Moat Imperial Stout - Moat Mountain Smoke House & Brewing Co.

mjn5036

New Hampshire

4.35/5  rDev +20.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle poured into a large snifter. This beer pours black and gives way to a substantial light caramel colored head, about three fingers tall. The head is massive and sticky, taking an impressively long time to disperse. After the head is gone I am left with loads of lacing adhering to the sides of the glass and some frothy hot chocolate colored cap. Really quite a nice looking brew here.

Is this a stout or an IPA I am smelling here? The nose is chock full of citrus hops and mild spiciness. Beneath this is roasted barley, chocolate and faint coffee. This has to be the hoppiest smelling RIS I have yet to encounter. Dark fruits become more apparent as this one warms up a bit.

The taste is along the same lines as the nose on this brew, but in a more cohesive manner. The sweet, citrusy profiles blends effortlessly with the roasted bitterness in a very unique and superb fashion. This is one that really quite grows on me as it warms. Dark, sweet fruits are noticeable and the coffee becomes more apparent.

The 9% abv is almost unnoticeable to me in this one. Incredibly smooth and delicious, this one just slides over the tongue. I would have liked to have had a bit of a heavier body to this brew as I feel it is slightly too thin.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2011 03:46:59 | More by mjn5036

davey101

Connecticut

1.68/5  rDev -53.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.75

2011 Vintage, bottle # 375, brew #1162, 22 oz bomber into a tulip glass. Opens with a huge fizz and an instant gush over. Yay, an infection. Normally I don't review infected beers but since a store had the audacity to mark this beer up and put a fancy "2011 Vintage" post-it note on the bottle....what the hell.

Pours a pitch black body with gobs of stereotypical infected foam. Massive initially before fizzing away coca-cola style. Aroma is of char, lightly soured malts, and a dash of chocolate. It honestly doesn't smell like much though. Taste is similar with light chocolate and char before going into a harsh lactic acid/cherry juice burn. Besides the sour flavor this is mostly devoid of flavor. It's almost as if the stout base nearly cancels out the infection leaving behind something so neutral and boring that the only reason for a drain pour would be for fear of the empty calories. Regardless I muscled on and finished this beer. I was really hoping for a decent aged stout and was left wondering how a store got $14 from me so easily. Bottle variation, improper storage, or a haphazard hand bottling incident; either way this seems like one to drink fresh.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 03:28:52 | More by davey101

Tidesox28

Maine

5/5  rDev +38.9%

05-22-2013 21:52:08 | More by Tidesox28

fearfactory

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +4.2%

03-18-2013 04:33:25 | More by fearfactory

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev +4.2%

03-16-2013 18:35:25 | More by Kelp

wisrarebeer

Wisconsin

4.16/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Bottle #366, brew 1395. $12.99 for a bomber

A: opaque, poured with nice deep tan head
S: mild nose, some deep roasted/burnt malt, chocolate, cocoa
T: very mellow and well-balanced, good bitter finish without being over the top
M: well-balanced and very drinkable

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 01:08:50 | More by wisrarebeer

Derekg

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev +4.2%

02-20-2013 03:19:49 | More by Derekg

ScaryEd

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +11.1%

01-15-2013 23:05:40 | More by ScaryEd

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bomber into a snifter. Label reads bottle # 463/1395. The brew appears black in color with a dark brown head about a finger strong. Spotty to webby patterns of patchy lace stick to the glass. A light swirl revives a finger back to the surface.

The smell is roasty with a grain inclusion that at times gets to be quite nutty. Some earth elements and trace amounts of fruity hops blend into a fresh almost oat character. A bit of minerals and fruit to citrus and floral hop aspect come into focus more as the brew warms up.

The taste brings forth notes of coffee and roasty grain like bitter chocolate. Some earth and mineral aspect across the back. A sweet minor fresh grain to oats character contrasts the bitter hops. Everything mingles together quite nicely with no one aspect overtaking the rest.

