Sea Monster Imperial Stout - Ballast Point Brewing Company

TofuDC5

California

3.78/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: I like how this pours. Light-brown, tiny froth; thick head. Completely opaque; black. Once beer settles in the glass, a thin layer of froth slowly lingers; a slight swish eagerly anticipates a full-bodied beverage from the thick, malty bubbles.

S: A strong grapefruit aroma is present. Bold. At least some presence of coffee and chocolate...as expected from an imperial stout.

T: I taste the citrus more than the chocolate; not what I expected, but it's very nice. Very interesting.

M: Creamy, medium-bodied; bitterness explodes all over the tongue and in my throat.

O: Very interesting stout; definitely sparked curiosity. Not many flavors, but the distinguishing ones are very noticeable. Grapefruit screams "I am here!"

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 01:39:00 | More by TofuDC5

gestyr

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

The weather turned a bit cool here so tonight is a good night for a stout.

Poured from a 22oz bomber into a goblet.

A: Pours a very dark brown, almost black with a 1 finger beige head that has good staying power and leaves lacing.

S: Coffee, dark malts, citrus, chocolate.

T: Nice and roasty with hints of citrus and chocolate. Aftertaste is coffee with a bit of alcohol.

M: Rich and almost chewy with alcohol warming.

O: A good Imperial Stout. I will buy this again. This would go great with ribs or pulled pork.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 23:38:59 | More by gestyr

brureview

Massachusetts

4.23/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The best by bottle date was 7/12- I bought it recently, and I had some concern. It is a 10 ABV
beer. No problems.

The beer pours an attractive dark coffee-brown in a snifter with a 1 finger head.

It is most important to note that this beer has a totally different character warmed-up
than cold. Colder( 49F) lemon, vanilla, chocolate aroma- great.

The mouth feel remains quite moderate, with some hops.

The taste at a colder temp is strong coffee, some chocolate and lemon.

The aroma fades with warming, but the taste kicks in at 54F. Light but complex chocolate-lemon, as common with the style. The beer doesn't have the deep complexity of some
imperial stouts- there isn't an intensity one would find in Old Rasputin.

Despite the lighter taste, this is an excellent beer. Serve 50, closer to 55F.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2013 02:04:33 | More by brureview

BigBarley

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5

Hmmm... somehow I expected a better Imperial Stout from the makers of VICTORY AT SEA... but this falls short in a few ways.

Smells and looks great. Nice black with a decent dark brown foam cap. Smells include a bit of vanilla wrapped in cocoa, with a slight woody spice and a strange scent that reminds me of heavier oatmeal stouts.

Taste... I get a strange, almost salty thing happenin at the front. Like a smoked beer, but with a lot less smoke and a lot more salt... Following that strange umami amalgum, comes a touch of the vanilla chocolate from the nose, and a kiss of hops, but most of the flavor is dominated by a sharp, second-hand flavor almost reminiscent of oatmeal stouts.

something tells me there's oatmeal in this recipe.

Mouthfeel is just terrible for the style. Comes in thick, but immediately explodes into unreasonable carbonation (even after a pour hard into the middle, which is how I drink all stouts) leaving you with a thin, soupy mess that feels nothing like an Imperial Stout should.

so yeah, if you gotta go with Ballast Point, Victory at Sea is a much better Imperial Stout than this one! (and yeah, I know, it's a porter...)

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 16:39:45 | More by BigBarley

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

3.65/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

22 oz bottle into a Duvel tulip.

A: Pours an ultra-dark brown color; perhaps not the thickest-looking pour I've seen from a big RIS. The head is a two finger khaki shade. It retains nicely given its gravity, and manages to leave some lacing on the glass, as well.

S: The first thing noticed is some dark fruit sweetness. Vague citrusy hops and savory notes hide behind the fruitiness, also, along with some molasses and chocolate. Typical for the style, but well made.

T: It opens quite savory on the palate, with a distinct (yet not unpleasant) umami note. The first sip seems to finish with strong booze, however this is soon replaced with citrusy hops, oatmeal, touches of roasted malt, and the slightest 'ping' of chocolate buried in there somewhere. The more I sip this, the more I realize how robustly hopped this one is - and it does a good job of balancing the excessive sweetness without creating a harsh imbalance.

M: This one lacks in body. I do notice the smoothness from the oatmeal - unfortunately it's hidden by excessive carbonation. Once the carbonation fades some, its syrupy and wet finish is revealed. As a result, it's not quite as drinkable as it could have been given its thinner texture.

