Verdi Imperial Stout - Birrificio Del Ducato

mcann2pu

Delaware

3.95/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: very dark black with a thin tan head swelling up in some areas.

Smell: diffidently a dark chocolate malt aroma is the most powerful smell,

Taste: the first thing I got was a good dark malt, after a fair number of simps the chili came through, this como worked well for this beer.

Mouthfeel: complex in my opinion, a little oily and light-ish, a little heavy and dark, very interesting and pleasant overall.

Drinkability: it's a very drinkable beer, however, if your not expecting the chili it will sneak up on you a bit.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2010 21:20:22 | More by mcann2pu

rhoadsrage

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(Served in a snifter)
A- This beer pours a jet black body with a creamy tan head and a some floating lumps bumping against the glass then hiding back in the body. There are a few tiny bubbles stuck to the base of the glass.
S- This beer has a soft chocolate malt aroma with a dry roasted barley note to follow. Otherwise the aroma is pretty clean. There is a dark nougat and raw grain aroma that grows as the beer opens up.
T- The cream dark malt flavor is soft with a bigger roasted bitterness in the finish that has some capsicum heat to it. The heat grows and the bitterness fades as the beer opens up and the malt flavor starts to fade a bit aswell.
M- This beer has a medium mouthfeel with no alcohol heat and a gentle fizz in the finish. There is a very light chili heat in the finish but it doesn't linker.
D- This beer has soft flavors with a big finish that could use a bit more malt support. The heat is subtle but all burn and not much chili flavor. My mouth wasn't hot but my lips started to burn just a bit after the last few sips.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2010 17:41:04 | More by rhoadsrage

ThreeWiseMen

California

4.1/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle purchased at Healthy Spirits in San Francisco, CA. I don't see a bottle date anywhere.

Poured into a 7oz. snifter.

Appearance: Pour yielded a tall, thick, cake-like layer of brown foam. Beautiful! Body is pitch black and muddy; looks very thick. The huge (initial) head takes awhile to calm down, but it eventually settles as a creamy film with thick outer ring (and it maintains its gorgeous brown color). Thick, sticky lacing. No faults here.

Smell: Roasted barley, oats, dark chocolate, and a touch of "hot chili." Chili, caramel, and barbecue sauce pick up steam as the beer warms. With time, leafy greens and milk chocolate also emerge. I wasn't too wowed by the aroma at first, but it really comes to life once it warms. I dig.

Taste: Mocha, dark chocolate, oats, and "hot chili." I absolutely love when brewers and chocolatiers combine dark chocolate and spicy peppers. Mmmmm... so good! The chili oils really cling to the palate, making each sip spicier than the last. In this instance, the chili peppers actually outshine the roasted malts and hops in the aftertaste. That's cool with me - I love spice - but I'd actually prefer more balance between beer and chili. Still very good.

Mouthfeel: Cool, creamy, and malty upfront; spicy, oily, warm, and dry in the back. Soft carbonation adds a pleasant, massaging aspect. I really like the transition - it's very unique.

Drinkability: A bit too much heat. It's not that I couldn't handle it, but the pepper drowned out the other flavors and really inhibited my taste buds. Will I buy this again? Maybe. It was definitely a fun experience. If you're a fan of chili-infused stouts, then this one's a must! If you're sensitive to spice, you might wanna pass.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2010 00:41:13 | More by ThreeWiseMen

jrallen34

Illinois

4.53/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Rush to Map Room to try this bottle.

WOW, I learned 2 things tonight. 1. finally found an oustanding Italian beer, and 2. there is chili stout out there that is a poor mans Hunahphu... A black pour with a medium tan head, good retention and lacing...The aroma starts off sweet as mostly just chocolate. As it warms it really evolves bringing out some really nice pungent chili. It really is balanced and goes back and forth from chocolate to chili, each whiff is something new...The taste is awesome. Chocolate sweetness with a little chili kick at the end. This not ony has the flavors of chili but doesn't actually bring the heat. The heat is felt especially on the feel, after a bottle my mouth is tingling. This is just great all around.

