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

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours effervescent ebony with 2 fingers of cocoa colored head. Crazy lacing & average head retention

S: Coffee grinds

T: Follows the nose, plus cocoa up front, a touch of spiceyness. As this warms a fair amount of mocha comes in to play, plus some charred grain, just a bit of booze kick. Finishes dry with much coffee grounds

MF: Fairly creamy carbonation with medium bodied, thins out a touch as this warms

A nice coffee stout, not great by any means, glad I got to try it

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2012 03:56:36 | More by russpowell

spoony

Colorado

3.95/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

From a 650 ml bomber into a snifter.

A-The brew is nearly black with a one-finger brown head. The foam drops quickly, however. There is some lacing left on the glass. Pretty standard look here.

S-The brew smells, as advertised, of coffee and chocolate. There is no amazing complexity or subtle hints of unicorn tears or whatever, but it is a decent smelling concoction. Lesser flavors include some charcoal and berry fruit.

T-The taste, like the smell, is a simple, but pleasing mixture of mildly bitter coffee, milky and dark chocolate, and palatable charcoal and smoke. There is a touch of dark berry sweetness hidden in there, too. Alcohol is concealed nicely.

M-The feel is a touch on the lighter side. Carbonation is mild, but more aggressive than some in this category.

O-This beer is not the most complex or dazzling coffee brew, but after tasting it three times now on different occasions, I am ready to declare it a winner. What I like about it is how the straightforward flavors blend well with one-another (coffee goes with chocolate...who knew?) without unnecessary hoppiness, booze heat, extreme char, or other tricks. This is just a good drinking coffee stout for a snowy April evening.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2012 01:36:09 | More by spoony

SHODriver

California

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

A: poured into a mug to a deep black with no light passing through with a light tan head that slowly fades
S: smells of coffee and chocolate with a tinge of roast malt
T: coffee flavors on the front end with some chocolate notes and some nice raosty flavors. swallow brings lots of chocolate flavors and some coffee and a bit of hop
M: a little thinner than expected but still on the full side of things, very smooth and silky though. a little dry on the finish
O: not bad at all. the label isn't a lie. good flavors but a little lacking in complexity. it's well carried out though it isn't world class.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2012 03:12:28 | More by SHODriver

bum732

Maryland

3.73/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

S: Fresh roasted coffee, soft, milk chocolate, some raspberry fruitiness, bready.

L: Very dark brown/black, tan head that dissipates. Ok lacing.

T: Coffee up front with soft milk chocolate notes. An almost peanut butter taste with the coffee. Light toasty malt with a low bitterness. Finishes slightly chocolaty with light coffee roast. Semi-dry finish. More chocolate as it warms.

M: Medium thin mouthfeel, medium low carbonation.

Not bad, not as big and roasty as KBS. Chocolate is more prominent than coffee, more milk than dark chocolate.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2012 02:38:32 | More by bum732

stumac

Texas

4.7/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured up black as night. Big tan crown. Lots of lacing. Aromas of chocolate, faint coffee bean, something super sweet in the mix. Tastes of burnt malty goodness, coffee like a mah fudger, nice dark chocolates. Smooth carbo, full bodied. I like my beer like I like my women, thick and black. Just kidding

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 02:20:28 | More by stumac

Mebuzzard

Colorado

2.8/5  rDev -29.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

This pours really well. Dark, burnt reddish/ruby with a great looking head. Lacing is thin and slick, though

Aroma is coffee. That's about it. Some hints of chocolate and roasted bread.

Flavor is coffee. And not rich coffee. More like concentrated coffee; instant, and a lot of it. Nothing really else comes out. Some roastiness.

Body is thin and slick. Drain pour half the bottle

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 02:09:55 | More by Mebuzzard

arizcards

Arizona

3.65/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Picked up a bomber from Total Wine Arrowhead in mid November for $8.99. Bottled in October 2012.

Beer poured black with a nice brown head that is leaving lacing behind.

Nose is very strong of fresh roasted coffee.

Taste is a bit uneven, roasted coffee is dominant with some hints of chocolate. Alcohol warming with each sip.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and pretty smooth.

