Simple Malt Impériale Stout - Brasseurs Illimités

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

3.73/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle courtesy of ZorPrime, no BBD date. Thanks Eric! 341ml into a snifter.

Pours black with half a finger of dark reddish-brown head. Collar remains and no lacing. Nose is of rich dark chocolate and some vanilla, with a hint of coffee. Big sense of the roasted malt here. Taste is big on the dark chocolate and some coffee, not unlike that of the nose. Touch metallic in the finish also, not too much else going on I suppose. Body is average for the style, with a medium-low carbonation. Fairly smooth and the alcohol is disguised, nice for 8.1% ABV.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2010 17:43:16 | More by liamt07

Whatup14

Quebec (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

04-17-2013 13:55:25 | More by Whatup14

NightINgale

Quebec (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

04-12-2013 23:41:21 | More by NightINgale

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

4.15/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

341ml bottle, thanks again to papat444 for the suggestion and eventual trade bait!

This beer pours a solid black abyss, with only the slightest of basal cola highlights, and one chubby finger of thinly foamy, bubbly brown head, which leaves a low bleeding berm of lace around the glass as it steadily abates.

It smells of milk chocolate powder, lactic sugars, some darker medium cocoa notes, earthy coffee beans, grainy, roasted caramel malt, a bit of wet tobacco, and some musty, dusty hops. The taste is big and rich (TV spin-off pending) roasted caramel malt and bittersweet chocolate, cold espresso, a hint of juicy black fruit, charred ash, weathered leather, earthy noble hops, and just the tamest of booze warming.

The bubbles are actually quite in play, though just enough to keep things from going off a cliff, the body medium-full in weight, with an unctuous quality to its undeniable smoothness. It finishes off-dry, the char becoming more prominent, across malt, chocolate and coffee alike, with the hops still doing their job so well that it's hard to know they're really there. Still little to no evidence of the 8 points and change of ABV.

A quite agreeable big stout, the fullness belying the inherent balanced achieved. Tasty, and not so boozy (on paper and in flavour) that you couldn't maybe go for another, perhaps, given the opportunity?

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 03:28:10 | More by biboergosum

hopsolutely

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

03-24-2013 19:25:12 | More by hopsolutely

ssmack

Ontario (Canada)

2.91/5  rDev -28%
look: 2.25 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.75

Very dark brown like a dirty engine oil. A very thin head that disappeared totally in no time. No lacing at all.

The smell of cleaning fluid. Some aroma of green grapes.

The taste is strong chocolate and the taste of earth.

A nice heavy feel. Chewy

Not a complex brew at all. Simple. Not to be revisited.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 00:58:15 | More by ssmack

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A - Pours pitch black, finger of head with some retention and some nice lace rings.

S - Scent is rich and sweet, loaded with dark cocoa and milk chocolate, hints of oak, vanilla and candied cherries with oatmeal on the finish.

T - The dark cocoa dominates alongside the wooden oak, oatmeal, toffee, burnt toast, and a leafy green finish. The sweetness is quickly balanced by a bitter leafy green hop note that lingers alongside the slightest ABV heat.

M - Medium bodied, smooth and a touch of dryness on the finish.

O - This is a very solid brew that boasts a great flavour profile, is nicely balanced, and whose ABV is well hidden making it dangerously drinkable. I really enjoyed this and would've certainly loved to try it on tap.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 23:24:21 | More by andrenaline

Mack

Quebec (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

01-29-2013 15:07:28 | More by Mack

Luk13

Quebec (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

01-23-2013 00:57:35 | More by Luk13

JohnnyBarman

Ontario (Canada)

4.35/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Single 341mL bottle, bought for me as a Christmas gift from Broue Ha Ha. Really looking forward to this!

A damned-near impenetrable black inky demon of a brew flows out of the bottle, sporting an intimidating mocha crown that settles into a thick ringlet. Great looking brew.

Nose is rich coffee and chocolate, mocha, molasses, roasted grain. Incredibly rich.