Rush out and try to find this beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2010 16:46:30 | More by jrallen34

drpimento

Wisconsin

4.65/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Yummm-OOO!!! Right up there with the very best Italian brews. Poured with a huge, brown, foamy, frothy, thick, sudsy head that lasts a long time, and lots of lace. Color is as black as my heart and just as opaque too. Aroma is malt, roast, coffee, cocoa, bare hint of chili pepper, and hint of dark, ripe fruit. Flavor is the same with the chili pepper coming out briefly at the end and then fading again. Body is mouth filling and carbonation is perfect for the style. Finish is like flavor. Delicious beer. I want more!! and I don't have any. wah.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2010 00:18:59 | More by drpimento

Perrumpo

Maryland

4.53/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I had this on tap at Max's during their Italian Fest. One of my favorites.

A - Black in appearance with a coffee-colored head.

S - about what you would expect from a stout with some coffee and cocoa aromas. Malty.

T - I love this beer. It's comparable to Dogfish Head's Indian Brown Ale, but the chili peppers add even more complexity. You can taste the rich malts, coffee, chocolate, and the cili adds a smokey pepper flavor without being spicy. You can't even tell it's 8.2% (or that's what Max's said).

M - smooth, rich mouthfeel. The chili peppers do not take away from the smoothness.

D - High drinkability for an imperial stout. Could've had a lot more of it.

Serving type: on-tap

07-25-2010 16:40:52 | More by Perrumpo

Dubber55

New York

4.2/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pitch black with 1/2 finger of mocha colored head. A little lacing

Smells a little like coffee, some chocolate, and roasted malt.

Intially I taste mostly coffee, chocolate, and roasted malts. The finish is roasty,hoppy, and then at the very end, spicy. The hot chilis add another dimension to this beer. Im diggin it.

Mouthfeel is thick, chewy, and creamy. Medium carbonation. Appropriate for the style.

Drinkability is good. The hot chilis definitely make this beer more interesting than your run of the mill stout. However, this beer is not worth the $10 I paid for the bottle.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2010 00:25:59 | More by Dubber55

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

4.4/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle: Poured a deep pitch-black color stout with a large foamy head with deep dirty brown color head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of deep roasted malt with coffee notes. Taste has also loads of character with great roasted notes and some deep coffee notes with some dry black chocolate notes also noticeable. Body is quite full with great smooth texture with great carbonation and no apparent alcohol. Very well done with load of character though still easily drinkable. Nice mix between a cappuccino and an imperial stout.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2010 02:10:46 | More by Phyl21ca

jamie2dope

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I must admit that I bought this beer simply because I liked the shape of the bottle. Anyway, it comes out completely black, with a couple fingers of tan heading. The nose is of dark chocolate, chillies, and not much else. The chillies are not as much pronounced in the flavor, more aiding in the path of the dark chocolate. Body is medium to heavy, and luckily very drinkable. I tried Cigar City Hunahpu recently, and this is definitely the closest thing I have found to it. They really use the chillies to a point where they compliment the chocolate, and do not overwhelm at all. Verdi is an excellent stout that I recommend completely.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2010 02:13:31 | More by jamie2dope

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

Halcyondays

California

4.15/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Beachwood BBQ,

A: Pours a dark ruby brown, almost black with a mild head, no lace, good colour.

S: Dark roasted malt with some sweet milk chocolate in the finish.

T: Coffee all the way on the first taste. Stays coffee-like throughout the duration with some great dark malt/dark chocolate flavour. The chiles are minor and don't really come out until the finish.

M: Full-bodied, smooth, light capsaicin heat on the back end.

D: This is a delicious imperial stout, I'm quite impressed.

Serving type: on-tap

05-06-2010 23:26:47 | More by Halcyondays

illidurit

California

3.78/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Raddest possible bottle pours a clear dark brown with a thin light-beige head. Earthy milk chocolatey aromas, roasted malts, licorice, not much pepper in the nose. Flavor is dark chocolate with a spicy chipotle-like finish. The heat is mild but respectable. A little thin-bodied and oddly clean on the finish. I guess I can't expect a huge monster stout with 7-8% alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2010 10:10:56 | More by illidurit

ATPete

New Jersey

4.2/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Unique bottle.

