intriguing.
Smooth, pleasant ad very drinkable for the style.
Average body, intriguing spiciness, and a good aftertaste. With a pleasant warming.
Good done!.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 20:29:21 | More by stcules

Greywulfken

New York

4.43/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

A: center pour into a snifter: obsidian pour yields opaque black beer with a fat firm chocolate mousse head

S: mellow aromas of roasty chocolate malt and espresso

T: I have to temper my enthusiasm here, because this beer is really good - the tastes and mouthfeel are a nice one-two combination - the flavors are of super mellow espresso, semisweet chocolate and hints of chili spice. Very drinkable - no hint of the 8.2 abv.

M: really creeps close to ideal - creamy smooth and easy-drinking, but the chili throws in sparks of tingliness that tantalize the tongue - leaves a little sting behind, perfectly contrasting this extremely creamy beer

O: no date on the bottle, but I've seen these sitting in the store for at least a couple of years, so they are at least that well-aged - a delightful first, recommended for stout and porter fans, chili beer fans, and advocates of good beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 02:06:26 | More by Greywulfken

NickyDee21

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -12.3%

01-25-2013 16:56:12 | More by NickyDee21

Jspriest

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +12.8%

01-16-2013 23:50:00 | More by Jspriest

uturn

Florida

4/5  rDev +0.3%

01-03-2013 22:25:29 | More by uturn

Kasie

3.25/5  rDev -18.5%

12-23-2012 19:46:48 | More by Kasie

pin

Australia

4/5  rDev +0.3%

12-01-2012 04:25:56 | More by pin

TMoney2591

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served in a Bruery snifter.

Big thanks to cbeer88 for this bottle!

Reviewed blind as part of Blind BIF 7. This stuf pours a straight obsidian topped by a finger of staunch tan foam. The nose comprises cocoa, mild roasted malts, dark fruits in a Port vein, molasses, and a whisper of cinnamon. The taste brings in more of the same, though the cocoa is now more of a dark chocolate character, the Port-like fruit is now a darker berry-style thing, and some coffee makes an appearance. In addition, towards the finish, a lightly lingering pepper heat comes into play, but it remains fairly subtle for me until things warm up a bit. The body is a strong medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a lightly chewy feel. Overall, a damn nice stout, one that nails complexity without drowning your tongue in confusion. Good times, indeed.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2012 14:51:09 | More by TMoney2591

CrazyDavros

Australia

4.05/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours black with a large tan head.
Nose shows cocoa, earthy coffee and chocolate syrup along with roasted malt underneath. Pretty delightful.
Similar rich flavours, lovely cocoa notes and roasted coffee. Perhaps a bit too sweet.
Nice creamy feel.

Serving type: on-tap

10-18-2012 05:54:01 | More by CrazyDavros

pixieskid

France

3.75/5  rDev -6%

10-03-2012 10:19:15 | More by pixieskid

safaricook

Netherlands

3.25/5  rDev -18.5%

09-30-2012 18:21:02 | More by safaricook

samEBC

Belgium

4/5  rDev +0.3%

09-30-2012 11:48:14 | More by samEBC

Kreizler

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +12.8%

09-24-2012 22:49:08 | More by Kreizler