Heavy Seas - Peg Leg Imperial Stout - Heavy Seas Beer

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A little side-by-side tasting of Heavy Seas Peg Leg Stout '10 vs '11.

Best before March of '12:

Pours with a khaki head, a good amount of spritz, and excellent head retention. Opaque black body with no light getting through. 4.0

Mild cocoa, roasted grain, coffee, brittle toffee, and a hint of smoke. Smells robust and well-kilned. 3.5

Spicy hops balance this enchanting brew. Wealth of roasted grain flavors, cocoa powder, and light smoke. Wafery quality in there, too. Warmth from the booze upon the swallow, but otherwise a lighter-strength RIS. Very light pineyness follows the middle with a spicy, dry finish. Good balance, light on character. 4.0

Fuller than medium body with medium carbonation. Pretty smooth. Calculated strength. Not particularly rich or creamy or hefty. Actually drinks too easily. 3.5

Best before June of '11:

Darker khaki head that's almost light brown, some bubbles show up rising along the side of the glass. The retention is weak. A foamy ring is left on top. Same ebony body. 3.5

Nose shows some tannic oxidation. Some dark chocolate, light caramel, cardboard. The coffee and smokiness are all but gone. 3.0

The flavor has changed here. Less hops, obviously, but there's more of a sweetness to the malt that leans toward the side of milk chocolate. There's some caramel and wet earth to add to the mix. Not as dusty or chalky, and certainly not as dry. More of a dried berry fruit character shows up, but it's really hiding in the shadows. It's interesting, but it's gone a bit downhill. 3.5

A little slicker in body which fills the mouthfeel out more. Lighter on carbonation. Mellowed out on the alcohol even more so. More of a sipper. 4.0

Overall for both: Peg Leg was a little experiment, really. When I stashed one away, I forgot about it. When I saw it in a shop cooler recently, I remembered, picked up the fresh(er) one and dug out the one I put away. Final verdict: Peg Leg does not age so gracefully. There may be some who prefer it with age, but it really doesn't hold up. It doesn't do poorly (like thin out, sour, or oxidize repulsively), it just begins to de-evolve. It's still a nice little cheap Imperial Stout, either way.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2012 21:10:52 | More by thecheapies

mactrail

California

3.85/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Dark and rich, as advertised. Malty but a little sharper and less intense than a lot of beer in this category. The slightly lighter style is quite welcome to me. Plenty of flavor, a butterscotch maltiness cut by the burnt sugar and a hoppy background. Mellow but full of dark flavors, a hint of cherries, and a dose of raisins.

Attractive dark mahogany in the tall Petrus glass. Pours with a nice head, and moderately carbonated on the tongue. A pleasurable dark beer, and more drinkable for being a couple of clicks less alcoholic than many RIS.

Heavy Seas has the decency to put this in six packs at a reasonable price. From the 12 oz bottle bought at Monde Market in Philadelphia.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 03:25:58 | More by mactrail

BuxMontBeerLover

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Purchased a 6pk at Wegmans in Warrington, PA

6pk-$10.99

Poured and enjoyed from a DFH Signature Glass

A - Pours a jet black color. A one finger head on the initial pour that fades to a light skim. Decent lacing remains after drinking.

S - A roasted malt aroma, slightly sweet smell

T - A nice combination of roasted malts mixed with a slight but not off putting hoppy bitterness. Flavors of chocolate and mocha are there also. Not overly sweet but on the sweeter side. Rather creamy. The alcohol is well disguised but pokes through after sitting a bit.

M - Lighter consistency for a stout but not watery. Light to moderate carbonation.

O - I enjoyed this beer. It's a middle of the road stout, easy drinking and I'll have no problem finishing the rest of my 6pk. Worth a try although there are bigger, bolder imperial stouts available.

Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

05-24-2012 20:13:25 | More by BuxMontBeerLover

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Had this on 2012-04-30 in Columbia, PA

A - Opaque dark brown with a 1-finger tan head that quickly fades to a skim coating and leaves little lacing.

S - Light molasses, bread and chocolate. Mild but pleasant aroma.

T - Sweet medium-roasted malt, prunes, cherries, dab of chalky chocolate malt followed by a well-balanced amount of hop and roast bitterness. The aftertaste is of tart cherries, sweet roasted malt and some bitterness; none of which linger very long.

M - Medium-heavy body and medium carbonation. Substantial, thick and smooth. Nice.

O - An enjoyable RIS on the lower ABV side. Didn't blow me away but was enjoyable. The price was on the low side for the style; perhaps because it's pretty local. I'd have it again.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2012 22:52:40 | More by Tucquan

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

3.45/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a Sam Smith pint glass.

A: Pours a borderline pitch black color (which provides very dark burgundy near the edges of the beer when held to sunlight). The head is a frothy two finger medium tan color that slowly but surely recedes, leaving a nice layering of lacing on the glass.

S: There's the usual melange of coffee, chocolate, roast, and dark fruit one would expect from a RIS. Nice smell, but nothing earth shattering or particularly strong.

T: This is definitely on the sweeter side for a RIS, dominated by chocolate, dark fruits, and licorice. Little in the way of complexity, which is kind of disappointing. The fruitiness increases on the finish, but afterwards it suffers from an exceedingly short aftertaste. All in all, this is enjoyable, but flawed. It needs more robustness to balance the fruity flavors, both during the mid and after tastes.

M: Very smooth with the right amount of body, but something's off base. Maybe it's the lack of boldly lingering flavor, but there's something in the body that hinders drinkability for whatever reason. Needs more dry bitterness, too. Low carbonation.