Verdi Imperial Stout pours a very deep brown color with a small brown head. Coffee beans, vanilla and chocolate boom from the nose. Roasty and solid all the way through the quaff, some light alcohol heat and a slow creeping spiciness from the chilies very late on the finish. Awesome. I loved this one, must try from fans of imperial stouts and chili peppers. The food pairings with this beer are endless.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2010 19:02:20 | More by ATPete

MisterClean

California

4.35/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tasted at de la rosa in SF at beer week.

A - Pours black with 3 fingers of mocha head. Dissipates slow, really pretty lacing.

S/T - Light roast coffee, hefty wafts of rich semi-sweet chocolate, and light bittering hops.

M - Full-bodied, well-balanced, sweet, wth some light alcohol on the end. Still, fairly smooth.

D - Good overall. Sessionable at 7.5%

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2010 03:22:51 | More by MisterClean

glid02

Georgia

4.03/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Brick Store.

Pours one shade from black with a two-finger brown head. The head recedes into a wispy layer on top leaving light lacing.

Smells of dark chocolate and roasted malts mostly with hints of earthy peppers. The pepper notes are very slight and I'm not sure I'd recognize it unless I knew it was an ingredient.

Tastes good. As with the smell dark and mildly bitter chocolate and roasted malt flavors dominate. Midway through the sip the peppers poke their heads out for a bit of earthiness before fading into the background before re-emerging for a bit of heat in the finish. The ending is solidly bitter.

Mouthfeel is very good. It's got a very smooth thickness with moderate carbonation.

Drinkability is good. I finished my glass and could have another without a problem.

Overall this was a tasty beer however I was hoping for a bit more influence from the peppers. Still, well worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

12-29-2009 06:09:39 | More by glid02

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - nice pour, black with a nice looking mocha head. Good resilience to boot.

Aroma - decent roasty character, but not all that impressive.

Taste - nice roasty flavor, good rich maltiness without a lot of sweet. The swallow has a little bite, a little heat to it, kind of peppery. Ahh, a stout brewed with hot chili, so says the back label. Makes sense now. A warm finish on a few fronts, a little malt roast coming through on the finish.

Mouthfeel - super smooth and silky. Low carbonation and a big body. Great.

Drinkability - a fine chili stout. Great for a cool night outside by the fire.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2009 04:06:22 | More by brewdlyhooked13

Gyle41386

South Carolina

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

Man, what an awesome bottle. Thanks, chemmie!

Poured from an 11.2 oz bottle into a pint glass. Pours a dark brown/black color with a nice brown head. Good head retention, not much lacing.

Smoky aroma of roasted barley, ground coffee beans, dark chocolate, and peppers. I like all of the elements of the nose, but all in all, it's a little weaker than I'd like.

Luckily, the flavor is a bit stronger than the aroma. There are some good sweet and smoky elements, and there's some spicy heat in the dry finish. Little chili burn in the back of the throat. Some interesting flavors going on here.

Smooth, rich drinker. The alcohol is never noticeable. Medium bodied, appropriate carbonation. Easy drinker, and a really interesting beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2009 03:47:36 | More by Gyle41386

Proteus93

Virginia

4.2/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Essentially black, with a little hint of brown around the edges... a little more cola-coloured, really, with a sandy brown head that pulls back to leave a little collar of lace that lasts throughout. Lacing is quite minimal, but there are little spots of it here and there.

S + T: Chocolate is quite heavy, both on the nose and in flavour. There is a cookie-like taste that I pick up on, kind of reminding me of an experience had with Terrapin's Wake'n'Bake once upon a time. There appears to be a very soft smokiness in the aroma which I do not detect so much on the palate. Rather sweet, really... the chocolate notes aren't really the standard unsweetened dark chocolate, but rather like a chocolate chip or something a little lighter. There's a smooth scent of malts floating around, as well, which make for a nice touch. I had forgotten that this beer was brewed with chilis until I started to note the mouthfeel and noticed the little kick right on the finish. It doesn't really stand out at all, and most certainly not until it has some time to breathe and warm to an appropriate temperature. Once it comes out, though, it's a very nice touch. The more it sits, the more notable that becomes.