Overall this is not a bad brew. It has some good flavors but it does not mesh together as well as hoped.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 01:40:52 | More by arizcards

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

billab914

Virginia

3.93/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

22oz bottle poured into my Great Lakes glass. Black in color with a thick, rocky, chocolaty head to it. Really nice lacing on the glass as I drank it. Great looking beer overall.

Aroma shows lots of coffee to it with a little creamy chocolate. The roasted coffee is really smooth and appealing in it. The coffee flavors are very nicely done.

The taste has a little more of the roasted malts and dark chocolate coming through. The coffee starts to come out more towards the finish, but adds some really nice flavors to it. It's got a creamy, chocolaty flavor that really blends well with the coffee.

The mouthfeel is thin for the style but it does have a little creaminess to it. Carbonation is average. Overall, it was a pretty solid beer. It had some really nice coffee flavors and the creamy, chocolate balanced it pretty well. Very drinkable and flavorful. beer overall, the coffee was particularly nice in it.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 01:48:56 | More by billab914

avalon07

South Carolina

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

A: Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Had a black color and a thick texture. There was an inch of foamy, tan-colored, fairly long-lasting head. Very good lacing.

S: A nice aroma of chocolate, coffee, and malt. Well done.

T: Tasted of dark chocolate, a good amount of coffee, a decent amount of malt, and some light hops. A solid, balanced, easy to like flavor. Not overly spectacular, but a very good flavor.

M: A decent amount of carbonation with a smooth, silky finish. Medium-bodied.

O: In general, this is a well made, enjoyable beer. Drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 00:06:12 | More by avalon07

HuskyinPDX

Washington

3.58/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle opened on 11.12.12

A - Pours a dark brown with a nice two inch medium brown head. Good retention.

S - Lots of coffee and roasted chocolate.

T - Smooth coffee up front followed by subtle chcolate and roasted malt.

D - Mediumb body with good fizzy carbonation.

O - Coffee dominated and a bit thin and subtle.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 07:04:01 | More by HuskyinPDX

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

4.53/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A-black with a nice tan head

S-smells a lot like a chocolate chunk coffee flavored ice cream. quite strong and solid smells.

T-comes in tasting a lot how it smells. there's really not a focus on the chocolate or coffee...just a really great balance of both flavors. the flavors are quite bold and not very beer-like. tastes more like a mocha malt beverage than a beer. its definitely good. the after-taste is matching but not too strong.

M-medium creamy carbonation with a crisp finish

O-this is a really good stout. very impressive from New Belgium. it really doesn't taste anything like a real beer though. it just has that mocha flavor to it. its appreciated, but it gives the stout a certain fake character to it. its not the most drinkable beer either. the flavors aren't as fun all the way through. definitely a bomber for the sharing.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 02:17:08 | More by AdamBear

ArrogantB

Colorado

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

22oz bottle $5.99. Standard stout appearance, black, good head. This has a very nice aroma of coffee to it but almost no chocolate, I wonder what type of beans they used? Flavor was more coffee, a hint of chocolate, well done. This isn't going to beat anything like KBS but it is a very good value. Nice job New Belgium.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2012 02:53:08 | More by ArrogantB

hdofu

Maryland

3.4/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Let me give it to you straight, it isn't a bad beer, but it does have a bad smell. Appearance is a dark brown with a muddy spongey head.
Taste is smokey, cocoa (unsweetened) with a bit albeit not great deal of coffee flavor. Smell is what baffles me as it has an odor of sewage in front of the chocolate. Mouthfeel is smooth and sudsy. It would be an ideal beer if it wasn't for the smell.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 22:00:18 | More by hdofu

Nugganooch

California

3.9/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

22 oz. Bottle – taster nonic glass
*Notes from 11/20/12

A: Pour is a muddy black color with a nice pillow of root beer style head. Retention is astounding and leaves behind some nice running legs of lace.

S: Smells of chocolate fudge with espresso beans and a bit of leafy green hops. I get sweet cookie dough in spades and faint underlying dark smoky grains. Smells like a real treat.

