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Serpent's Stout
The Lost Abbey
- From:
- The Lost Abbey
- California, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
Ranked #933 - ABV:
- 11%
- Score:
- 94
Ranked #2,277 - Avg:
- 4.23 | pDev: 8.27%
- Reviews:
- 616
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jan 05, 2024
- Added:
- Jun 10, 2007
- Wants:
- 328
- Gots:
- 448
The history of the bible and religion is indeed the struggle of good vs. evil. Our Serpent’s Stout recognizes the evil of the dark side that we all struggle with.This is a massively thick and opaque beer that begs the saints to join the sinners in their path to a black existence.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BEERchitect:
Reviewed by BEERchitect from Kentucky
4.18/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
4.18/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Substantially malty and chocked full of roasted grain flavor- The Lost Abbey continues to churn out world class beer after world class beer. Imperial Stout: check!
Opening with a deeply hued bark-brown color, the beer is absolutely opaque but not because of haze. In fact, the beer carries an onyx-like sheen; rather the inability for light to pass seems because of the sheer density of roasted malts. An abundance of carbonation fuels a huge froathy tan head and laces with intermitten patterns of foam on the glass. The beer delivers everything that's expected from stouts- at least to the eye.
Strong aromas of roasted grain hinges on burnt scent of grain, but releases just in time for the moderate scent of burnt caramel instead. Malted milk, rummy alcohol, cherry-like esters, and nail polish remover are just a hint of elements that hide beneath the blanket espresso, cocoa powder, walnut, grass and charred woods.
Flavors follow similarly with the bulk of the emphasis on espresso, wood fired malts and woods, bitter cocoa, walnut, slightly scorched toffee, malted milk, and a slight grassy taste that morphs evenly into mild resin bitterness in finish. Strong alcohols are somewhat distracting with the flavor of acetone and rumy sweetness.
Full bodied, but not as insane as many newer Imperial Stouts. Instead Serpent's relies on a firm malty early texture that's lifted by the airy carbonation and high attenuation- the beer seems to lift off of the tongue with ease in comparison to it's fullness. Creaminess subsides at mid palte and ushers in a malty-dry finish of acrid roasted grains, coffee grounds, and mild powdery ash.
Though quite dry and efforvescent, the lack of sweetness here allows the brunt of alcohol and burnt grain to reveal the rougher edges that cause slight difficulty in drinkability although the flavor profile sings praises. Unfortunately, heartburn inducing acids limit this beers ease of enjoyment.
Dec 28, 2011Opening with a deeply hued bark-brown color, the beer is absolutely opaque but not because of haze. In fact, the beer carries an onyx-like sheen; rather the inability for light to pass seems because of the sheer density of roasted malts. An abundance of carbonation fuels a huge froathy tan head and laces with intermitten patterns of foam on the glass. The beer delivers everything that's expected from stouts- at least to the eye.
Strong aromas of roasted grain hinges on burnt scent of grain, but releases just in time for the moderate scent of burnt caramel instead. Malted milk, rummy alcohol, cherry-like esters, and nail polish remover are just a hint of elements that hide beneath the blanket espresso, cocoa powder, walnut, grass and charred woods.
Flavors follow similarly with the bulk of the emphasis on espresso, wood fired malts and woods, bitter cocoa, walnut, slightly scorched toffee, malted milk, and a slight grassy taste that morphs evenly into mild resin bitterness in finish. Strong alcohols are somewhat distracting with the flavor of acetone and rumy sweetness.
Full bodied, but not as insane as many newer Imperial Stouts. Instead Serpent's relies on a firm malty early texture that's lifted by the airy carbonation and high attenuation- the beer seems to lift off of the tongue with ease in comparison to it's fullness. Creaminess subsides at mid palte and ushers in a malty-dry finish of acrid roasted grains, coffee grounds, and mild powdery ash.
Though quite dry and efforvescent, the lack of sweetness here allows the brunt of alcohol and burnt grain to reveal the rougher edges that cause slight difficulty in drinkability although the flavor profile sings praises. Unfortunately, heartburn inducing acids limit this beers ease of enjoyment.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Christianriveraaa
4.02/5 rDev -5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.02/5 rDev -5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
L: Jet black pour from a 1 pint 9 fl oz bottle into a sniffer - thick motor oil appearance. foam appeared (approx 1 fingers length). Not much lacing left behind as it dissolves.
S: Aromas of dark malt, molasses, earthy spices, chocolate, slight vanilla along with toffee.
T: Just like the smell indicated, big on the sweet dark malts for this. Getting some chocolate, a bit of cola taste in the mix, with some molasses in there. slight coffee as well in this.
F: Heavy bodied, a good sipper. Not the easiest to drink but for the right taste buds it can be.
O: I enjoyed this stout, I personally love my stouts to be more chocolate forward, less malty, but this one is excellent in it's own ways. Definitely worth the try.
O:
Feb 11, 2023S: Aromas of dark malt, molasses, earthy spices, chocolate, slight vanilla along with toffee.
T: Just like the smell indicated, big on the sweet dark malts for this. Getting some chocolate, a bit of cola taste in the mix, with some molasses in there. slight coffee as well in this.
F: Heavy bodied, a good sipper. Not the easiest to drink but for the right taste buds it can be.
O: I enjoyed this stout, I personally love my stouts to be more chocolate forward, less malty, but this one is excellent in it's own ways. Definitely worth the try.
O:
Reviewed by RaulMondesi from California
4/5 rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
You breathe, I breathe - there is no god that has a grander breath. We exist as humans - as humans… Living just to live - but I also hope living for some greater good. Not me vs you. And not you vs me. Just people. As people. And hell…can’t we just be?
Sep 11, 2022Reviewed by NCSapiens from Indiana
4.36/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.36/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Fantastic stout. Heavy roasted malts is the predominant flavor, with just enough chocolate to round it out. Maybe a hint of coffee and cola. If you are looking for a stout on the toasty, charred spectrum, this is fantastic.
Aug 14, 2021Reviewed by hopsputin from New Jersey
4.44/5 rDev +5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.44/5 rDev +5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
a: silky, dark jet black color. no light penetrates. thin tan head that is no more than a film (as you'd expect from the abv)
s: loads of rich roasted malts. milk and dark chocolate. sweet licorice, molasses, toffee. a hint of vanilla and oak. earthy leather and a hint of cola. a nice mild touch of dark fruit and fig sweetness at the end. rich, decadent, and complex aroma
t: roasted malts, sweet cola, and dark chocolate. a mild hop bitterness asserts itself after that, as well as a little bit of bitterness from the roast. milk chocolate and cocoa powder follow that. molasses and faint dark fruits. leather and a little tobacco hiding out in here too.
m: full mouthfeel with moderate carbonation
o: absolutely awesome Imperial Stout. rich, complex, yet very easy to drink for 11%. this beer is an absolute treat for sure
Mar 06, 2021s: loads of rich roasted malts. milk and dark chocolate. sweet licorice, molasses, toffee. a hint of vanilla and oak. earthy leather and a hint of cola. a nice mild touch of dark fruit and fig sweetness at the end. rich, decadent, and complex aroma
t: roasted malts, sweet cola, and dark chocolate. a mild hop bitterness asserts itself after that, as well as a little bit of bitterness from the roast. milk chocolate and cocoa powder follow that. molasses and faint dark fruits. leather and a little tobacco hiding out in here too.
m: full mouthfeel with moderate carbonation
o: absolutely awesome Imperial Stout. rich, complex, yet very easy to drink for 11%. this beer is an absolute treat for sure
Serpent's Stout from The Lost Abbey
Beer rating:
94 out of
100 with
1897 ratings
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