Satin Solstice Imperial Stout - Central Waters Brewing Company

WankelEngine

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass

A: Pours a very dark brown color bordering on black with hints of ruby around the edges when held up to light. There is a tan head that fades to a spotty cap. Lacing is moderately heavy curtains.

S: Roasted malts and coffee are prominent. Good aroma but not much complexity beyond the initial smell.

T: Continues the roasted malt flavor. Brewed coffee is even more prominent and complemented by bittersweet chocolate. There is a pleasant earthy quality throughout the sip. Finish is actually very clean for an imperial stout, with just some of the chocolate and earthy tones lingering momentarily.

M: Medium bodied for an imperial stout, but smooth and creamy. Carbonation is mild but fizzy.

O: Decent stout with an emphasis on coffee. Surprisingly drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2012 00:13:54 | More by WankelEngine

sleuthdog

Illinois

3.43/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz with a bottled date Aug 2011 poured into tulip glass

A: I was unable to create much of any head on this beer but what little did form was of an light brown color. This beer is of a murky brown color without much carbonation.

S: Smells like brown sugar and dark fruits such as raisins and figs. It does also have some syrup or molasses on the nose. I also pick out some smokey coffee and chocolate at the end. There is a faint whiff of alcohol.

T: Upon initial taste I get bitter chocolate, sweetness from a molasses taste and a mild coffee. There is also some roasted taste and a toffee taste. On the back end there is some hop bitterness. Alcohol is very well hidden.

M: For an imperial stout this is thin on the mouth. It feels slick but not oily and viscous like I imagine a beer of this style to be. Even though I describe this as thin it does coat my mouth and lingers until the next sip.

O: Even though this doesn't hit all boxes that I expect in an imperial stout it is rather enjoyable. It isnot over powering in any one aspect and that makes it well rounded for me. A rather easy drinker for an imperial stout.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2012 01:45:40 | More by sleuthdog

tewaris

Minnesota

3.78/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz poured into a tulip.

Clear brown color, medium mocha head, average retention. An inexplicable barrel character in the aroma?! Roast, malts, vanilla and a fleeting tartness. Some citrus too. I might be wrong but the shiny coating at the rim of my glass is troubling me... I think it's giving off metallic notes.

Aroma is better than the taste, which itself is not bad. Bitter, but with hops more than the roast, fairly creamy but not sweet, and slightly charred at the end. Woody. Medium carbonation hits the bullseye.

4, 4, 3.5, 4, 4

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2012 12:20:10 | More by tewaris

yamar68

Minnesota

2.9/5  rDev -24.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

I was told this is the base beer for their BA stout. Either that was a lie or those barrels do magical things to this beer...

Pours a very dark brown with edges of coffee/ruby red. Brief, latte head. Decent lacing. Smells of sweet malts, hard water, subtle chocolate, pretty subdued. The taste is no more powerful - big on the iron/hard water, toasty malts, no discernible hop presence. This is highly drinkable, especially for an Imperial Stout, but that’s not what I was looking for. Won’t buy again.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2012 02:39:09 | More by yamar68

Steasy66

Minnesota

3.63/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz into snifter.

A- Not quite black, medium color head for an IS, fades fast.
S- Roasted malt, not a whole lot else, a bit lacking in the aroma department overall.
T- Sweet, vanilla, a bit of roasted malt, slight caramel, somewhat bitter finish and a little bit sour at the back.
M- Fairly thick for the ABV, crisp carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2012 05:31:07 | More by Steasy66

GoldHorde

Minnesota

3.93/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dark chocolate appearance and aroma predicts the roasted flavor exactly. I found it a little too sweet (perhaps because the vanilla accent is a bit too strong). Aftertaste is definitely too strong with its 'vanilla edge'. A good cigar beer - the cigar chases the vanilla away. The mouhfeel is a tad lighter than expected but well within the style. This stout would not make it into my top ten stouts list but it is far better than the ones I had ten+ years ago.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2012 03:39:40 | More by GoldHorde

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.45/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into snifter.

Pours a little tan head. Color is near black.

Aroma: Milk chocolate and roasted malts. Some caramel and vanilla. Earthy hops with some molasses.

