Lips Of Faith - Imperial Coffee Chocolate Stout - New Belgium Brewing

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.03/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Solid stygian blackness, beneath a gorgeous deep tan head, long lasting, creamy and luscious.

Aroma: chocolate first on the nose, sweetness aplenty, rich and lovely. Mocha delight. The glaze on a scrumptious chocolate donut. Coffee hasn't revealed itself yet. Very pleasing, nonetheless.

Taste: In the mouth, cocoa sensations resonate, with coffee notes rising up to greet them. This is delectable. Now we're dunking that chocolate-dripped cruller into our morning cup joe. Getting the best of all worlds. It's the most intense, the richest, the fullest, or the deepest, but it's tasty and drinkable, beside the high ABV. Fullish body, long, but not overly intense finish.

Alcohol isn't showing just yet, and, as noted before, there's not trace of "imperial stout" flavors, like dark fruits, char, dark rum, molasses, etc. Just chocolate, with coffee beans peeking in at the sides.

Someone asked me if this was a "Belgian-style" stout, and I replied, no, just regular, plus coffee, plus chocolate, plus imperial. But through their name and their past brews, people expect everything NBB makes to have a Belgian bent of some sort. Personally, I'd like to see more of this, especially now that they've embraced their hoppy nature, or formed one, or something.

No, this is not barrel-aged, or vanilla bean infused or whatever other gimmick we need to use these days. It's just a darned good beer. Really nice, and very flavorful.
What's wrong with that, I'd like to know, so here I go…again…
...

Serving type: on-tap

04-27-2013 08:04:55 | More by feloniousmonk

srandycarter

California

4.14/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A - Black, creamy head, lots of creamy lace.

S - Predominantly coffee, with a back bone of sweet malt.

T - NICE! Creamy, chocolate coffee flavors, melding nicely together.

M - Very creamy, good carb, good balance, pleasant coating on the palate.

D - Despite the ABV, could have a few.

Serving type: on-tap

03-30-2013 22:33:52 | More by srandycarter

Halcyondays

California

4.14/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

On-tap at Beachwood I,

A: Pours black with a medium dark tan head, some thick lace is left as the beer is drunk.

S: Heavy on the creamed coffee, fragrant, pleasing.

T: This beer has 2 distinct phases to it. Upfront it's all floral coffee an in-your-face with that flavour. In the finish it smooths out to a glorius dark chocolate flavour heavily reminiscent of brownies, very tasty.

M: Medium to full-bodied, rich, creamy and smooth.

O: A very good imperial stout. Nothing mind-blowing just a good adjunct heavy American stout.

Serving type: on-tap

02-03-2013 21:19:10 | More by Halcyondays

denver10

Colorado

4.24/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5

Going to re-do this review since my latest experience with this one was FAR superior to my initial one.

Pours black with a dirty white head. Aroma is coffee and dark chocolate with a little roast. Flavor followed suit; some nice coffee (that has toned down significantly from my first try...in a very positive way...still there for sure, just in a more fitting/balanced way), some dark chocolate that offers some bitter and milkiness but not quite sweetness, some roasted barley, and a kiss of some char in the finish. A medium body, somewhat creamy. Overall a well done and highly enjoyable beer. Would happily drink again.

Serving type: on-tap

01-24-2013 01:00:10 | More by denver10

Zach136

Georgia

4.09/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

On tap at Trappeze Pub in Athens, GA. Served in a Palm snifter.

$5/12oz $3 for Half Pour.

A - Opaque black with light tan head that disappears quick. Excellent lacing.

S - Mostly rich milk chocolate with a hint of coffee.

T - Strong on the coffee flavor, not very much chocolate at all. Definitely a "fresh" coffee flavor as well. No hops to speak of.

M - Fairly rich, chewy and creamy. Leaves a sweet sticky residue in your mouth after.

O - Great coffee stout. Not the best, but very good. I'd love to sit on it for a year or so and I bet I'd like it even more.