O: If I have to nitpick - and I always do - the underwhelming body prevents this from achieving elite status in the imperial stout world. An enjoyable product regardless of its niggles. From what I remember of Victory at Sea, I'd personally put this one on the same level.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 22:52:39 | More by ThisWangsChung

d1ckvanswype

Florida

4.01/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

22oz bomber into an oversized red wine glass.

A: Robust black, with a nice orange highlight near the head, which is virtually nonexistent, sporadic lacing.

S: Milk chocolate, roasty malts, touch of coffee and something like oatmeal, but not fully, a light twinge of vanilla, bordering on a bourbon barrel note.

T: Powdery dark chocolate, coffee bitterness, crackery malts, a touch of salty carbonic action. Quite easy to put down, actually.

M: I would have hoped the oatmeal would have lent more of a creamy quality, but it's not bad by any stretch. Refreshing, coffee like astringency, even when warm you can't really feel the alcohol, and if you do it's definitely not 10% ABV.

O: Quite the tasty little oatmeal Imperial stout. I'd like to see what six months does to it.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 20:12:51 | More by d1ckvanswype

TheSixthRing

California

3.94/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4

Apearance - Poured 12 ounces into a snifter, producing an opaque black brew with a finger width, light cocoa powder colored head. Good retention. Decent lacing left on the glass, while an ever-present film of microbubbles cover the surface.

Smell - Milk chocolate, oats, roasted aromas. Lightly boozy.

Taste - Starts sweet, with light chocolate notes playing nicely off the oats, then the roast kicks in. Dark chocolate, then hints of anise creep in mid-taste before finishing with a strongly bitter coffee roastiness. Anise character leaves a mild tongue numbness. Sweetens as the beer warms, playing more and more to the milk chocolate character, though the bitterness still plays a nice role.

Mouthfeel - Closer to medium than full in body. Somewhat chalky. Not as smooth or creamy as one would expect for an oatmeal brewed stout. Dry, somewhat astringent finish.

Overall - A fairly good imperial stout. Great flavor, but lacks an ideal body. Something I wouldn't mind drinking again, but for the price? I'd pass.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 23:40:37 | More by TheSixthRing

gr0g

New Jersey

2.7/5  rDev -33.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

22oz bottle marked "SM 19 enjoy by 02/08/14."

Jet black in color with a head about one finger tall, fading pretty quickly with hardly a trace. Heavy aroma of fusel alcohol. A solvent note is dominant and hides most everything else. Licorice, molasses, and brown sugar are detectable.

Alcohol sting weighs heavily upon the flavor as well. Any chocolate or coffee notes are hidden. Texture is thin and fizzy, and it doesn't help at all to bring this back from the brink. Having had Sculpin and Victory At Sea, I had high expectations for this. Sea Monster is a hot mess, though, and a borderline drain pour. Maybe age will mellow it out and unveil a good stout, but I won't be picking up another bottle to find out.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2013 03:03:15 | More by gr0g

evanforbeer

California

4.2/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a bomber
Nose: licorice, chocolate, bourbon, cherry
Taste: fairly sweet/fruity, with chocolate, licorice, molasses, bourbon, cherry, vanilla, crackery dark malt, finishes roasty barley with coffee and cherry
Feel: rich, faint carbonation, drinkable and sweet
Very delicious, a little on the sweeter end compared to the richer coffee/cocoa-heavy imperial stouts. I would buy again, I'd have to be in the mood for something sweeter

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 02:54:16 | More by evanforbeer

elNopalero

Texas

4.73/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

This pours from the tap a thick black cocoa color with a great aroma dominated by cocoa nib notes. So tasty too, with this essence of cocoa mixing and playing nice with the roasty notes. Smooth and thick, this flavor can last for days. This is a tasty one.

Serving type: on-tap

02-23-2013 21:58:28 | More by elNopalero

wisrarebeer

Wisconsin

3.94/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: near opaque, jet black, thin but creamy head
S: medium nose, chocolatey, roasted-burnt malt, some heat but nothing bad or distracting, predominately aged quality, some medicinal
M: very drinkable, creamy velvet with some heat in finish, some tannin sharpness in finish
T: well-balanced, nice roasted/burnt malt with good hop bitterness

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 21:36:08 | More by wisrarebeer

facundoCNB

New Jersey

3.76/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

a pretty solid black with finger of tan head with great retention. smells of licorice, toasted grains, coffee, chocolate, subtle smoke. the taste is sweet with a note of subtle smokyness. a very light tasting stout with subtle notes of chocolate and licorice, big on the roasty bitterness of the grains. medium body but for the heaviness of the beer it' feels slightly watered down.. low carbonation.

overall this isn't a bad stout at all, but as far as a RIS, i'm not that impressed. it is fairly sweet which is good but lacks a lot of complexity for the style. the abv is well hidden though, which is a plus.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 05:43:23 | More by facundoCNB

rawfish

California

4.18/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Pours a dark cola coloration with tight mocha head, the head rises quite rapidly if the pour is vigorous enough. Pretty good retention and flecks of lacing.