Taste: A nice dose of roast with coffee malts. Lots of chocolate and caramel. Molasses, raisins, and some dark fruits.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and roasty. Medium to full bodied with a low to medium amount of carbonation. Ends syrupy.

Overall, a decent imperial stout, but it lacks body and some flavor. However, for the price, it is hard to pass up. Good year round offering from CW.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 01:59:39 | More by mothman

Gyle41386

South Carolina

3.88/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a snifter.

The pour is dark brown, nearly black. Tan head reaches a finger, max, before quickly fizzing away. There are thin patches of lacing stuck to the glass.

Lots of sweetness in the nose. I'm smelling more milk chocolate than roasted malts. Also some toffee and caramel sweetness. Very, very subtle dark fruit aroma.

The roast appears in the taste. The sweetness is mostly up front with a coffee-like bitterness in the finish. Not terribly boozy, but I wasn't expecting it to be given its relatively low ABV.

Medium-full body, low carbonation. Slick feel. Some dryness in the finish. Quite the easy drinker, but I can't help but feel that it's a little weak for an imperial stout. Solid beer nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2012 06:21:53 | More by Gyle41386

barnzy78

Illinois

2.75/5  rDev -28.2%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle, pours dark brown coming out of the bottle, but is black like cola in the glass with a thin light brown head that leaves some lacing on the glass. Aromas are odd - cheap chocolate, alcohol, somewhat woody, and I somehow get a urine odor that is off-putting to say the least. Tastes are a little better than the aromas - milk chocolate, molasses, boozy. Mouth is medium bodied, creamy, and smooth. Overall, I've had this one in the past and wasn't crazy about it. Now it's confirmed, still not crazy about it.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 03:59:52 | More by barnzy78

DIM

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

a: This was a dark cola brown, kind of light for a stout. It poured with a large, but short lived foamy head.

s: Roasty cococa and coffee, not much else. Pretty mild overall.

t: Lots of roasty flavors cocoa in particular with some hints of coffee.

m: Silky smooth with creamy carbonation.

o: Kind of one dimesional, though I did like that one dimension.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 14:34:05 | More by DIM

dlello2

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Looks thinner and not quite as dark as most imperial stouts. Lots of red actually on this one. Dark khaki head.

S - Lots of sweetness. Milk chocolate. Not super roasty... surprisingly some hops come through. Not really any coffee. Nice smelling beer.

T - Looking forward to this one warming up. Right away a touch of coffee bitterness and maybe a hint of alcohol. This is swept away immediately by delicious milk chocolate and vanilla bean sweetness. The aftertaste is fantastic. Chocolate stays with me for a good 20 seconds. Really nice.

M - Really nice and creamy. Good amount of carbonation. Sits well.

O - Really drinkable stout. I don't know that I would call this and "imperial stout" but who am I to argue. I will definitely be drinking this in the future.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2012 00:48:20 | More by dlello2

coldriver

Texas

3.8/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle pours a near-opaque black with lovely fluffy head and great lacing. Aroma is dark roasted coffee, alcohol, and Playdough. Taste is coffee, a fair amount of bitter hops, and subtle cocoa and licorice. Mouthfeel is good and chewy with nice dry finish. Overall a solid (but not outstanding) stout.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2012 20:07:14 | More by coldriver

diabecktic

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance:
A hard pour results in ~2 fingers of creamy, light tan head. Carbonation isn't visible through this jet black brew. Retention and lacing are both excellent.

Smell:
The nose is rather "earthy" and incredibly smokey. Alcohol is also apparent, but this can be expected given the 7.5% ABV.

Taste:
Notes of coffee and caramel impart a subtle sweetness to a somewhat grainy malt. The smokiness in the nose is also appreciable on the palate, but it's not overpowering; balance is excellent.

Mouthfeel:
Though rather dense, this beer is incredibly easy to drink. The smokiness and sweetness are balanced fairly well and make each sip quite pleasant. The coffee notes become more apparent in the aftertaste and prompt me to keep drinking.