Serving type: on-tap

01-14-2013 17:54:59 | More by Zach136

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.89/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Dark black with a tan head.

Aroma and taste are straight up espresso and coffee. A nice roast with a big chocolate profile. Reminds me a bit of fresh coffee bender.

Mouthfeel is roasty and a bit thinner bodied for a stout.

Nice coffee flavors all arouc. I wish it was thicker though.

Serving type: on-tap

01-12-2013 04:17:10 | More by mothman

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.8/5  rDev -4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

16 ounce pint - $6.75 at Taco Mac in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Appearance: Dispensed a very dark brown body, I think. I mean, they've got some dim-lighting in here tonight, allowing the Christmas lights to light the joint. Oh, topped with a finger of dusky, beige suds.

Smell: You've got your notes of roasted malt, chocolate, and coffee -- yep, it's a coffee-chocolate stout, alright.

Taste: An expected start of roasty grains, dark chocolate, bold coffee, and even some dark caramel. Then, the chocolate and coffee flavors exponentiate. Scant perceived fruitiness. A little acidity. Some bitterness, not much, and some alcohol warmth presenting itself. Roasty, choco-coffee finish with some more alcoholic heat.

Mouthfeel: Medium-plus body. Medium carbonation. It's lightly velvety.

Overall: It's pleasant enough, though not overly complex; it never strays beyond the implied "coffee" and "chocolate" in its moniker.

Serving type: on-tap

12-25-2012 16:01:09 | More by ChainGangGuy

tectactoe

Michigan

3.83/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

On tap at the Oak Cafe. Pours a deep brown and black color with a light-brown head that was thin and faded to nothing more than a ring around the glass within minutes; no lacing to speak of. Smells of sweet coffee and creamer hit the nose first. Packed with dense, concentrated coffee flavors, this one smells sweet and powerful. Some cocoa and roasted notes on the sides, but the coffee is certainly what dominates.

Same goes for the taste - this is a coffee stout, through and though. Chocolate plays a secondary role. Sweetened, sugar & cream coffee up front; lots of sweetness, roasted malts, and some lightly burnt sugar. As the beer warms on the palate, some more dark, bitter notes come alive, but still remain very reminiscent of coffee, only this time, a strong, black, bitter coffee. The lingering sweetness hides this fading bitterness very much, however. Some black licorice and toasted cocoa beans make their way into things near the end, along with a generic roasted malt flavor, but again - coffee is the leader, here. Slight hint of alcohol near the end on the very back of the tongue. Dense body, thick, lightly syrupy, sticky, heavy, low carbonation.

This is certainly one for coffee lovers everywhere. Very sticky, sweet, and dense coffee aromas and flavors. This reminds me of the concentrate that Tim Hortons and Dunkin' Donuts use for their iced cappuccinos - you know, before it gets mixed with cream and ice. Almost a touch too sweet for my liking, meaning I could never have more than one. But it does make a nice dessert beer on occasion.

Serving type: on-tap

12-14-2012 12:33:49 | More by tectactoe

Siriusfisherman

Montana

3.85/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The appearance was a near black, could notice some brown, and a nice creamy mocha head. Excellent lacing. The Smell was of rich coffee and milk chocolate, quite spectacular, I was very impressed by the richness. The taste was similar, but I did not get as strong of an Imperial Stout character as I hoped, it was very pleasant with the same milky chocolate and well-rounded coffee notes, but the roasted malt/barley edge I like in this style was absent. The mouthfeel was thin for an ale of such stature. It was very smooth but it was not robust. Overall, this is a very tasty stout, but fell short on complexity and depth. For a 9% beer, it really didn't deliver in the areas I had hoped. It really could have been a truly great ale, but settled for just plain old good.

Serving type: on-tap

11-30-2012 04:41:41 | More by Siriusfisherman

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

3.95/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Beermongers the other day.