Well if this isn't a fine tasting stout! Really impressed with the depth to this - cocoa, coffee, molasses, sweet caramel and bitter grains are all balanced nicely, allowing for some great interplay of flavours. The finish is particularly striking: a delayed blast of molasses and dry chocolate.

Sticky and chewy, great viscosity with a nice carbonation pop to keep things moving.

Heard good things about this brew, and it surely did not disappoint. Add this to the list of fantastic Quebec brews. Great start to 2013 - happy drinking to all of you!

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 23:26:55 | More by JohnnyBarman

4ster

Quebec (Canada)

4.15/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a large red wine glass. No brewed date on bottle. Drank from cold to about the prescribed temp of 12-14C. This one drinks better warm for sure.

A: Dark, no transparency at all, no apparent carbonation, but is actually a bit more reddish brown than black, with a dark brown/mocha coloured head that doesn't build up too much before dying down to a thin whisp. As you drink, there is almost no retention.

S: Heavy on the roasted malts and as it warms lots of coffee/espresso aromas... the chocolate doesn't come through as much here, and when warm you even get a whiff of alcohol...

T: Roasted malts following the smell, with again lots of coffee flavours here....also getting the mollasses that others get, along with a burnt sugar/caramel type of flavour as it goes down. Light on the chocolate for a stout but there is a bit of bitter cocoa taste, but overall this is not a really bitter style stout, and also light on any sense of alcohol. Not overly complex, but complex enough to not mess with the mouth feel.

M: Light to no carbonation, very smooth and rich, very well balanced with the flavours and alcohol. Strong enough to be called an Imperial, but unlike some of the high ABV Imperials, you could easily drink more than one of these at night, which is a good thing!

O: For the explosion of stouts out there, this one does it very nicely. As others have mentioned, it is not overpriced, comes in a convenient 341ml bottle which is great because this has to be one of the more easy drinking stouts I've had, so you don't feel obliged to drink a whole 650, but if you want more, just crack another. This isn't to say that it sacrifices the beer style though for this drink-ability, it has a lot of nice balanced flavours going on and enough complexity to keep you interested. While perhaps a bit coffee forward, it's not exactly what I would call a coffee stout. A great beer that is worth having around or trying.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 01:30:51 | More by 4ster

KalanM

British Columbia (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

11-29-2012 00:40:19 | More by KalanM

ChanChan

California

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

10-30-2012 16:15:19 | More by ChanChan

Molson2000

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

09-20-2012 22:34:48 | More by Molson2000

Jeffo

Netherlands

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Have had this beer several times now, in the first instance courtesy of Freud, and would like to give it a re-review. Got this particular bottle at Peluso in Montreal. Stellar shop.

From a bottle into a snfiter
IBU: 61

APPEARANCE: Pours out pitch black and sludgy looking, yielding a small, medium-thick, mocha colored head with good retention. Head fades to a faint wisp and ring. Body is pitch black in color with no carbonation evident. A faint, splotchy wisp remains and leaves touches of lacing down the glass. Black, menacing and evil looking stout.

SMELL: Roasted malts, dark, pure chocolate, leather and tobacco. Coffee and espresso in there as well. Bold, complex and interesting.

TASTE: Follows the nose quite nicely. Roasted malts again, leather and lots of roasted coffee beans, with some sweet caramel at the swallow. A bold and persistent finish of roasted coffee beans, dark, bitter chocolate, and some decent tobacco. Really flavorful and enjoyable.

PALATE: Medium-full body and very creamy smooth on the palate. Goes down smooth and finishes slightly mouth-coating. Great feel for the style.

OVERALL: This is just as good as it's always been. After lots of limited releases and expensive stout beer, this is pretty much as good as it gets. They should barrel age this at some point. Nasty look, piles of wonderful aroma and flavor, and a big, heavywieght feel, this imperial stout can compete with the best of them. This brewery really does impress. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2012 19:43:27 | More by Jeffo

t0rin0

California

3.25/5  rDev -19.6%

09-01-2012 03:11:12 | More by t0rin0

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

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

Thanks Jeffo!

Appearance. Pours black with a thin espresso-foam coloured head. Looks ominous!