Overall:
I think that this is a very good interpretation of the Imperial Stout. The "darkness" which is manifest in density, appearance, and flavor is balanced quite well without being offensive. I definitely enjoyed the smokiness; this is difficult to do well, but I think the folks at Central Waters got it right. I would definitely suggest trying this beer if you haven't yet had it.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2012 03:48:10 | More by diabecktic

jsprain1

Minnesota

3.88/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- Very dark brown. Almost black. Head is thin and cocoa and does not last long.
S- Aroma is somewhat sweet with chocolate, caramel, and dark mollasses being the main aromas.
T- At first it is fairly sweet but the roasted malts take over mid sip. Sweet caramel and molasses and first, but there is a dark roasted coffee is strong in the finish.
M- For an imperial stout is only medium body, maybe a bit lighter. Body is not quite creamy or chewy but it has a certain smoothness.
O- A decent imperial stout that is drinkable and has a great deal of flavor. One of Central Waters better beers.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2012 03:10:48 | More by jsprain1

minterro

Michigan

3.35/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Beer from a trade with jegross2

A & S: Pours about 2 fingers of fizzy (light tan) head that shifts to the foamy spectrum in a minute or so. The color of the beer is ligher black and not very syrupy looking. And min by min loses head till there is nothing left. Smell: caramel, toffee, and sweet chocolate.

T & M: quite sour. little but of herbal hops. Bit smoky and a little dry in the finish. Not very rich or robust. Kinda leaves an unpleasant sour after taste. On the higher side of medium for the body and fairly smooth. Medium to low amounts of carbonation.

O: For the style this beer not very good, but it’s a pretty average beer overall. The alcohol contain is pretty low for a double, I thought it tasted more like an American stout.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 19:12:31 | More by minterro

n2185

North Carolina

3.23/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Pours black with a finger of light tan head that fades into a thin ring with no lacing.

S: Roasted malts with lots of sweet cocoa powder aromas and some graham notes as well.

T: Light roasted malt flavors at first followed by some creamy chocolate notes. The finish has some slight char flavors with a light bitterness.

M: Medium-thick body with lowish carbonation, this beer is slightly watery for the style, though the carbonation helps.

O: An alright imperial stout, though I have a tough time calling it an imperial stout. It says it on the bottle, but at 7.5% with less complexity and a lighter body, it's much closer to an American stout. Still, it's not bad.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 06:27:38 | More by n2185

zeff80

Missouri

3.98/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured out an opaque, jet-black color. It was thick with a viscous appearance. A one-finger, light brown head of foam quickly receded to left very little lacing.

S - It smelled boozy and sweet with a strong malt presence. A kiss of chocolate in the nose.

T - Nice roasted malt taste with some sweet toffee, burnt molasses and dark chocolate. A touch of bitter hop bite.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A medium bodied ale with a dry finish.

O - This is a nice Imperial Stout. Another good brew from Central Waters.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2012 03:29:34 | More by zeff80

bierbrauer

Wisconsin

3.85/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle purchased locally. Bottle dated November 2011. Poured into a tulip glass.

A: Very dark brown with 1" fairly dense, beige foam that settles gradually and leaves sparse, very thin lacing.

S: Coffee, light malt, chocolate, slight alcohol.

T: Roasting coffee, dark chocolate, with some earthy hop bitterness & alcohol.

M: Thin/medium body and medium carbonation; creamy; neutral finish; heat.

O: A light, straight-forward, good tasting stout. The alcohol seemed a bit too prominent.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 21:08:12 | More by bierbrauer

cquinn17

Illinois

3.93/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz poured into a snifter.

A- Not a very thick imperial stout, very dark brown with pretty much no head.

S- Dark chocolate, coffee, roasted malts and a little alcohol

T- More coffee than I anticipated with a nice rich taste. A little heat but not too much. The flavors work well together and it leaves a great aftertaste. Also as it warms more of the dark chocolate flavors start to come through.

M- Smooth mouthfeel, kinda thin though. A good amount of carbonation for an imperial stout.

O- Overall a pretty solid imperial stout. Nothing really pops out except for the coffee initially which is solid. I don't know if I'd buy it again but it was good for the price.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2012 07:44:51 | More by cquinn17

warnerry

Michigan

4.05/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottled March 2011

A - Pours black with one finger of creamy tan head. Head has pretty good retention and leaves some nice lacing.

