Imperial Stout Trooper - New England Brewing Co.

edbeer

Rhode Island

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this beer on cask at the real ae fetival in CT this year. It had been aged for 42 weeks in oak whisky barrels. I cant begin to say how wonderful thi beer was. The aroma was a sensual mix of coffe, chocolate, and vanilla. The taste was smooth and silky with a nice sweet balance of roasted malt and hops. It finished smooth and creamy. The oak and whisky came through in the middle and added to the warming senation of the alcohol. If I ever get a chance to try this beer in that way again I will consider myself lucky.

Serving type: cask

10-18-2009 01:04:58 | More by edbeer

capra12

New York

4.83/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Reviewed on the first day of GCF at RNH with speedwayjim and special thanks to Patrick for aging this bad boy for a year and resisting the temptation to open it.

Appearance: Jet black and brown with little head.

Smell: Dark fruits and malts with a subtle alcohol nose.

Taste: Opens with dark fruits, malts and dark chocolate which carry over into the finish. From the middle there are dark grains and an earthiness which completes the sip and a slightly alcohol finish which leaves my palate with a mildly malty, dark grain and dark chocolate aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, with minimal carbonation and medium to full bodied.

Drinkability: So good I had to go back the next day to have another, definitely worth a try and I can't wait till my next chance to have this.

Serving type: cask

09-16-2009 05:44:31 | More by capra12

SpeedwayJim

New York

4.75/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Had this one at Rattle-n-Hum during NY Beer week with capra12. Served in a Brooklyn Brewery Pint Glass.

A: Poured opaque and silky with a 1/2 finger creamy caramel head. Left layered lacing to the point where I could tell how much I sipped each time I did so.

S: Dark fruit (raisins, prunes) sweet soy sauce, dark roasted chocolate, vanilla, and sugary malts.

T: Opens with raisins and sweet soy sauce and develops into a chocolate, vanilla concoction without losing the initial taste. This one just builds and builds. Ends with slightly sour malts and a deep, dark soy sauce aftertaste that lingers.

M: Viscous, silky, and deep bodied just like it should be. Almost no carbonation and really coasts the mouth with layers and layers of flavor.

D: This brew was absolutely amazing and I can't wait to have it again. Definitely worth the hype and if I have to say so myself, no question that this is on par with Dark Lord, the stuff worthy of a cult following.

Serving type: cask

09-12-2009 01:39:51 | More by SpeedwayJim

indiapaleale

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this at the CT Real Ale fest in New Haven.

Dark inky pour with minimal coffee colored head.

Strong whisky notes in the nose, dark chocolate and coffee as well. Smells delicious and strong.

Taste is chewy, whisky characteristics abound, alcohol notes. Brown sugar and caramel notes as well. This stuff is not for the faint of heart as it is one hard hitting imperial stout.

Glad I got to try this on cask as it was a unique experience.

Serving type: cask

01-26-2009 01:56:29 | More by indiapaleale

zipper8650

New York

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

Good Beer Sunday
2010 in I snifter
A - black, thin creamed coffee head..a stout basically
S - bitter coffee smell, vanilla, I got some metallic or ash smell from it too maybe, there is an odd smell I can't put my finger on
T - again the light metallic, I keep thinking cherries (not fresh cherries), other usual stout tastes . Bitter end note
M - really nice mouthfeel, not super thick, not thin
O - don't get me wrong, it's a really good stout but I was expecting more, I would like to try a 1 - 2 year old as well. I'd just buy Ten Fidy instead of trading for this in the future
Skol

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 23:30:50 | More by zipper8650

mjtiernan

New York

4.14/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

500ml bottle poured into a small snifter. 2012 vintage.

A: Very little carb activity on pour. Black body. Mustered a small dark brown head that did enough to make it very inviting, but then it mostly went away leaving a thin ring around the edge and some patches near the center. Spotty lacing down the glass.

S: Chocolate. Bordering between dark and milk. There's a hint of nuttiness..maybe hazelnut. A whiff of licorice/anise. Very little hop presence.

