Pumpkin Imperial Spruce Stout - Rock Art Brewery

CHADMC3

Connecticut

3.93/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours an opaque black body beneath the foamy, mocha head that very slowly dissolves leaving a thick lacing clinging to the glass.

The visual versus the aroma confuses the senses a bit. Upon first examination, the aroma is of roasted malt traditional of an Imperial Stout. Upon closer review, there is a woody spice to this beer from the spruce, and then the pumpkin comes out a bit too.

After the roasted malt coats the palate, the pumpkin is quite apparent. Not only is the pumpkin flesh easy to decipher, but the woody notes from the spruce could also seem similar to pumpkin seeds or even stem. The wood and spice aspects are more prevalent mid-palate while the pumpkin flesh highlights the finish.

Medium in body (light for an Imperial Stout) with medium carbonation and fairly smooth finish.

This is a tough beer to evaluate. I think I can see what Rock Art was going for and they did a pretty good job. The blend of roasted malt, wood, and spice are nice in the aroma and the pumpkin flesh does well with the malt in the flavor. If anything, it could be a bit fuller in body. A craft beer brain and senses are not used to this type of beer with this blend of qualities. One could argue the brewer got a bit too crazy, or that given what they chose to work with, got it just right.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2011 02:01:00 | More by CHADMC3

twenty5

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -9.7%

05-15-2013 17:42:34 | More by twenty5

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

05-15-2013 04:40:10 | More by Kelp

jrempel

Quebec (Canada)

3/5  rDev -16.7%

04-28-2013 03:41:04 | More by jrempel

SupremePie

Vermont

3.75/5  rDev +4.2%

03-19-2013 05:15:17 | More by SupremePie

chippo33

Vermont

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

03-13-2013 22:50:27 | More by chippo33

duracell

Quebec (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

02-28-2013 19:45:38 | More by duracell

Gavage

New Jersey

3.54/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: pours a dark brown almost black color with a 2" head that falls to a thick surface foam.

Smell: definite earthy and woodsy aroma here.

Taste: nice roasted malt profile with a big earthy tone. The spruce is definitely noticeable but not overpowering. Some pumpkin spice is there but very soft. Alcohol is slightly noticeable.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. Lightly crisp to start, smoother at the finish. Long lasting earthy and woody aftertaste.

Overall: decent fall / winter time beer, but the pumpkin flavors were very mild.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 20:38:38 | More by Gavage

kwjd

Ontario (Canada)

3/5  rDev -16.7%

01-28-2013 04:03:21 | More by kwjd

prdstmnky

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

01-26-2013 15:39:28 | More by prdstmnky

Texasfan549

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

01-14-2013 17:50:40 | More by Texasfan549

kjkinsey

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

01-12-2013 20:07:08 | More by kjkinsey

nafredet1

Vermont

3/5  rDev -16.7%

01-02-2013 19:02:25 | More by nafredet1

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

3.03/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Thanks to Bruce for the opportunity to try this one.
Pours a solid dark brown/black color with a smallish off white head that quickly dissipates to a cap. Smells of roast caramel and ash with a spicy earthy menthol aroma that I assume is spruce. This beer smells a bit oxidized or maybe that's a mix of spruce and pumpkin. The flavor is a bit spicy and roasty. Herbal spicy menthol hits up front followed by a roasty caramel and toffee. This finishes with a long lingering bitterness that seems more intense than just hops. Medium body with a moderate level of carbonation and a roasty bitter mouthfeel. This one is certainly out of the box, but it really didn't work all that well for me. The pumpkin is almost non existent and the spruce adds a harsh bitterness that I really couldn't get into.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 04:07:49 | More by johnnnniee

BMart

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

11-28-2012 17:58:02 | More by BMart

Maseitz

Delaware

4/5  rDev +11.1%

11-26-2012 02:12:02 | More by Maseitz

rjvanston

Pennsylvania

2.75/5  rDev -23.6%

11-24-2012 01:45:13 | More by rjvanston

shockrocker65

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +18.1%

11-15-2012 02:07:36 | More by shockrocker65

Gehrig13

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

11-05-2012 03:36:55 | More by Gehrig13

IdrinkGas

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -16.7%

11-03-2012 05:08:33 | More by IdrinkGas

kangarooAdam59

Maine

3.9/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Into a pint glass (also had in a nonic, no change):

A: pitch black colored body that leaves a one finger mocha colored head that gently dies into the body, No carbonation is seen rising

S: spruce in front with a bit of sweet hops.

T: basically the same.

M: medium with nothing harsh on the tongue, nice and smooth with a nice creaminess coming out the more I taste this one.

O: this is a nice double stout. Though no pumpkin noted anywhere in the beer, I'm not bothered by that and would still have this one again.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 23:04:23 | More by kangarooAdam59

WreckingBrew

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +25%

11-02-2012 01:29:19 | More by WreckingBrew

BeerImmediately

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2010 vintage that's been chillin in the cellar until this Halloween.

Pours with a large, rocky/foamy tan head that sticks around for a long time. Great lacing.

Aromas contain quite a bit of the minty and spruce twang. Good milk chocolate-like malty sweetness, but dominated by the hops.. surprised this quality has held up so nicely over the years.

Flavors bring the stout, but it's cut so well by the spruce. It's not dissimilar to a peppermint stout I've had before. Rich mouthfeel, but not imperial stout rich. Quite drinkable.

Definitely not your typical impy stout, if that's what you're looking for... but if you've SEEN the label, you'll know better. This one really lives up to the unique qualities that it sets out to achieve.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 22:22:02 | More by BeerImmediately

seplo

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

10-30-2012 18:24:09 | More by seplo

JohnK17

Pennsylvania

2/5  rDev -44.4%

10-30-2012 15:14:16 | More by JohnK17