Joshua Norton Imperial Stout - The Tap Brewing Company

puboflyons

New Hampshire

4.43/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From the 22 ouncer with a bottling date of October 2009. Sampled on February 1, 2010. The pour is dark evergreen brown with an inch of foamy tan head that fizzles down to nothing in short order. The aroma cannot wait to escape from the bottle as it emits a nice strong aura of chocolate malts, smokiness, and light Northwestern hops. The mouthfeel is a bit thinner than I expected but I would still put it in the medium range with a kind of resiny feel to it. The taste is a nice smoked coffee and chocolate mix with a a pleasing background of hops the warms the insides. It has a 9.3% ABV but you would never know it. The alcohol is well-masked. This was excellent.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2010 00:14:58 | More by puboflyons

Kevincredible

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -5.1%

03-30-2013 11:33:27 | More by Kevincredible

Mullen2525

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -5.1%

03-18-2013 23:47:35 | More by Mullen2525

deltatauhobbit

Maine

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

Pours a dark brown almost black color with a thin bubbly tan head, fades and leaves no lacing, not very viscous for a RIS.

Smell has a huge amount of roasted coffee aroma, roasted malt also a big contributor, other thn that its fairly two note but that coffee is surprising.

Taste starts out with a coffee bitterness which adds a depth of flavor, roasted malt is a solid backing, unfortunately the body is severely lacking, the body is much too thin to pass as an imperial stout with carbonation too high as well, fortunately it drinks like a regular stout with the alcohol very well hidden, I would guess this to be closer to 5% than 9.1%.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 21:08:13 | More by deltatauhobbit

taez555

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +1.3%

03-11-2013 22:02:32 | More by taez555

t0rin0

California

3.5/5  rDev -11.4%

03-02-2013 23:18:29 | More by t0rin0

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev -5.1%

02-11-2013 03:14:31 | More by Kelp

PEIhop

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +1.3%

02-11-2013 03:10:55 | More by PEIhop

DelicateDelirium

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +7.6%

01-13-2013 07:00:56 | More by DelicateDelirium

pveilleux

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +1.3%

12-30-2012 03:23:54 | More by pveilleux

steve8robin

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got this bottle at a local beer store and was intrigued. Let's give it a go. 22oz bottle...

A: Super black with a small 1/2 inch mocha colored head that fades quickly to small bubbles atop the brew. Good.

S: Smells of vanilla and molasses upfront blended with a minor dark raisin fruit. Some smokiness on the back. Good.

T: A creamy mild vanilla which slowly gives way to a mild roastiness and a minor hop. A slight metallic taste on the back which tastes like its from the hop selection. Ends on a mild smoky roast. Good.

M: Thick body with a medium carbonation. A mild roasty finish. Good.

O: All in all, this is a decent brew. A good stout if you're looking for something local and easy to get for a decent stout. Not really worth hunting down if you don't have access though.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 02:15:00 | More by steve8robin

frosted33

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +1.3%

12-01-2012 23:43:15 | More by frosted33

BrittQ

Texas

4/5  rDev +1.3%

11-16-2012 18:08:09 | More by BrittQ

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

3.3/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle is notched 2010
Pours a solid black with a smallish creamy mocha head that sticks around for a while and leaves some spotty lace. Smells of ash and roast and a bit of caramel; not very inviting in the aroma dept. The flavor is roasty, smokey and again a bit ashy. There's a bit of earthy hop flavor and a hint of burnt sugar and caramel in there as well. Medium body with a light level of carbonation and an earthy ashy mouthfeel. Seems like this could use a little sweetness to offset all the roast and smoke. This is OK as is, but there are better stouts out there.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2012 00:19:40 | More by johnnnniee

jmerloni

Massachusetts

3.1/5  rDev -21.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - purple/black in coloration. Medium beige head that is uncommitted toward any retention or lacing,

S - Tootsie Roll Chocolate, hops, molasses malt.

T - Unpleasant chocolate laced with a girl. There's nothing good here.