T: Wonderfully roasty and chocolaty. A touch of wood and dark fruit. Decent hop characteristic. A bit tannic/acidic in the finish. Cohesive flavors throughout.

M: Full bodied, somewhat chalky finish. Acidic and oily texture. Minimal carb.

O: This beer is defined by its ability to balance many ingredients and extreme flavors. I'll be buying more of this.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 03:16:34 | More by mjtiernan

MadScientist

New York

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

A: This is a fine looking beer with a thick expresso colored head mostly creamy, slightly rock bubbles. The head is very looking lasting and leaves a light touch of lacing on the glass. This impressive head sits atop a jet black beer showing a hint of deep garnet on the edges.

S: A nice rich malty nose with coffee, cocoa and some licorice notes. Some moderate dark fruit notes of prunes and figs. There is a medium-low citrus hops aroma and a low, floral alcohol aroma.

T: A creamy, coffee and unsweetened chocolate with rich dark malt flavors that just go on and on. The level of malt flavor is high on this but it's fairly smooth with just a touch of dark malt bitterness and a light charcoal flavor; dark caramel, brown sugar and more my tongue is getting lost. The hops bitterness is moderate as is the earthy hops flavor. It has medium to medium-low fruity esters of plums and figs. There is a fair amount of malt sweetness but the balance is still bitter with a medium finish. The aftertaste is of dark grains, unsweetened chocolate and a light hops bitterness.

M: A very creamy, full bodied beer with a moderate level of carbonation.

O: A rainbow of dark malt flavors, well executed and pleasantly balanced. Sometimes when you use too many grains the flavors end up muddied and muted like mixing to many paints it ends up dull and grey; that is so not the case here this beer is rich and flavorful.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 18:39:48 | More by MadScientist

MarkJBurch

New York

3.93/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

12/2012 - Brought to just below room temperature and poured aggressively into a clean snifter glass. Khaki colored head with moderate retention and soft lacing, pitch black.

Smell of tart fruit with boozy undertones followed by roasted malt and dark chocolate.

Flavors are muddled a bit. Bitter chocolate, booze and a bland chalkiness. Sparse sweetness is reminiscent of cola, dry finish leaves behind a charred flavor.

Feels light on the tongue, airy, with a smoothness that contrasts the somewhat harsh flavor.

This beer lacks the smoothness that I find in other imperial stouts, despite having a below average alcohol by volume. For me, the taste fell short and I am left underwhelmed.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2013 00:56:00 | More by MarkJBurch

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.2/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

a really fantastic stout, no frills about this one, no coffee, cocoa nibs, nothing but an authentic imperial stout here. the pour is real dark, almost black, but tinted cherrywood red when held to intense light. an inch of white head is permanently fixed to the surface. sort of an understated smell, in a meticulously refined way. its dark and bitter of course, but its also got some subtle earthy notes, like damp tree bark, and a touch of black licorice. the flavor is super roasty, as dark as you can go before getting that bitter char taste. here is where some coffee essences can be observed, but its a parallel of roasting, not necessarily of a real coffee addition. there is a little sweetness towards the finish that brings to mind butterscotch oatmeal cookies, one of my most favorite desserts. full body, standard carbonation, cloudlike soft and moist texture that really makes it dangerously easy to drink. I also love that the abv isn't through the roof. it allows for more intake, and thus more reflection. overall this is an outstanding stout, a great illustration of the style, and a beer that I may never have gotten to try if it weren't for a great trade with thebrewo. cheers for this!

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 19:37:05 | More by StonedTrippin

Thickfreakness

New York

4.49/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A- Pours pitch black with a thick and chewy kahki head that never seems to want to let go. Ribbons of thick and sticky lacing cling to the glass and slip down. Looks like still black coffee with a touch of foam on the top. Not a sign of carbonation anywhere.

S- WOW! Coffee, bitter dark cocoa, touches of vanilla, raisin, figs and orange peel. This has real depth. Really digging the dark fruit and bitter cocoa mix.

T- Amazing creamy milk and bitter 80% chocolate with fresh squeezed orange. Huge espresso and charred malts without tasting burnt. Light notes of toasted grains and pumpernickel.

