Men's Room Black Imperial Ale - Elysian Brewing Company

martino_cappachino

4.2/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Was lucky enough to find this limited edition ale at Dan's Belltown market

Poured slowly into a snifter leaving a nice fingertip length of head, dirty-white in color. Color of the ale of dark coffee brown.

Nice hoppy bouquet, that didn't overpower.

Taste was a stronger pale grain malt and with a little of the red ale taste prevailing in the finish. Never a dry aftertaste, the backbone of alcoholic esters was present though. Hoppy but more floral than citrus-y.

Great mouthfeel. More than enough carbonation to match with the higher ABV.

Great ale, and agree with the below reviewer, "hope they put this in regular produciton". I think I like it more than their regular Men's Room Red..? But we'll see about that.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2012 07:51:27 | More by martino_cappachino

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4.2/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance. Pours a deep brown with half a finger of pale tan head.

Smell. Nice citrusy hops with some caramel malts. Smells like a hop bomb, wasn't expecting that!

Taste. Big citrusy hops with some nice chocolate and a little pine. There are some darker toasty malts there, but the chocolate is really standing out besides the hops. Bitterness creeps up in the finish. Great stuff.

Mouthfeel. Medium+ body with medium-low carbonation.

Overall. Wasn't sure what to expect with this one, didn't even read the label. Very pleasantly surprised with a high quality Cascadian (don't sue me, Steamworks) dark ale.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 04:42:21 | More by Rutager

LiquidAmber

Washington

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

Poured into a Seattle Beer Week pint glass. Pours a very dark mahogany brown with a half finger light brown head with good retention and lots of lacing. Aroma of piney and citrus hops with slight dark malt. Taste is spicy pine and citrus hops supported by a pleasant moderate toasted malt body. Ends with great long lasting piney hop finish with a hint of charred coffee. The hops are very nicely on display here. Medium bodied with light creaminess. A very well made Cascadian Dark Ale and one I hope Elysian puts into regular rotation.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2012 03:43:36 | More by LiquidAmber

philbertk

Washington

3.85/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22 oz. Bottle purchased @ Fremont, Seattle PCC for $10.00 + tax. Quarter inch thin light tan mild lace head. Cloudy dark brown color. Floral toasted mild fruit aromatic delicate hop front. Medium bodied slightly creamy delicately cloying sweet toasted mild fruit lightly caramelized body. Clean balanced mildly hot hop end. Touch of fruity sediment at bottom of bottle. Overall rich, tasty, easy to drink, balanced Imperial Red Ale.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 06:01:30 | More by philbertk

HuskyinPDX

Washington

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

Bottle opened on 11.26.12

A - Pours a dark caramel brown with a two inch tan head with good retention.

S - Citrusy hops and some sweet carmel malts. Also a touch of grass.

T - Hoppy grass and leaves mostly. Slight malty finish and some bitterness in the end.

D - Good carbonation and a medium body.

O - Hoppy and dark. Lots of grass and leaves.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 07:35:37 | More by HuskyinPDX

srhoadsy

Florida

3.71/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Served chilled in a tulip.

Pours deep mahogany brown with an inch of light tan head that slowly recedes leaving heavy surface layer and lacing.

Aromas are of caramelized sugars and tropical fruit but somewhat subdued.

Flavors of sweet tropical fruits mango, guava, papaya with bitter citrus zest.

Medium to heavy bodied with moderate carbonation and sweet finish. Lingering bitterness in the aftertaste.

Not a bad beer but not overly complex either. Was expecting more roasted flavors.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 03:14:55 | More by srhoadsy

hreb

Washington

3.65/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle served in pint glass, beer pours dark brown, not really black. Looks like a nut brown ale, not a porter or schwarzbier. Smells similarly roasty. Some coffee in the nose, even. Flavor, however, is straight up CDA. Big C-hops up front, dry finish.

This is a prototypical Cascadian Dark Ale. If that's what you're looking for, this delivers a solid product, if not so remarkable otherwise.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 04:25:34 | More by hreb