M - Thick but over carbonated and boring.

D - Wouldn't get this again. In fact, this it's so poor that I wouldn't get anything from Haverhill Brewing Co. again.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 04:06:00 | More by jmerloni

Treebs

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22 oz. bottle served in a CBS snifter. Bottled in November of 2010. I got this an extra a long time ago and it just worked its way to the back of the cellar. Uncovered it during my recent move and thought I'd bust it open. Thanks for the extra Mike(gushue3)!

A: Pours a dark black color with a dark khaki head forming on the pour. The head recedes to some bubbly whisps around the collar.

S: Dark chocolate malts with some dark fruit flavors as well. Some sugar glazed prunes with a little toasted oat sweetness.

T: Definite oxidation present. Some light cardboard with some toasted grains. The finish is dark chocolate malts, prunes and some light toasted grains.

M: Medium bodied with a medium low carbonation level. Very smooth and the alcohol is well hidden.

O: For being almost two years old it wasn't bad, but it was a touch oxidized. Definitely held up though for being a tad under 10%. Solid dark chocolate and dark fruit flavors.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 23:21:42 | More by Treebs

ms11781

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -5.1%

07-01-2012 03:27:48 | More by ms11781

Rekrule

Massachusetts

2.75/5  rDev -30.4%

06-21-2012 23:54:52 | More by Rekrule

JMCrocker

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +26.6%

06-09-2012 00:29:05 | More by JMCrocker

BPudd

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +7.6%

03-15-2012 14:11:30 | More by BPudd

greenengineer

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22 oz bottle into my Pretty Things pint glass. Served refrigerator temperature, which is probably too cold for this beer.
A - Inky black, very little head. Lacings persist.
S - bitter, burnt chocolate smell. Hints of black pepper. Very 'stouty'.
T - somewhat bitter burnt chocolate or coffee taste upfront. Malty flavor persists.
M - alcohol and carbonation tingle the tongue. A little sticky
O - 4's across the board. Nice Imperial Stout. Not my favorite beer style, but good execution of the style. Extra point for local.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 19:05:06 | More by greenengineer

scottfrie

California

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle into 25oz snifter. Bottled 11/2010. Can’t remember who gave me this one, but thanks!

A: Pours black with a finger of dense dark brown head that faded into a thin collar leaving a few spots of lace down the glass.
S: Roasted scents are strong alongside a hint of vanilla and toasted coconut. Chocolate is pretty strong as well. Smells good.
T: Again, very roasted like the nose. Flavors of smoke, caramel, toasted malts, and dark grains mix well with semisweet notes of dark chocolate and fudge. I get a hint of toasted marshmallow in the aftertaste.
M: Pretty thick body, but it could be thicker. The mouthfeel just a tad thin as well. Slick all around, the carbonation is low and even. Very drinkable overall.
O: A very enjoyable stout. No one flavor aspect dominated, and this was very drinking. I’d drink this again.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2012 05:17:05 | More by scottfrie

bigorange

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +1.3%

01-31-2012 23:01:12 | More by bigorange

Khazadum

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Creamy head develops well, easily. Laces relatively easy, good stickiness. Chocolate colored head. Deep dark body, crimson lacing.

S- Deep burnt acrid grain. Sharp, astringent. Pork on the back end, roasty but also meaty. Smoky actually, less roasty. Bit of sweetness, a generic cardboard malty nature as well.

T- Bit of a light roasty body, some bits of burnt grain here and there. Tiny back end of... anise? Ugh. Hate that, but can't fault a brewer from incorporating it somehow. Finishes lightly hopped. A gentle bitterness that is earthen, well placed and tasty.

M- Smooth, creamy, silky, milky, chalky, gently carbonated. Lingering flavors, light alcohol presence around the edges make this feel like a six percent versus what it really is.

Not bad, not great. Just a simple RIS.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 02:08:45 | More by Khazadum

polishkaz

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +1.3%

01-18-2012 00:17:54 | More by polishkaz