M- Thicker than a fudge brownie! Really chewy and long lasting. It doesn't so much glide down your tongue as much as it flows down like lava. Really soft on the palate. No carbonation to speak of.

O- This is really nice. The orange peel and citrus really comes out as it warms up. Espresso, dark cocoa powder, brownies, with plenty of dark dried fruit and black coffee. It drinks fantastic now, but I can't wait to see what happens to this with some time on it.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 23:39:04 | More by Thickfreakness

Kendo

New York

4.29/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Bottle (16.9 oz) says it was bottled in December of 2012. Consumed on March 21, 2013.

A: Poured from the bottle into a Piraat snifter/tulip-type glass. Body is black with a half-finger chocolate-brown head on top that reminds me of chocolate milk, only thicker (maybe I'm just used to the skim and I need to use whole milk). Leaves a good amount of lace behind all the way down the glass.

S: Coffee, roasted coffee beans, chocolate and something else that I can't quite put my finger on right now - wait, I think I have it now: burnt fudge brownies; you know, when you make brownies and leave them in the oven too long and the bottom gets a little burnt. That's what I smell. . . . Pretty strong nose, with good Imperial Stout-type scents.

T: First impression (other than the thinner-than-expected mouthfeel) is that it's roasty. Not quite Porter-roasty, but it's close. Roasted barley and coffee with milk chocolate early, then dark chocolate on the back end of the palate. A touch of anise is noted. Finishes with a charcoal/char-like burnt bitterness.

M: Like I said earliere, the heft is a bit thinner than expected. After a few sips, however, I'm over it. Call it medium in heft, with modest carbonation that's inoffensive.

O: Solid stuff. It grew on me after some initial hesitance.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 02:18:18 | More by Kendo

merc7186

New York

4.19/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

4oz sampler.

A: Dark Opaque Hue, Passes No Light, Brown Head Ring, Decent Lacing

S: Dark Chocolate, Licorice, Mild Coffee

T: Licorice, Anise, Chocolate, Mild Coffee

M: Decent Carbonation, Medium to Full Bodied, Mildly Sweet, Mildly Bitter

Overall, a pretty solid Imperial Stout, a little different with the anise, licorice taste I thought.

Serving type: on-tap

03-19-2013 23:55:14 | More by merc7186

ThePorterSorter

New York

3.86/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

the beer pours a rich looking black with a thin halo of tan head. the nose is distinct with a big hoppy/boozy nose and very little roast/caramel. the taste is slightly roasty, but predominantly earthy bitter chocolate. the mouthfeel is relatively full bodied and sweet, but certainly not cloying, slightly bitter and a touch of cardboard. this is a tasty stout with good balance and relatively tame sweetness. good beer that's worth trying, but doesn't overpower.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 00:09:17 | More by ThePorterSorter

jeonseh

Indiana

2.5/5  rDev -40.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

2010 bottle poured into a snifter

A - Dark brown with small mocha colored head

S- The smell is off as I keep getting pennies that overpower light coffee and slight dark fruit

T - Roasted coffee, slight vanilla, caramel, dark roasted coffee. Slight prune juice as well. It drinks better than it smells but it's not great

MF - Light carbonation with medium body that gives it a slight astringent and bitter lingering taste

O - Cool bottle but the beer is off as it has too much copper for a RIS

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 03:08:08 | More by jeonseh

CharlatanSin

Connecticut

4.44/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From a growler filled at NEBCO to a tulip (a few times). I've had this year's batch a few times now, time to review.

A: Jet black, like motor oil. A little bit of a fizzy dark tan head. No lacing.

S: Dark roasted malt, milk chocolate, and licorice. Raisins. Fruitier than I remember. Very nice.

T/M: Delicious milk chocolate dominates. Toffee. Sweet and smooth. A little dark roast and a bit of a hop presence makes for a somewhat bitter finish. Not much of the dark fruit from the nose. Not a hint of booze. Dangerously drinkable. Mouthfeel is smooth and slick with low carbonation. (I remember carbonation being higher in the bottle.)

