Sea Monster Imperial Stout - Ballast Point Brewing Company

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

davey101

Connecticut

3.6/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Dusty 22 oz. bomber into a teku glass. Neck stamp reads "SM008/AAJPA" which translates to being batch 008. The second half is supposed to be a best by date which is out a year, but there are letters sooo....??? Just gonna guess and say that this is 1-2 years old since its the newer style label.

A - Pours a jet black body with a billowing three fingers worth of khaki foam. Settles into a patchy cap with super sticky lacing and retention that lasts the entire beer. Looks damn good.

S - Dry cocoa powder and a hint of vanilla, finishes strong on dark fruits and cherries. Almost has a sour like quality to it that some infected beers showcase, but its rather tame so I assume it's intentional. Pretty unique, but nothing extraordinary.

T - Starts off with smooth chocolate and vanilla. Seemingly out of nowhere comes a wave of candied cherries. Finishes with some raisin, ash and roasted malts. An almost unpleasant acridity lingers around. A lot of fruit flavors coming out of a non-fruited stout. Its quite nice but the aftertaste takes it down a peg. Mouth feel is full and creamy. Alcohol becomes pretty noticeable after a few sips.

O - I have no idea how old this beer is but I do know it is not fresh. It's pretty unique with its cherry/dark fruit element but I'm not totally impressed with it. I think I'll be saving my pennies for Victory at Sea instead.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 03:29:46 | More by davey101

williamjbauer

West Virginia

4/5  rDev -1%

05-24-2013 13:25:46 | More by williamjbauer

EricClayton

West Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%

05-23-2013 23:55:38 | More by EricClayton

drh1382

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%

05-23-2013 20:05:25 | More by drh1382

erialbill

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

05-22-2013 18:10:42 | More by erialbill

zbooks

Texas

4/5  rDev -1%

05-22-2013 02:59:01 | More by zbooks

NeverSettle

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

05-22-2013 02:50:43 | More by NeverSettle

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

Anyone else getting flashbacks to Finding Nemo? Anyway, this stuff pours a a very dark black-brown topped by a finger of steadfast tan foam. The nose comprises darkly-roasted malts, deep molasses, light cocoa, and a vague sense of dark fruits, primarily figs. The taste brings in more of the same, with a bit more roast than before and a hint of bitter coffee near the finish, lingering on momentarily. The body is a lithe medium, with a light carbonation and a fluid feel. Overall, though a bit on the thin side, this was a solid stout, the most enjoyable of the beers that have been introduced the Chicagoland market thus far that I have tried. Hope remains.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 01:39:31 | More by TMoney2591

Nage37

California

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

05-21-2013 15:50:33 | More by Nage37

tbeckett

Ontario (Canada)

3.99/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Bottle from Total Wine in Tampa. From notes.

A - Poured black with a one finger mocha head. Good spotty lace with alcohol legs and a half finger of retention.

S - Some booze, chocolate, rubbing alcohol. Very mild.

T - Lot's and lot's of chocolate. Lot's of coffee too. Alcohol and dark fruit. Pretty standard, but hammered down well.

M - Creamy full body. Some booze in the finish with dark fruit and bitterness. Good carbonation.

O/D - Nice, complex, and tasty. Good sipper. While the aroma sucks, it's a well crafted, ballsy Imperial Stout, fitting for the style.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 20:29:14 | More by tbeckett

BAsbill

California

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

05-20-2013 03:05:25 | More by BAsbill

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4/5  rDev -1%

05-19-2013 16:19:43 | More by Photekut

JamLand

Texas

4/5  rDev -1%

05-19-2013 12:13:30 | More by JamLand

drgonzo2k2

California

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

05-18-2013 15:03:39 | More by drgonzo2k2

beersvh23

Illinois

4/5  rDev -1%

05-18-2013 04:04:53 | More by beersvh23

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

Absolut

California

4/5  rDev -1%

05-14-2013 14:39:44 | More by Absolut

jplopez21

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -13.4%

05-14-2013 01:54:18 | More by jplopez21

tourdot

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

05-13-2013 04:08:35 | More by tourdot

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

bcm75

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -19.6%

05-11-2013 00:22:31 | More by bcm75

In_Control_Mike

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -1%

05-11-2013 00:20:14 | More by In_Control_Mike

MagnusThunnus

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -1%

05-11-2013 00:19:27 | More by MagnusThunnus

jayhunter357

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -1%

05-11-2013 00:16:18 | More by jayhunter357