S - Deep roasted malts, chocolate and coffee with cream.

T - Chocolate is predominant in the taste than the smell, followed by coffee and cream, with roasted malts taking a back seat. Very silky taste.

M - Mouthfeel is on the full side of medium and is very creamy.

O - Very nice. Feels full and creamy without being heavy. Pretty easy drinking. I would get this again.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2012 03:22:12 | More by warnerry

pmarlowe

California

4.05/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

It's Monday... a good day for a beer. 12oz bottle from 2011 bottling (notched between Sep and Oct).

Looks like medium roast coffee on the pour, and essentially black in the glass; half finger of tan head which recedes to a ring. Good retention and some lacing. Smells like chocolate and roasted malt with some coffee and vanilla. Good stuff. Taste is similar, with the roast more in the forefront, and a good degree of richness, finishing with a touch of coffee bitterness. Medium body and carbonation, with velvety (or satin-y) smoothness. Overall, a tasty everyday stout, great for those below-zero Wisconsin winters.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2012 03:50:23 | More by pmarlowe

KajII

North Carolina

3.85/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

[Best served in a Snifter]

The pour was a rich deep dark black with an average sized (1-2 finger) light brown frothy head that lasted just a little while but left behind just enough residue to create some excellent lacing that sheeted the glass.

The aroma was of a burnt dark bread malt, a very mild herbal hop and a chewy bitter leathery yeast with notes of dark chocolate, roasted coffee, molasses and a mild scent of alcohol.

The taste was lightly sweet and malty with a nice chocolate note and a touch of molasses early on the progressed to a slightly bitter yet still sweet flavor with a nice strong coffee note and a mild alcohol finish. The flavor laid on the taste buds for a good long time letting the sweet warming coffee taste to be fully enjoyed.

Mouthfeel was full and bold in body with the texture being creamy yet a little dry and having a soft carbonation.

Overall an exceptionally balanced brew with the high alcohol content blending so well with all of the flavors, that it is barely noticeable other than a warming sensation at the end.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 18:58:44 | More by KajII

bsp77

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Serving glass: Poured from bottle into Nonic Imperial Pint.

Appearance: Very dark brown with decent sized tan head.

Smell: Chocolate, molasses and some booze. Straightforward but nice.

Taste: Creamy chocolate with some light roasted notes of coffee and burnt molasses. However, these harsher and more challenging flavors are secondary to the velvety chocolate.

Feel: Very smooth body that is slightly marred by not being quite full bodied enough. Moderate carbonation.

Overall: This is an easy drinking Imperial Stout. Sounds like an oxymoron, but certainly true in this case.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2011 02:21:37 | More by bsp77

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.9/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Good standard black pour, tan head 1.5" deep on this one. Aroma was velvety chocolate. Coffee in a small way.

Taste is solid, mouthfeel is medium for an imperial stout. Dark chocolate is the forward identifiable flavor, but the dry coffee is pretty uncomplicated. Mouthfeel delivers a smooth experience, chocolate over coffee, from which the name is no doubt derived, it does have a satin like smoothness to it, forsaking a higher degree of bitterness and coffee for a mouthfeel more akin to an oatmeal stout or a milk stout, despite not seeming sweet at all.

Thanks to curtisloew for throwing this in as part of our trade, and future thanks to jegross2 for sending out more of this in our trade to come.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 17:11:01 | More by Beerandraiderfan

popery

California

3.93/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The beer pours dark brown with ruby highlights and a small khaki head. It looks a bit light for the style, but at 7.5% abv, it is a bit light for the style. The aroma is dominated by milk chocolate with some caramel and roasted malt fruitiness backing it up. The taste is on the sweet side, though some nice roasted malt and hop bitterness reigns things in. More sugary caramel malt shines through in the taste. It's also a bit more fruity in a berry-dark stone fruit vein. The mouthfeel is smooth. It's not quite as light as expected from the abv, but it's not a mouth-coating monster, either. I enjoyed the beer more than expected. It's sweet and chocolatey, but it never gets too sticky and the fruit and caramel flavors keep things interesting. Overall, it's a solid light imperial stout.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2011 06:51:01 | More by popery