The beer pours the expected blackish brown color with good head retention and decent lacing. On the nose, to no great surprise, is a huge aroma of coffee. There's some roasty malt and a hint of vanilla and chocolate as well, but the coffee really dominates in this beer. The flavor profile replicates the nose, but this beer was bit lighter and thinner on the palate than I expected. Mouthfeel is medium bodied at most, with a fairly long, fairly smooth, coffee flavored finish. Alcohol is well integrated into the flavor profile, and there's certainly no heat or burn on the finish.

An OK beer, but frankly, I was expecting a bit more from it.

Serving type: on-tap

11-20-2012 16:47:41 | More by johnmichaelsen

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

4.03/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from tap into snifter at ITAP stl. Pours a deep rich black with a finger of tan head. Nice sticky lacing. Wow crazy coffee aromas, mixed with some sweet sugar.
Taste is lots of coffee, sweet chocolate, roasted malts, and a bit of lacto sugar. Really nice.
This is a great brew. If you like coffee you would like this brew. Id get again for sure.

Serving type: on-tap

11-13-2012 22:10:29 | More by DrinkSlurm

TheBeerCarl

Idaho

3.18/5  rDev -19.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

New belg imperial

Appearance: opaque dark brown with a light brown head. The head retention is not awesome most likely due to the low IBUs. I usually like to see a thick brown head on imperial stouts.

Smell: definite coffee and dark chocolate are the two notes that really hit first with a lingering malted caramel sweetness. The nose could use more potency.

Taste: strong chocolate flavor with lingering coffee, roasted malt and a bit of pinyness and nuttiness.

Mouthfeel: medium body with sharp carbonation. I like my imperial stouts to be mor full bodied and smooth.

Overall it is a good imperial stout but not good enough for the lips of faith label.

Serving type: on-tap

11-12-2012 19:57:21 | More by TheBeerCarl

TheRealBigC

Nevada

3.18/5  rDev -19.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I was hoping for a little more from this one. The coffee and chocolate flavors are there - I could definitely get a good taste of dark chocolate in each sip - but overall it was pretty average. Young's Double Chocolate Stout packs more flavor and it's not nearly as strong. With this one the higher ABV doesn't seem warranted.

Serving type: on-tap

11-02-2012 23:54:34 | More by TheRealBigC

pschul4

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

A - Pours a light black with a 1 inch black head

S - Espresso notes along with a hint of bakers chocolate and some roasty malts

T - The roasty malts take the lead but there is a nice coffee taste along with a nice touch of booze in the back

M - A little thinner than would care for

O - Some thinkness would essentially turn this into FBS. Really good but somewhat light. That said I'd drink this often if given the chance

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 01:47:15 | More by pschul4

nickfl

Florida

4.16/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours with a small head of off-white foam on top of an opaque black body. The head settles quickly and leaves little lace.

S - Lots of coffee with a touch of chocolate.

T - Espresso and dark bread up front. Some molasses and burnt caramel in the middle and a finish of dark chocolate, more coffee, and just enough bitterness to keep it balanced.

M - Medium-thick body, moderately high carbonation, and a sweet finish.

D - This is somewhere between a robust american stout and a real imperial, but it works nicely. The coffee character is excellent and there is enough chocolate to justify its inclusion in the description as well. Definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 00:45:25 | More by nickfl

kylehay2004

Florida

3.86/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A: very thin tan head which doesn't last long on a jet black body.

S: dark chocolate, brown sugar and coffee as advertised.

T: simple but good with chocolate, hints of earthy hops and mild coffee bean bitterness. Alcohol is very well hidden

M: fairly thin light to medium body and moderate to high carbonation.

Overall: it's fairly basic. Not very memorable, not a bad beer. One of e better of the lips of faith series which doesn't say much but is true. Carbonation is higher than I want for a big beer like this.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 00:42:36 | More by kylehay2004

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

4.06/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle poured into a snifter at cellar temperature.