This is a medium bodied brew with a modest amount of carbonation. It is smooth and quite drinkable. It is something I would certainly drink again if given the opportunity however I wasnt the biggest fan of the mineral component that was present.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 14:50:18 | More by stakem

LambicKing

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

11-10-2012 23:12:46 | More by LambicKing

t0rin0

California

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

11-04-2012 03:54:19 | More by t0rin0

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

3.63/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Consumed 10/12/12

Appearance: Black - dark, pours pretty heavy - small, tan head - fades to a minimal head, leaves some spots and streaks of lacing

Smell: Dark malts and burnt - char, chocolate malts, leather, and licorice - roasty with some burnt coffee - dark, dark chocolate - minimal sweetness, mostly just burnt

Taste: Burnt - roasty, burnt coffee - burnt chocolate malts - leather, like licking a wallet - burnt bitterness - minimal sweetness, but some depth in the malts - some booze - lightly smoky - lots of dark, dark chocolate with some sweeter, milk chocolate malts

Mouthfeel: Medium, oily, adequately carbonated

Overall: Good stuff

I didn't really know what to expect from this beer, so I guess I'm happy with the result. Unapologetically burnt and roasty. Not bad, but could use some more complexity.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2012 21:34:37 | More by angrybabboon

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to angrybabboon for sharing and procuring the bottle.

Appearance: Near black with some dark brown and red at the edges. Almost no head. Vestiges of a dark khaki cap. Tiny collar. No lacing. Relatively heavy pour. Minimal carbonation.

Smell: Deeply roasted. Slight acrid edge from all the roasted malts. Black patent malts are present. Some nice edges of cocoa, milk chocolate, and cocoa nibs. Incredibly chocolatey. Day old coffee mixed with fresh espresso beans. Slight overall oxidation leaves some buttery notes. Massive roasted edge. Touches of leather. Minor sherry notes.

Taste: Abusively roasted. Acrid, almost smoky edge. Charcoal and even more roasted malt than the nose would indicate. Tons of milk chocolate, black patent malt, and roasted malts. Some lingering caramel sweetness coupled with fresh coffee. Ouch espresso beans. Burnt edges. So much roast. Minor alcohol backing. Big sweetness pulls some dark fruit, namely fig and raisin.

Mouthfeel: Falls a little short. Body is barely medium. Minimal carbonation is nice, but the massive roasted profile needs more body.

Overall: Good, but not great.

Too roasted in the long run. Nice depth. With a bit more body and a little aging, this could be something special.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2012 21:21:06 | More by Goblinmunkey7

Domeshot14

California

4.25/5  rDev +18.1%

08-22-2012 01:52:16 | More by Domeshot14

cestlavie

Yukon (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

07-06-2012 04:14:46 | More by cestlavie

markasparov

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev +11.1%

07-04-2012 00:00:28 | More by markasparov

pveilleux

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +25%

06-10-2012 02:27:54 | More by pveilleux

Satchboogie

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev +4.2%

06-03-2012 22:39:38 | More by Satchboogie

Ivanhoes_Backpack

New Brunswick (Canada)

1.75/5  rDev -51.4%

05-06-2012 21:23:10 | More by Ivanhoes_Backpack

ygtbsm94

Virginia

3/5  rDev -16.7%

03-13-2012 07:02:59 | More by ygtbsm94

nmann08

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

03-12-2012 01:32:16 | More by nmann08

Jason

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz brown bomber with a bottle and batch # on the label.

LOOK: Pitch black, thick dark tan head

SMELL: Espresso, dark chocolate, faint charcoal, brownies, burnt currants, suggestion of licorice root, estery

TASTE: Smooth, charred grain, cocoa powder, rasins, Italian Roast coffee, burnt sugar, creamy, woody hops, yeast, warming semi-sweet finish

Very well balanced, good to see and Impy Stout that is not all in your face with massive amounts of sweetness and alcohol. Well rounded and hits all the right buttons for me.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2012 03:31:38 | More by Jason

McLaughlin5350

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +11.1%

02-04-2012 22:29:59 | More by McLaughlin5350

11millsown113

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +11.1%

02-04-2012 19:22:03 | More by 11millsown113

tigg924

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap at the pub on New Years Day..served into a pint glass

Appearance: black in color with minimal head, opaque, low carbonation

Smell: coffee, dark chocolate, caramel, and roasted malt

Taste: dark chocolate, hops, coffee, and some medicinal aftertaste

Mouthfeel: heavy bodied, low carbonation, sweet with slight bitterness

Overall: This is a very solid RIS. A nice slow drinker with just the right amount of sweetness. I think this is one of Moat's better beers. I will get this again.

Serving type: on-tap

01-03-2012 17:21:07 | More by tigg924