T: Taste is a mocha bomb! Has a super luscious chocolaty flavor with a nice coffee shop accent all throughout. Roasted cereals introduce more of a chocolate malt ball note to the beer. Hershey’s syrup comes to mind. There is a noticeable amount of earthy bitterness and some light warming alcohol. Progression leaves somewhat of a chalky cocoa powder finish. Deliciously flavored and big on the chocolate. A great dessert beer.

M: Body is somewhat thin for Imperial standards and bit wet all throughout. Carbonation is fair bringing in a slight drying crisp. Finish has that chalky after feel.

D: This definitely delivers as promised with intense chocolate and coffee flavors. Thinner body and well incorporated alcohol do make this very drinkable. Sweet and delectable but not in a sickly way. The mouthfeel and finish trip this one up a bit but a nice beer overall.

Will be picking up a few more of these for sure.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 21:17:57 | More by Nugganooch

chanokokoro

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 22 oz. bottle into a 12 oz. New Belgium branded globe glass

Pours pitch black capped with two and half finger fluffy beige head. Good retention and abundant lacing coats the inside of the glass as the brew is consumed. Quite a bit of dark chocolate, roasted malt, and light notes of espresso on the nose. Opens with dark chocolate joined midpalate with big roasted semi-sweet malt flavor and espresso. The espresso joins with fairly evident bittering hops and cocoa powder on the finish. Light bodied for a double/imperial stout; checking in on the heavier side of medium bodied, abundant carbonation. Slick and creamy on the palate. Overall, like most New Belgium Lips of Faith series brews I've had, Imperial Coffee Chocolate Stout isn't a disappointment but doesn't exceed expectations, either. The chocolate flavor, not the coffee, is the star in this brew. As a result, split this one with someone as the chocolate may be too much for one person.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 05:01:36 | More by chanokokoro

JohnGalt1

Idaho

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Picked up at the COOP today for a pretty reasonable $6 if memory serves... Poured into my slim tulip with a solid 2 finger brown head... only okay retention, but good lacing... the brew is pitch black.

Smells as advertised... fairly thick cocoa and a lesser coffee element... the additions tend to blow out any real stout aromas... with warmth, I swear I get a little cinnamon.

Coffee is better represented on the palate... really dig it.. chocolate is there but the coffee beans are the big player... stout flavors are again a bit muted...

Body seems a touch light for a 9% brew.. the carbonation is also a bit high IMO.. still a decent mouthfeel.

I will probably buy this again.. but don't think it will do well in the cellar and only get worse with time.

4/3.5/4/3.5/3.5

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 04:07:59 | More by JohnGalt1

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

3.95/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22 oz bottle poured into a New Belgium globe.
9% ABV,

A - Lips of Faith Imperial Coffee Chocolate Stout gloops out with a thick and quiet pour, filling the glass with a midnight black beer. Before subsiding rather quickly, a dark tan head forms over the beer and leaves delicate lace on the glass.

S - Wake up to the aroma of this beer; powerful freshly roasted dark coffee beans! It's reminds me of my morning routine of grinding beans and brewing dark roast coffee. Hints of milk chocolate add some smoothness behind the dark bittersweet chocolate and mocha aroma that's so abundant while a trail of faint smokiness wafts in.

T - Much of the roasted chocolate aroma can be attributed to the malts used, but the beer's aroma doesn't much suggest "malt" as it's other characteristics. The same can't be said for the taste though, which predominantly features a heavy, acrid bitter roast that's almost burnt tasting. Baker's chocolate and extremely dry cocoa overlap the cold-brewed roasted coffee flavor for a rough-around-the-edges finish that features notes of chocolate-covered raisin, molasses, rye toast, and oak.

M - Harsh, acrid bitterness bites at the tongue throughout the duration of this beer with a full body and gritty, oily feel that has few moments of smooth milk chocolate feel appearing few and far between. Light carbonation dances on the tongue keeping it from feeling completely like a thick, unforgiving beer.

O - New Belgium's Lips of Faith Imperial Coffee Chocolate Stout pours nicely, creating a powerful and inviting aroma of fresh coffee and chocolate but it's flavor, and subsequently the feel, become gritty, rough, and somewhat arresting. Smooth it out by enjoying for dessert with some creamy cheese cake.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 21:08:48 | More by BeerFMAndy

Rizalini

Nevada

3.9/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured from a bomber bottle into my Stone goblet...