Cocoa, chocolate, espresso laced, deep roast and specialty malts. Slightly earthy with charcoal and peat. Subtle sweetness and a strong fix of alcohol.

Roasted with chocolate, caramel and molasses sweetness, earthy detection of hops mixed with char and a peat smokiness. The finish is quite dry and booze is toned down nicely.

Smooth and creamy mouthfeel, oats really make their mark here, moderate carbonation with a full body. A bit slick and oily on the palate, full and pleasing, balanced with hidden alcohol.

Easy drinking imperial stout, the oatmeal makes it have excellent texture and palate. At the same time it stands quite balanced with roasted complexity, very nice imperial stout, would get again.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 01:05:53 | More by rawfish

unionturf

North Carolina

4.14/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I bought this bottle back in 2010 I think...I've had it a while and there is no date on the bottle.

A: Poured into my Duvel tulip jet black with a good foamy heal, even over a few years. :)

S: Roasted coffee and chocolate...a little booze too.

T: A boozy chocolate/coffee taste that I love...very well balanced as far as I'm concerned.

M: I've had thicker beers in this category, and I was surprised this felt thinner than it should...I really liked this beers.

Not sure what aging this beers has done but I really liked it, I'm thinking this bottle was brewed in 2010...but I'm not for sure.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 05:20:50 | More by unionturf

augustgarage

California

4.28/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

2011 vintage. Poured from a 22oz bomber into my Bruery tulip.

An opaque seal brown body supports a finger of soft, soapy, buff colored foam which recedes to a delicate island of cream surrounded by rings of fine lacing. Good retention.

An assortment of dark roast notes greets your nose suggesting cocoa nibs, brandy-spiked coffee, roast barley, and toast. A subtle yet unctuous dark sugar sweetness becomes more prominent as the ale warms. The alcohol contributes a few esters perhaps, but is surprisingly tame for the ABV.

Intense palate entry is suffused with malt. A rich sweetness gives way rapidly to a deep char, the near-acridness of which joins with a moderate earthy bitterness contributed by hops. The finish is very long and increasingly dry, though there is a distinctive element of cocoa in the aftertaste which is very pleasing and brings you back for another sip. Alcohol still has some bite, one could imagine this aging for another couple of years to no ill effect.

Medium-bodied, creamy, and still well carbonated with only the slightest hint of astringency despite the prominence of dark specialty or roasted malt.

The aging has tamed the harsher elements of this beast, leaving behind the core of flavor - an excellent example of the style when given sufficient time to develop.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 21:03:52 | More by augustgarage

arfenhouse

California

3.89/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A: Black with light brown head. Decent retention.

S: Espresso, charred malt, and alcohol. Some cherry and a bit of vanilla. Big and roasty.

T: Bitter roasted grain and roasted cacao upfront. Espresso and vanilla bean. Aftertaste is a less bitter, slightly sweet espresso and vanilla.

M: Medium bodied and medium carbonation. Wet and slightly sticky.

O: Decent big, bitter, bold RIS.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 08:46:25 | More by arfenhouse

barnzy78

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

22oz bottle, "Best By 060812"
Pours a cola-like blackness with a tall, bubbly, beige head that holds pretty good retention and leaves some chunky lacing on the glass. Aromas are sweet with molasses, brown sugar, roasted barley, some fruity currant, maybe some earthy fig. Tastes are complex with roasted malt, anise, currant, molasses, earthy roasty bitterness, bittersweet chocolate, french roast coffee, mild tobacco leaf, and that fig is making an appearance again. Earthy piny hops begin to build and linger with each additional sip. As it warms, booze becomes more apparent, but not hot. Mouth-feel is super creamy & smooth, full bodied, pleasant carbonation, finishes a little bitter and semi-dry. Overall, it was better than I remember - very good American Imperial Stout.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 23:02:56 | More by barnzy78

Bendurgin

Maine

3.95/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a tulip. This pours black with a cap of light tan head.

