Samuel Adams Imperial Stout - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

BDIMike

Ohio

4.05/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a completely black color, even when held to the light. There is a very thin head with a nice dark brown, almost purplish color.
Not the strong smells that I am used to on an imperial stout. There is a slight bit of chocolate and coffee malts, but not much else.
The taste is much stronger than the smell, but still subdued for the category. There are a lot of malt tastes, mostly of a smoky, coffee taste, with a slight bit of chocolate as well.
In an imperial stout I am used to a much thicker liquid, but the drink is very velvety and smooth all the way down.
Sam Adams Imperial Stout is a lot more subdued than imperial stouts than I am used to. It is easier to drink than most, because the taste is more balanced and a lot less of an alcohol taste than normal. Although, the brew does not have some of the strong and great tastes of others of its style, it is more drinkable because of the good balanced taste.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2009 00:05:19 | More by BDIMike

tmaestro

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +11.8%

05-24-2013 21:34:57 | More by tmaestro

rypkr

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +11.8%

05-23-2013 23:33:54 | More by rypkr

visionaries

California

4.25/5  rDev +11.8%

05-23-2013 17:40:29 | More by visionaries

datalager

Connecticut

4.66/5  rDev +22.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Insanely cocoa colored head, sitting atop an oil black body. And to add to the stunning appearance is lacing as frothy as sea foam.

The nose is like a carnival...no...a three ring circus! Licorice, espresso, chocolate. Deep, full bodied aroma is immediately apparent cold out of the fridge. As it warms, the coffee scent steps back, and the anise steps far forward. Esters are quite present, to no surprise given the 9.2% demon.

Flavors follow the aromas nicely, with an addition of molasses mid gulp, and some slight caramel in the finish. Alcohol is ever more obvious upon swallow than in sniff alone.

Mouthfeel is where this ale gets a top award, IMO. Resiny, thick, syrup-like draw with a smooth burn upon swallow. Damn, this is a heavenly stout!

If you are looking for a top shelf beer that is strong, sweet and dark, this brew from Boston Brewing is as good as any I've had in the genre.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 13:38:03 | More by datalager

Rdc67

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

05-22-2013 20:36:02 | More by Rdc67

seplo

Connecticut

3.25/5  rDev -14.5%

05-21-2013 00:19:03 | More by seplo

KingSlayer

California

4.25/5  rDev +11.8%

05-20-2013 00:53:08 | More by KingSlayer

SmellsofMahagony

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

05-18-2013 03:01:00 | More by SmellsofMahagony

carlosega

Ohio

4/5  rDev +5.3%

05-17-2013 19:30:16 | More by carlosega

verge

California

4/5  rDev +5.3%

05-16-2013 22:05:23 | More by verge

drgonzo2k2

California

4/5  rDev +5.3%

05-16-2013 13:20:59 | More by drgonzo2k2

aty11b

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +11.8%

05-14-2013 01:54:17 | More by aty11b

lacqueredmouse

Australia

4.09/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12oz bottle purchased from BevMo in Sunnyvale, CA.

Pours a dull, slightly translucent but rather oily brown colour, with a minimal flat futz of beige foam that becomes a static ring. Body looks quite thick, but the beer itself looks dead and lifeless. It's not overly impressive.

Nose is pleasant, though. Mild chocolate and toasty grain, with some boozy undertones which give vanilla and banana aromas. There's some deep caramel and toffee as well, providing a pleasant sweetness to provide body and structure. It's nice stuff.

Taste is similarly smooth and structured. Solid, pleasant dark malt sweetness, spiked with vanilla and aniseed. Some spicy booze comes out on the back, giving more of a prickly feel than anything else. Finish is surprisingly light, evaporating almost towards the end, with just a lingering roast character.

Feel is smooth but light and supple. It's very good.

Overall, this is a nice beer. A very nice beer, in fact. It's not an imperial stout that redefines the genre, but it's well made and well-structured. I like it.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 01:38:54 | More by lacqueredmouse

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%

05-14-2013 00:19:30 | More by Kegatron

BMart

Pennsylvania

2.25/5  rDev -40.8%

05-13-2013 16:46:31 | More by BMart

JamesStreet

Louisiana

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

05-12-2013 16:29:39 | More by JamesStreet

MinorThreat

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

05-11-2013 21:25:05 | More by MinorThreat

twenty5

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%

05-10-2013 15:23:46 | More by twenty5

rph97

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%

05-10-2013 00:15:00 | More by rph97

Christov

Michigan

4/5  rDev +5.3%

05-08-2013 16:38:40 | More by Christov

bubseymour

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

05-02-2013 00:34:42 | More by bubseymour

FliryVorru

Alabama

4.25/5  rDev +11.8%

04-29-2013 17:30:15 | More by FliryVorru

odement

Michigan

4/5  rDev +5.3%

04-25-2013 00:23:31 | More by odement

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

3.96/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a snifter at cellar temperature.

L – Black color with a nice 3-finger, frothy, foamy, tan head. Awesome retention and fantastic sheets of lacing.

S – Mostly sweet aromas with chocolate, caramel, and brown sugar. The aroma doesn’t have much in the way of roasted malt but it is very pleasant.

T – It starts off sweet with chocolate, caramel, and molasses and eventually progresses to a smooth and mild bitter roasted coffee taste. After the bitterness fades, there may be some sweet dark fruits and licorice that creep in. It’s not as complex as some of the best beers of the style, but it’s definitely tasty.

F – Medium-to-full-bodied with nice carbonation, a sticky and mouth-coating feel, and a bittersweet and slightly dry finish. Bittersweet coffee, chocolate, and molasses flavors linger.

O – This is a nice RIS. As I said before, it’s not as complex as some of the best beers of the style, but it’s a great basic example of the style – just like most Samuel Adams beers. It’s very tasty and drinkable, and the ABV is hidden very well. While there are other Russian imperial stouts that I’d rather have, I would certainly never say no to this one. Nice beer from Sam.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 23:44:42 | More by BlackBelt5112203