L – Deep brown-to-black color with a 2-finger, frothy, bubbly, tan head. Really nice retention and some great patchy lacing.

S – The aroma consists of tons of coffee and a nice amount of cocoa. There are touches of molasses or caramel present, as well.

T – The taste starts off sweet for a second with chocolate and caramel notes and rapidly shifts to a bold and bitter roasted coffee flavor. As roasted bitterness fades, the sweetness becomes apparent again with chocolate and cream taking the forefront. It tastes like a mocha and certainly lives up to its name.

F – Medium-to-full-bodied with good carbonation, a creamy and smooth mouthfeel, and a bittersweet and slightly dry finish. Coffee and chocolate flavors linger for a while. There may be a touch of warmth from the alcohol, but the ABV is hidden very well.

O – This is a nice imperial stout. It’s not overly complex but it is exactly what it says it is – a coffee and chocolate imperial stout. The appearance and mouthfeel are lighter than I’d like to see in an imperial stout (they are at about the halfway point between a porter and a stout), but the aroma and taste are right where they need to be. Another solid contribution to the Lips Of Faith series.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 02:38:25 | More by BlackBelt5112203

Pencible

Virginia

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

A: This poured an opaque black with thick tan head.
S: It smelled like rich dark chocolate, with some rotated coffee and cream...not much else.
T: It tasted like sweet dark chocolate and bitter roasted coffee, with cream and earthy pumpernickel. It had a clean and bittersweet aftertaste.
M: It was thick with a little carbonation. Nice full body.
D: This was a nice stout with rich scent and taste and solid body. The finish was smooth and the alcohol was well hidden, so it was easy to drink. No need to age. Fairly simplistic brew, but enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 01:20:29 | More by Pencible

falloutsnow

Illinois

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

From: Binny's, Schaumburg, IL
Date: None, released late fall 2012
Glass: New Belgium globe glass

New Belgium's Imperial Coffee Chocolae Stout is a good-tasting coffee stout with additional background flavors of roasted malt and chocolate to round out the palate and please most fans of the style. The price, like most 22oz bottles in the series (and in general), is quite high. Thus, while the quality is good, I probably will not pick up another bottle of this due to other 4 and 6-pack stouts that are available and equally good.

Pours a 1.5cm head of khaki-brown foam, made up of scattered, large, glassy bubbles on top with small, densely packed bubbles below. The majority of the foam is made up of these small bubbles, which hang around for a few minutes, slightly above average. The foam falls to a fine cap atop the body, existing as such for the duration of the drink. Lacing is a somewhat dense matrix of small spots and dots of foam. Body is a very dark brown to black, opaque, carbonation slightly visible rising along the sides of the glass. Light brings out a deep, transparent amber color to the edges of the beer.

Aroma of coffee, modest cocoa, light roasted malt, and faint cream. A bit coffee heavy, but still balanced enough to be pleasurable.

Beer is pleasantly sweet, with not as much noticeable coffee as fresh Founders Breakfast Stout, but it is still the dominant flavor amidst the others of roasted barley, chocolate, and rich caramel. Front of palate is of sweetened coffee and roasted malt, which continues into the mid-palate along with additions of sweetened chocolate flavor and a faint bitterness from hops. Back of palate picks up bitter coffee, cocoa, caramel, cinnamon, and slight ethanol. Aftertaste is of sweet coffee with hints of mocha and bitterness from malt and hops.

Medium to medium-heavy bodied, with carbonation of medium-low intensity, resulting in a primarily smooth, slightly foamy mouthfeel. Ethanol tingles slightly on the tongue, and can be mildly felt on the throat and in the nostrils, but the 9% is, overall, hidden very well. Closes dryly, with significant stickiness lingering across the palate.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 23:35:43 | More by falloutsnow

nimrod979

Maryland

3.76/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

22 oz bomber poured into a Goose Island tulip glass.