O: NEBCO continues to crush it this year. Well done boys.

Serving type: growler

02-27-2013 13:03:07 | More by CharlatanSin

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

thanks to egrace84 for the share!

poured into a hair of the dog tulip.

drank this side by side with BA IST!

Vintage 2012.

Appearance: black bodied beer with 1 finger of light brown head. A thin cap remains on the beer during the entire drink. A gentle swirl bring this beer right back to life!

Smell: Milk chocolates, cocoa beans, and light roast from the malts. Also getting graham crackers and cinnamon oddly enough; hints of vanilla! Sweet and malts nose overall.

Taste: Lots of milk chocolates and cocoa just like the nose. Hints of vanilla and cocoa beans. A hint of lactose notes and black licorice. Bit of roastiness and nuttiness blend effortlessely into the overall effect as well. As the beer warms up you can start to taste the hops, but its just a hint and the beer still stays semi sweet like milk chocolates.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied beer with moderate carbonation. Great carbonation levels; really nice and drinkable Imperial Stout! Smooth and soft feel with a little silky and creaminess to it!

Overall: I have wanted to try this for a long time now. It did not dissapoint and i would say that this beer is better than what the average review says it is. Its a memorable stout for sure! Love the label too! NEBCO has a real winner here. No wonder it has been so difficult to get my hand on a bottle of this!

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 05:53:28 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

smonice

New Jersey

4.59/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Wow this is a good Stout. Bottle makes it seems somewhat cheesy but wow does this deliver.

2012 vintage. 500 mL bottle LIF'd by ILOVESTOUTS.

A - Deep brown color with a nice mocha colored 1/2 inch head. Minimal lacing but solid retention.

S - Has a very strong roasty smell and not much else. I thought I got some chocolate in there but after trying again, didn't get it.

T - Cocoa, cocoa, and some more cocoa. Some roasty malts in there and subtle coffee bitterness. Really fantastic.

M - Creamy and smooth body. Super drinkable!

O - Wow I want some more right now. Really I do.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 23:12:50 | More by smonice

sentomaster

Connecticut

4.39/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A- thick black oil coming out of the bottle. Looks like there's no way it can produce foam, but after the pour gets going a beautiful, thick head of light brown foam builds. It recedes and leaves fantastic sticky lacing all over the glass

S- Copious dark fruit and roasty aromas. Plums, raisins, licorice, anise, burnt toast, a touch of smoke. Really dark and foreboding.

T/M- starts with waves of dark fruit, licorice and anise- followed mid palate by huge roasty and toasted malt flavors. Bitter coffee and bitter sweet chocolate mingle with tart cherry and anise. everything comes through in a flurry on the finish with a smattering of citrus hops to dry it all out

O- In the mold of a true RIS with the influences of american double stout, a fantastic must try.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 03:52:52 | More by sentomaster

tehzachatak

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

2012 vintage. 500 mL bottle poured into my 668 tulip. Hooked up with this bottle courtesy of naloxone - thanks dude!

Side by side with 2013 BA IST.

A - pours a completely opaque black with two fingers of frothy chocolate milkshake head. really couldn't look better.

S - roasty, burnt sugar, some fruit. a lot of burnt sugar. not as good as I remembered. not much cocoa/chocolate/coffee in the nose.

T - there's the cocoa! not so much burnt sugar flavor, although there still is some. a lot of dry roasty malts. tiny bit of coffee-esque flavor at the end.

M - a little bit drier than it could be. otherwise, nice and coating of the mouth, nicely carbonated, good end. as drinkable as any 9% RIS!

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 02:31:24 | More by tehzachatak

chugalug06

Colorado

4.26/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Nice large four-finger espresso colored head. Brew is black as night and roasty black. No lacing.

Roasty, smoky, nothing overwhelming... nutty, dry, chocolate, slightly musty...

Thin, watery, solid, well blended, roasty, super dark chocolaty, sweetness is precise and direct. Overly high carbonation is high, heat is well hidden and bitterness is great, light. Roasty is full and nutty.