M + D: Smooth and somewhat creamy feeling, followed by just a little bit of a spicy kick as it finishes. Nothing intense... it's modest and pleasant. Quite a tasty stout, really, and nothing out the roof in terms of alcohol - at least as far as big stouts go. An enjoyable beer that I would look forward to again.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2009 02:05:30 | More by Proteus93

Stunner97

New Jersey

4.18/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This is overall a very nice example of the imperial stout. An example of some of the better beers coming more and more out of Italy to the usa, one problem though with this beer is was extremely over priced. Definitely a very beautiful flavored stout but way way not worth price. Worth a try but not a life changer

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2009 04:44:42 | More by Stunner97

thryn

Florida

3.83/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Imperial stout with chiles? Yes, please!

It's a lovely black color with a small, creamy latte-colored head that fades to a film on top and a slight ring of foam around the edge. Some serious floaties bring it down, though.

It smells like a great RIS, but I'm not getting the chiles. Very roasty coffee and caramel is prominent, with a hint of lactose sweetness.

This is quite good. It has all the RIS character I picked up in the nose, with a tingle of chiles adding depth. Like a spicy chocolate bar, this is the kind of thing one either likes or does not. Roasty coffee flavor is first on the palate, then the warmth of the chiles, then a huge chocolate flavor with some cream character to it. A smidge too sweet at the end.

A deep, rich, heavy body, but a surprisingly clean finish. The chiles are a bit confusing -- I can't tell if there's much carbonation or if the tingle is all from the spice.

This is fairly drinkable for the style.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2009 06:43:25 | More by thryn

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.55/5  rDev -11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Mondiale 2009. A good aroma, bitter, even astringent. Moderate off-white head though lacey, bitter from coffee anmd additives, and a coffee story. Expresso, needs more balance. Interesting beer experiemnt, though not great RIS for my money. Not very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2009 21:48:19 | More by northyorksammy

scruffwhor

Illinois

3.55/5  rDev -11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours an oily jet black with a quick tan ring of foam. The aroma is of roasted malts, black coffee, and some faint chilis... smoked. The flavor starts wih some smooth roasted malts and chalk yeast. The hops are earthy and herbal, smokey chilis. Very smooth roasted malts, but some hot alcohol too that lingers from the middle all the way to the finish. Very interesting sipper.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2009 22:45:01 | More by scruffwhor

spratmi

Maryland

3.85/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Poured a deep dark black color with a rich one finger head that maintained a foamy but sparse lacing.
S: Noted the sweetness of caramel and chocolate malt along with notes of coffee. There was a faint hint of alcohol and pepper in the background.
T: Upon the initial tasting I noted the sweetness of chocolate and caramel with the background accent of coffee. The chili heat built slightly after several sips but never became overpowering.
M: This beer was fairly thin bodied with light carbonation and a dry finish.
D: I had no trouble finishing one and found this beer to be fairly drinkable. I enjoyed the complex flavors and the light chili kick at the end.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2009 04:15:57 | More by spratmi

tpd975

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Redlight Redlight.

A: Pours a nice dark black shade with a creamy mocha head. Spotty lace.

S: Light roast up front with notes of earthy peppers and a bit of chocolate.

T: A bit of salty soy at the start which I could do without. It is followed up by a touch of dark fruit and roasted chilis. Roasted malt and chocolate linger in middle to finish. A slight burn from the chilis appears as almost an after thought.

M: Medium in body, on the lighter side for the style.

D: A small snifter is the perfect serving.

Serving type: on-tap

05-17-2009 23:42:08 | More by tpd975

flexabull

California

3.68/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at O'Brien's in SD. I am assuming they had a night featuring this breweries beers recently. I had to try it when I saw the description of an "Imperial Stout with Chili Peppers from Italy".

Pours a dark flat black color with a nice lasting tan head.

Aromas are on the lighter side. Some chocolate, soy sauce, other sweetness, and a little bit funky... almost smells like dog food. I know my description is odd, but that's what I smelled, and it really wasn't that bad smelling.

Taste is of light bakers chocolate, a bit bitter with pine and mineral hoppy notes. The chilis are there, but provide only a small spiciness. On the finish there is a touch of soy, and a smokey oak flavor.

Mouthfeel is ok, a little prickly, and kind of light for the style.

Drinkability is not bad. An interesting beer that is kind of all over the place when it comes to smell and taste. But it is worth trying, I just don't think I'd want more than one.

Serving type: on-tap

04-23-2009 04:44:25 | More by flexabull