Westbrook / Evil Twin Minigrowler Imperial Stout - Westbrook Brewing Co.

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.96/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Big thanks to Kegatron for sharing this brute with me. 1-liter swingtop growler into a snifter. The brew appears black in color with the most faint edging of lighter brown showing around the edges when it is held up to the light. A rich finger of silky smooth brown head rests atop fading slowly leaving some finger-like strings of lacing effect sticking to the glass.

The aroma is bold and roasty. Very aggressive with a combination of burnt to ashy charred grain with an ample amount of herbal hops also included. Earthen, with a hint of anise and leathery tobacco. Some solvent alcohol starts to emerge as the brew warms up and is swirled more.

The flavor of this brew is again, quite aggressive with a hearty amount of burnt grain flavoring. Suggestions of strong bitter coffee couple with earthen flavors that are somewhat ashy and tobacco-like to leathery. A strong aftertaste of bitter cacao lingers after each sip. As this brew warms up, the 12% abv comes out with a solvent burn across the back of the throat. The hops are readily evident in this brew with an herbal to almost vegetative component.

This is a medium to fuller bodied brew with a moderate amount of carbonation. No jokes here folks, this is a big aggressive brew. You need to put your big boy pants on here and brace yourself for one of the most balanced brews when it comes to strong bitter roasted grain, solvent alcohol and ample hops. The bitterness in this is quite forward from seemingly a combination of both hops and highly kilned malts. At times, I almost get the feel of this being a strange hybrid between a RIS and super strong black ipa. Many thanks agan Heath for sharing this with me, I can't imagine I would have otherwise had the opportunity to try this.

Serving type: growler

03-05-2013 02:15:42 | More by stakem

JacobGumina

California

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

05-24-2013 03:03:45 | More by JacobGumina

HeadyTheElder

Louisiana

4/5  rDev -2%

05-23-2013 04:12:01 | More by HeadyTheElder

Steimie

Michigan

3/5  rDev -26.5%

05-20-2013 14:17:36 | More by Steimie

drgonzo2k2

California

4/5  rDev -2%

05-19-2013 14:54:22 | More by drgonzo2k2

ehammond1

California

4.15/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

On Tap

Churchill's Pub & Grille
San Marcos, CA

Black as can be. Thick, heavy, and rich in appearance. Creamy brown head. Leaves an oily, sticky sheen. A perfectly gorgeous imperial stout.

Huge roast, espresso, and fudge notes erupt from the glass. Incredibly expressive aroma. There's some dark fruits and licorice emerging as well, especially as the beer warms.

A hugely flavorful stout--it's almost flooring how flavorful this is. Huge amounts of bitter roast and espresso notes, perhaps along with a touch of smoke. Dark fruits, licorice, and raisin fudge brownie make up the majority of the flavor profile. This is like nothing I've had before.

Full in body. Creamy. Luscious. Coating. Perfect.

There's just so much flavor here. It's shocking. While impressive, it certainly hurts it's drinkability.

Serving type: on-tap

05-14-2013 03:44:54 | More by ehammond1

drbenzo

California

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

05-11-2013 17:53:36 | More by drbenzo

largadeer

California

3.5/5  rDev -14.2%

05-10-2013 20:27:48 | More by largadeer

Proclarush

Rhode Island

4/5  rDev -2%

05-09-2013 02:32:34 | More by Proclarush

BMart

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -14.2%

05-08-2013 19:04:09 | More by BMart

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

3.84/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pour is jet black, viscous, with a dark brown head, thick, and a few bubbles on top. The nose is ashy, light roast, olive, touch of herbal hop. Taste is same, roast, ash, coffee bean, faint chocolate. Finish has some citrus hop and light herbal note, the roast lingers. Body is full, carbonation is nicely rounded. Flavors are well integrated but not of my favorite blend.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 18:53:21 | More by cpetrone84

sd123

California

4/5  rDev -2%

05-03-2013 19:30:25 | More by sd123

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4.31/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

An extremely nice Imperial Stout. Pours pitch black, but with average viscosity and a tan head that disappears very quickly. Very well integrated (rather than "watered down"), and silky smooth, but with quite deep flavors of licorice, roasted notes, bitter chocolate, and coffee notes. Surprisingly well hidden 12% abv.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 01:15:14 | More by Georgiabeer

Immortale25

Florida

4/5  rDev -2%

04-27-2013 15:27:55 | More by Immortale25

Kunstman

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -2%

04-19-2013 19:30:07 | More by Kunstman

Rand_ale_Thor

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -2%

04-19-2013 16:52:54 | More by Rand_ale_Thor

Holland

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -14.2%

04-15-2013 03:04:32 | More by Holland

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.15/5  rDev -22.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Bomber at Torst. Watered down imperial stout. A little nauseating tailpipe smel. Some lace. Mostly toasted but also burnt toast taste. Dry finish. Maybe this was better very fresh, but did not age at all, an issue I have with several Westbrook beers.I had to share this out with anyone who would help me not waste a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 12:24:08 | More by northyorksammy

DrunkinYogi

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%

04-11-2013 00:58:59 | More by DrunkinYogi

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

22 oz bottle poured into a snifter at cellar temperature.

L – Jet black color with a thick, 1.5-finger, creamy, brown head. Great retention and some initial patchy lacing. The consistency of this thing is as thick as motor oil. Awesome look for an imperial stout.

S – Mostly rich dark chocolate and roasted coffee aromas. There are touches of molasses and plums here, as well. Nicely layered and decently complex.

T – It starts off sweet with rich dark chocolate, molasses, caramel, and a touch of vanilla. As the taste progresses, dark fruits like plums come into the mix. Toward the finish, there’s a big blast of bitter and dry roasted coffee and some tobacco. Very tasty.

F – Full-bodied with average carbonation, a viscous, velvety, and creamy mouthfeel, and a bittersweet and very dry finish. Bittersweet dark chocolate and bitter roasted coffee flavors linger for a nice bit. There’s also a touch of warmth from the alcohol.

O – This is an awesome imperial stout. It’s not as complex in the aroma and taste as some examples that I’ve had, but it’s crazy thick and very drinkable for 12% ABV. Once again, another big hit from Westbrook. I’m sure Evil Twin did its part here, as well.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2013 05:20:37 | More by BlackBelt5112203

metalgdog

New York

3.5/5  rDev -14.2%

04-08-2013 00:18:49 | More by metalgdog

UCLABrewN84

California

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Bottle pour at the bottle share held at Chloe's inside Golden Road Brewing in Los Angeles, CA.

Filled 11/6/12.

Pours an opaque black with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, cocoa, vanilla, and smoke. Taste is much the same with a smoke flavor on the finish. There is a medium amount of roasty bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that is tasty and easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 06:13:51 | More by UCLABrewN84

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

4/5  rDev -2%

03-31-2013 21:28:57 | More by mikeincharleston

jwat

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2%

03-29-2013 23:45:57 | More by jwat

sendbeer

Georgia

4.75/5  rDev +16.4%

03-27-2013 16:15:46 | More by sendbeer