A - Pours virtually black, with 1 1/2 fingers of cocoa brown head. A nice ring of lacing clings to the glass as i sips.

S - Smells of semi-sweet chocolate and coffee. What I expected from a coffee chocolate stout.

T/M - The taste is coffee dominant. A slight warming from the alcohol. The chocolate is more like a cocoa powder, and is hard to notice over the coffee. Medium mouthfeel, but a little thinner than I prefer my impy stouts.

O - A really decent coffee stout. My only complaints are the mouth is a little thin for a stout. It drinks more like a porter. Also the chocolate component is masked by the overwhelming coffee flavor. A very drinkable brew that I will be purchasing again. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 05:17:28 | More by Rizalini

Dave1999

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a pure black with a tiny tan head.

The smell is coffee, quite sweet.

The taste is coffee and milk chocolate.

The mouthfeel is smooth with low carbonation, very smooth.

This beer is simple, it's all about the coffee but it does it well. The smell is nice and strong and the taste follows.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 00:23:58 | More by Dave1999

Proteus93

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

T'is the season for a stout, and this looked as good as any, so I picked up a bottle!

A: Pours a deep cola-brown, but ends up nice and opaque in the glass, topped with a moderate sandy head.

S: Big on the scents... more of the creamy chocolate rounded out with the coffee roast. Perhaps a touch over-the-top, but at least they are pleasant scents. The balance could be a little better.

T: Much of the scent comes right through into the flavor. Sweet and chocolaty, with a bit of bitterness towards the finish. There's almost a little hint of fruitiness that I pick up on, but can't quite place it... in addition to the little bit of raisin, that is.

M + D: Body is a little on the thin side as far as stouts go, but it does have a decent oiliness that coats the mouth a little, making up for it--somewhat. Not too bad, though a little sweet for my tastes. I might consider it again.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 23:42:18 | More by Proteus93

DocJitsu

California

3.53/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a a dark, muddy brown with a scorched caramel color head. The head foam is reminiscent of when water is poured into a glass that just contained milk. A lot of asymetrical bubbles. Quite a bit of lacing around the glass. The aroma is comprised of brewed coffee, ground coffee, and powder cocoa for chocolate milk or hot chocolate. Not a whole lot more going on there. The mouthfeel is disappointing. Too watery and thin. A bit of sharpness due to the hop carbonation interaction toward the end. Heavy on the coffee with distinct notes of powdered cocoa mix. There's a little smokiness in the middle with something akin to a salty, grilled olive, if you will. I think they missed the mark with this one.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 21:01:01 | More by DocJitsu

AgentMunky

Alabama

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

Poured from a 22 ounce bottle into a Koningshoeven chalice. Stamped 121005061.

A: Black, but not impenetrably so. A touch of mocha head

S: Dry-sweet coffee, bitter hops. Deep, pleasant, and alluring.

T: Mmm. This is good, but perhaps not exceptional. Very strong coffee, with somewhat weaker chocolate. An actual hop presence is welcome. The finish is not dryish.

M: Dryish and chalky. A touch sweet.

O: Lips of Faith has never disappointed and nor does this. Would have again. Typical but worthy coffee imperial stout.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2012 06:41:31 | More by AgentMunky

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

tlazaroff

Virginia

4.05/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I get a somewhat bitter dark chocolate aroma off of this, and it's backed with a nice smooth espresso roast to round it out. Very inviting, and very nice aroma overall.

Pitch black in color, no highlights when held to a light source. It has a rich, dark tan head that reminds me of hot chocolate foam. It has good retention and laces extremely well on the glass sides.

Coffee right up front, but it's not bitter like I imagined as it would be. Mid-palate is a burst of chocolate and it finishes with a smooth espresso bean. Very much like eating chocolate covered espresso beans. The mouthfeel is medium-full, but lighter than I would have thought. Carbonation has a little bite to it, but its not too bad. Overall this is a really nice beer, it's something that I would drink after a meal with desert.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 06:32:43 | More by tlazaroff