Appearance: Near opaque black. One and a half finger tan head with pretty nice retention and excellent lacing.

Aroma: Roasted dark malt, dry powdered chocolate, and coffee. Aromas are a tad underwhelming.

Taste: Sweet up front with a dry cocoa powder chocolate flavor, before being balanced out by a more roasty and slightly bitter coffee presence. Alcohol is non-existent. Reminds me of chocolate cake/brownies.

Mouthfeel: Medium full but admittedly thinner than I expected for a 9% Imp. Stout. Soft carbonation. Reminds me of chocolate milk with it's consistency. Finish is quick and slightly bitter.

Decent beer but only a slightly above average.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 23:49:08 | More by nimrod979

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

3.13/5  rDev -21%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Portion of a 22 oz bottle poured into a Hunahpu's snifter. From notes.

A: Pours a dark brown color that's seemingly kind of light for the style. The head is a one finger light mocha shade.

S: Some roasted barley influence appears on the nose, backed by light coffee and chocolate. I swear I pick up a bit of oatmeal, too. A bit bland, but decently balanced.

T: The flavor doesn't come off as roasty as I thought it would from the nose. A light mocha character to start becomes a chocolaty finish. Mellow and balanced, almost to a fault.

M: This one feels a bit thin and insubstantial for me. I could use a bit more creaminess here, but it drinks easily.

O: This is decent. Well balanced, but could be great with a few tweaks.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 08:19:15 | More by ThisWangsChung

cvm4

Mississippi

3.93/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A - Pours coffee back with a two finger than head. Body didn't seem to look thick or viscous.

S - Huge notes of expresso & dark chocolate.

T - Black coffee with cocoa nibs. It's a little sweet with dark fruits through the midway and a light bitterness ending.

M - Disappointed here... Body is thin with high carbonation.

O - Great smell & flavors but the thin body makes a great beer somewhat mehhh.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 19:20:12 | More by cvm4

wethorseblanket

California

3.98/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A: Pours black with a one inch mocha/tan head with fades to a thin cap and rim leaving rings and spotty lace.

N: Dark chocolate and roasted coffee along with fresh cake batter.

T: Chocolate cake with icing stuffed with roasted coffee. Chocolate dominates the coffee.

M: Semi-full body and moderate carbonation. Roasty and lingering chocolate finish.

O: Just a little bit too thin and watery for me. Smells better than it tastes.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 01:13:39 | More by wethorseblanket

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.93/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into an Elysian snifter. Pours a very dark brown, appearing black in the glass. Thin light brown head that dissipates quickly to a thin film and ring around the glass and slippery light lacing. Aroma of dark toasted malt, coffee and chocolate. Flavor dominated by coffee, dark toasted malt with chocolate and a hint of molasses. Finishes with charred coffee, a hint of dark fruit and hop and coffee bitterness. Medium bodied. A unique flavor that has hints of dark fruit around the edges, although the toasted malt and coffee are front and center. ABV well covered. In some respects, not quite as complex as most imperial stouts, but the suggestions of dark fruit esters pull this through and keep it interesting. A nice, different stout in a crowded field of good stouts.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 03:42:51 | More by LiquidAmber

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

A better companion to a piece of chocolate-frosted yellow cake? Perhaps, but not many. This stuff pours a deep, dark black-brown topped by a finger of sandstone foam. The nose comprises thick coffee, roasted malts, and a hint of dark chocolate powder, though this is clearly subservient to the almighty coffee bean. The taste follows this pattern, but the tyranny is not quite as iron-gripped, the chocolate allowed to propagate certain areas like post-Edict-of-Nantes Huguenots (luckily, no meddling from some self-aggrandizing grandson of the king overturns the gains here). Things flow to a strong finish of chocolate ice cream (the expensive kind, plebs). The body is a straight medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a thickly fluid feel. Overall, a tasty stout, one that delivers pretty much exactly what it promises.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 01:57:45 | More by TMoney2591