Smell. Big coffee and dark chocolate liquer, a little molasses and black licorice too.

Taste. Lots of dark chocolate and molasses. A bit of burnt sugar and just a hint of smoke.

Mouthfeel. Fairly full body, low+ carbonation.

Overall. I'm starting to expect something brilliant from every Quebec stout I try. This one didn't disapoint.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2012 02:46:40 | More by Rutager

beerhunter13

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -1%

07-05-2012 11:54:06 | More by beerhunter13

chickenm

British Columbia (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

06-15-2012 03:37:52 | More by chickenm

bsuedekum

Missouri

3.5/5  rDev -13.4%

06-04-2012 02:35:16 | More by bsuedekum

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

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

Beer is black with a smallish cocoa-coloured head that begins to dissipate quickly.

Smell is malty and roasty with a distinct burnt caramel or toffee scent. Molasses is there as well, as well as some chocolate and alcohol.

Taste is similar to the nose. Roasted malt, burnt toffee, molasses, some dark chocolate. Pretty good. The toffee flavour I find unusual for the style though not strikingly so. It works well in any event.

Moderate carbonation, higher than I like for the style. Full bodied but not particularly so. A bit of an alcohol burn.

Overall, pretty good. Big difference between when it warms- vast improvement.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2012 01:54:38 | More by jrenihan

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

4.13/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

341ml bottle poured into tulip 20/4/12

A black out of the bottle with just a little cola at the edge, fast falling two fingers of dark head leaves zero lace, I'm more impressed by the darkness then anything

S molasses, dark chocolate, licorice, booze, smoke a little coffee and dark toffee, smells great with some peaty notes as it warms

T coco powder is fairly strong and lots of smokey, charred wood, a little espresso is stronger then the coffee I could smell but I found a little more complexity on the nose, please don't get me wrong taste's solid

M thick and rich enough bubbles to give it a creamy feel, no booze felt and a long chocolate pudding finish, no problems in this department

O a nice rich stout that was gone before I knew it, I could drink a few of these without getting board

a big thanks to papat444 and unibroue4ever for sending me this one, I've been trying to find this one for a couple years now and I'm glad I did

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2012 02:31:18 | More by wordemupg

jrempel

Quebec (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%

04-08-2012 19:29:08 | More by jrempel

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

04-01-2012 23:17:05 | More by TMoney2591

Kacid

California

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

Pour - beautiful pitch dark black with a small nice lacing head at the very beginning of the pour which then recedes to a floating touch
Nose: sweet dark chocolate, sweet espresso, slight touch of smokiness, slight alcoholic sweetness, a slight amount of alcoholic burn in the nose which blends with alcoholic liqueur flavor. Overall mild but well balanced nose, smells like wet chocolate, the very mildest oxidation. Nice strong juicy sweet chocolatey syrup taste/smell
Taste: medium alcoholic burn, chocolatey liquor burn/flavour, carbonation bubbles in mouth are perhaps sharper and larger than i would have liked. It's also a little thinner than i would have liked (a medium to medium-thin body). Has an interesting chocolaty sour bite aftertaste. Smoothens out a bit as it warms up, very delicious.

Overall: not the greatest or most complex imperial stout, but not a bad one by any standards. Nothing special just a good classic imperial stout. Wouldn't probably buy it again because of the availability of better stouts, but i certainly wouldn't turn it down if given to me. So chocolatey sweet and

Edit: poured the other half of the bottle a bit warmer with less gas in it. Giving it a hard pour it created a beautiful 2 finger head that quickly dissipated after the pour. It was creamy espresso creme. The chocolate taste becomes more pronounced and the alcohol simmers down. A slight touch comes of bite comes out. Smokiness becomes more pronounced, with stronger notes of coffee, with stronger body, slightly syrupy. It seems actually very similar to an Imperial version of St. Ambroise's Oatmeal stout. This makes me very curious to try out St. Ambroise's barrel-aged RIS that i have aging. YUM.
This changed my mind completely about this beer. Warmer is better.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2012 20:28:39 | More by Kacid