A very solid brew, but IST is another example of a brew not worth all the hype it receives, especially at ^$20/bottle. Recommended, but don't buy into the hype..

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 21:29:02 | More by chugalug06

albertjr21

New York

4.63/5  rDev +10%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2012 bottled poured into a snifter yields a solid black body under a well maintained khaki colored head. Aroma is quite impressive and complex with notes of earthy and sweet notes of chocolate, coffee, nut, graham cracker and vanilla. A smooth and silky malty mouthfeel glides over the palate with resonating earthy hops, pungent cocoa, dark fruit, and perhaps tobacco flavors that harmonize nicely into a dry finish. I see a fully loaded beef cheeseburger pairing in this brew's future on my table...

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 20:36:46 | More by albertjr21

alexgash

Connecticut

4.48/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

64 oz. growler. Filled on 12/18/12.

Inky dark brown to black, viscous body. Small, half finger of dense, dark khaki head. Some retention and lacing. Lots of roasted malts on the nose. Dark chocolate covered fruit. Licorice. Sumatran coffee funk. Nice.

Roasted malt and coffee bitterness up front. Swells with dark fruit, semi-sweet chocolate, and rum raisins. Peaty, with Sumatran funk and bitterness comes through, along with licorice and some molasses. More roasted bitterness in the finish with plenty of lingering sweet peaty malt and chocolate. Slightly warming, but very drinkable. Full bodied with a lush, velvety feel. Very nice, especially once it hits cellar temperature.

Serving type: growler

12-25-2012 20:12:21 | More by alexgash

scottfrie

California

4.35/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2010. 750ml bottle into snifter. Split with mjyoung. Thanks for sending me this a long while back, SneezyAchew.

A: Pours black with a rather large, dense, yet fluffy dark mocha colored head. Head slowly faded into a thick and greasy film that left streaks of lace down the glass.
S: Big chocolate and coffee on the nose. Very mellow and smooth smelling.
T: Follows the nose with dominating notes of dark chocolate, coffee, and dark roasted malts. Dark fruits are in there too, with hints of dates, raisins, and slight vanilla. The finish is fairly bitter for the style (in a good way), and the aftertaste is roasted and chocolatey.
M: Full body, although not motor oil, with a very smooth but bitter mouthfeel. The carbonation is mellow and adds to the smoothness.
O: I was surprised how good this was. Definitely flavorful and super easy to drink. This could be aged even longer. Thanks again Michael!

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 01:06:25 | More by scottfrie

abraxel

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Reviewed blind as part of Blind BIF 7, courtesy of ShogoKawada.

A - Super black, with a mocha-colored head which drops kinda quickly, but leaves a persistent film and pretty good lacing.

S - Sweet plums and raisins, brown sugar, and a touch of sharp molasses. There's a little something more, but I can't place it. Could it be chilis? Not sure. Regardless, I really like it.

T - This is tough to describe. It's rather sweet, with plums and raisins and such, with just a little roastiness, and I'm becoming increasingly convinced that there's just a little bit of chili in the aftertaste... but there's so much else in the flavor that I just can't put into words. Part of it reminds me of that slight twinge of sourness in baltic porters. Quite tasty.

M - Full, thick, smooth, lowish carbonation. Almost no hint of alcohol.

Overall, I like this a whole lot, but I have no idea what it is. An imperial stout, obviously, but beyond that I haven't a clue. It has something else going on in there that I haven't been able to place and which brings in a whole bunch of flavor.

Non-blind comments: This was vintage 2011

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 15:01:57 | More by abraxel

KTCamm

New Jersey

4.68/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Poured from NEBCO bomber into a perfect pint glass. 2010 bottling, so aged somewhat.

Pours jet black, like oil, with thick head of brown foam. Sits a top like a foam cap. Coffee rich roasted nose. Dark chocolate too. Powerful. Smooth creamy taste, with loads of dark chocolate, hint of coffee. The bitter is buried deep in the back. Mouthfeel is quite smooth. Soft, even. Top notch. Phenominal.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 18:15:45 | More by KTCamm