Nice roasted aroma with leather and dark fruits. Hints of sweet vanilla in the background. Hints of bittersweet coco on the pallet with leathery notes and earthy flavors. Dark fruit in the mix also.

The body is full with good carbonation. Overall this one is pretty good. I'd have it again for sure.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 03:35:51 | More by Bendurgin

cvm4

Mississippi

3.93/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours very black, tan head that doesn't leave much lacing/retention.

S - Roasted malt and coffee along with an edge of sweetness.

T - Tastes like a classic imperial stout here. No frills or gimmicks, just your regular dark chocolate, malt and coffee.

M - Just enough carbonation to get that chewy drink.

O - A no frills imperial stout. Just your regular, everyday stout that delivers.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 02:38:23 | More by cvm4

Murrhey

Montana

3.95/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured on-tap in a 7oz glass at Playground in Santa Ana, Calif. Reviewed from notes.

A- Half a finger tan head. Medium retention, nice fluffy lacing.

S- Chocolate and toffee, but subtle. Nice roasted smell.

T- Extremely strong flavor. Booze and coffee with heavily roasted malts and barley. Hides the alcohol very well.

M- Heavy bodied, almost chunky it is so thick.

O- Very stong. This beats the hell out of my tongue.

Serving type: on-tap

11-15-2012 01:19:07 | More by Murrhey

metter98

New York

3.85/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is essentially jet black in color-only traces of amber are visible near the edges of the glass when it is held up to the light. It poured with a thin creamy beige head that hardly died down and left lots of lacing down the sides of the glass.
S: There are aromas of roasted malts in the nose; as the beer warms up, hints of alcohol become noticeable.
T: Like the smell, the taste has flavors of roasted malts along with hints of chocolate, coffee beans and alcohol, the latter of which is only present in the finish.
M: It feels medium- to full-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: The beer seems to be a little thin for such a big stout and seems a little like a Baltic Porter, but it is relatively easy to drink considering its strength.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 20:28:41 | More by metter98

Pinknuggets

Vermont

2.18/5  rDev -46%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Poured from bomber into a mug

A: Very dark brown with a 2cm mocha/tan head that thins but lingers in a ring for awhile, id like it to be darker though.

S: I really can't smell that much the aroma is very weak. I can smell some malt, which surprises me as the one thing that stands out not much else to say.

T: okay idk if i got a flat bottle or what (the bottle says best by 07/07/12) but this follows the nose with the malt thats pretty much all I can taste. This tastes like a super dark red to me nothing like any IS i have ever tasted. Its not bad but its not to style at all.

M: Really light for an IS esp with this high of an abv. It goes down easy but i wouldn't describe it as smooth at all.

O: So id be willing to try this again fresher just to give it a fair shot, but straight up this bottle was pretty bad and I was throughly disappointed.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 00:47:55 | More by Pinknuggets

CubsJedi

Michigan

2.13/5  rDev -47.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Taking votes to rename this the "Granny Apple Porter". Taste of Apple and pear throughout... Maybe just me. Just being honest. Nice color and initial scent. Drinkable, but not what I was expecting, which was a top shelf traditional imperial stout, from a top shelf brewery. Disappointing.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 05:40:59 | More by CubsJedi

match1112

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

a: as black as brown can be this beer has a two finger head that is thick and creamy.

s: roasted sweetness. some coffee and chocolate.

t: the chocolate dominates over the hops and coffee but not enough to make this a one sided beer.

m: thick rich and creamy with a nice little hop bite on the end. carbonation was spot on.

o: really enjoyed this one, not as much as their victory at sea, but this is still very drinkable and much more easily accessible.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2012 14:46:16 | More by match1112

sweetLew

California

3.8/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

There's all kinds of mystery lurking in the deep, use caution before the Sea Monster pulls you beyond the limits of exploration. Strong and sultry, this imperial stout is one well-crafted monster that is dangerously sippable. Numerous shades of black, a moderate tan head, and an understated aroma of chocolate, coffee grounds, and shelled nuts give way to a beguiling flavor. The brewery's skill bursts across the palate; swirls of chocolate, in an array of flavors, are complemented and boosted by mild hints of coffee, nuts, and hop bitterness. The lack of alcohol is what allows all these flavors to succeed, a statement of quality. But alas, Davy Jones' locker calls for those that tangle with the Sea Monster at too great a depth...

Serving type: on-tap

09-20-2012 16:13:43 | More by sweetLew