O: I think its solid, but it just doesn't compare with the heavy hitters in the RIS world. On the plus side, it's a very good dessert beer to pair with some Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia ice cream. Probably the best value RIS on the market (less than $10 for a 6 pack), so I can't be too hard on it.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2012 20:43:26 | More by ThisWangsChung

cagocubs

Illinois

3.6/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from bottle into glass.

A: Pours real dark brown straight from the bottle, when volume increases in glass it turns opaque. Head is a light brown, more than ivory. The head is foamy and bubbly, but sticks around and laces nicely.

S: Heavy on the roasted malt, has traces of bitter chocolate, and coffee. Some sweetness comes in the nose.

T: The malts in the nose are present in the mouth. A nice toasty taste. The chocolate and coffee combination are not as powerful as the nose would give away.

M: Medium body with very little carbonation. The afterataste leaves much to be desired as this flavor complex finishes quick after sip.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2012 04:33:05 | More by cagocubs

mvanaskie13

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a standard pint glass... color is dark brown to black with a tan head that presents at 1/2 inch thick then dissipates to a thing ring.

Smell is roasted and chocolate malts and light bitterness

Taste is on the light side for the style, surprising for the strength, its not too sweet, but there is nice roast and chocolate malt presence.

Mouthfeel is pretty solid, not overly sweet or bitter, and the carbonation is spot on.

Overall this is a very solid brew, but its lack of oomph in either flavor or scent makes a bit subdued compared to other I. Stouts.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 00:49:00 | More by mvanaskie13

jdense

Oregon

3.5/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Purchased at Chevy Chase Wine and Spirits, Wash., DC, poured into Piraat tulip 3.20.12.

One finger slow rising tan head, quick dissipation resulted in ring around edge of glass, dark brown opaque body no visible carbonation. Chocolate and vanilla dominate the nose, no roast, floral hops. Chocolate dominates the taste, some roast balancing the vanilla, hops subsumed. Mouthfeel medium, decent effervescence, a bit boozy for the ABV. Nothing to write home about, but glad I was able to try it.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2012 02:23:06 | More by jdense

cdrogers

Illinois

3.8/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle to Sam Adams pint glass.

Was a nice dark coffee color with a brownish-white head. The head was minimal and had no noticeable lacing while drinking. Has a nice roasted malt and chocolate smell, which also comes through in the tasting. Mild bitterness that lingers somewhat toward the end. It had minimal carbonation. The alcohol content also stands out toward the end with the roasted malts.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2012 00:40:43 | More by cdrogers

paulginva

Virginia

3.68/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

APPEARANCE: This beer, poured from a tap into a pint glass, produced a medium-tan creamy 1/2" head that dissipated quickly leaving thin head lacing. Carbonation was soft in a murky dark brown body.

AROMA: Some moderate dark chocolate and light roasted coffee aroma along with a whiff of alcohol. Nothing really stands out.

TASTE: Dark chocolate and light toasted coffee, together with moderate alcohol. Pretty pedestrian taste -- nothing complex or particularly interesting.

MOUTHFEEL: This beer had a medium to full body with a smooth texture, soft carbonation and thin body lacing that dissipated quickly. The initial flavor was moderately sweet with a lightly sweet and very lightly bitter finish that lasted for a medium length of time.

DRINKABILITY: Easy to drink but definitely a sipping beer. I'd only have a couple unless I had a designated driver close at hand. Decent value for the price but nothing outstanding. And that last phrase -- nothing outstanding -- pretty well captures this beer. It's an ordinary, standard imperial stout. Since there are so many others out there that are more memorable, I probably won't have this again.

Serving type: on-tap

03-14-2012 00:33:32 | More by paulginva

tubeboy

Maryland

2.73/5  rDev -25.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

This beer pours pitch black with less than 1/2" of head that drops quickly. I smell burnt coffee and dried prunes with a hint of alcohol too. This beer is sweet for a stout and has an acidic aftertaste that may be due to it's high gravity. I'd prefer this guy kept it's head longer to smooth out the feel. It seems a little thin to me. Imperial stouts are tough to brew and I think these guys can take this to a higher level if they want to. Locally at least, Heavy Seas is a nice go to brew. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2012 22:30:33 | More by tubeboy

KTCamm

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on tap at a local restaurant. Poured in a fluted Palm glass.

Pours a dark bloack with touches of foam. Some stickiness. Smells rich roasted, coffee notes. Taste is a full hearty dark chocolate malt with an undercurrent of dark fruits - plums and such. Constrained bitterness throughout, with moderate carbonation. Very good stout.

Serving type: on-tap

02-12-2012 12:27:36 | More by KTCamm

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

3.25/5  rDev -11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Review adapted from notes taken 8/27/11

Appearance: Black, with a little beige head that fades quick, average lacing - seems a bit thin

Smell: Somewhat mild but interesting - burnt, chocolate malts, some coffee, cooked malts, caramel - not a ton going on

Taste: Burnt, a little earthy, roasty coffee - burnt malts, cooked and caramelized malts, some char - not a bad stout, but it really doesn't taste "imperial"

Mouthfeel: Smooth, but could be smoother - very light

Overall: Not bad, just average

I realize that I have been spoiled by some of the more ridiculous takes on the RIS style, but I am pretty certain this is the thinnest imperial stout I've ever had. It's not bad, I just think that it needs more of everything.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2012 06:31:23 | More by angrybabboon

CrystalShipMS3

Maryland

3.93/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I like this beer.

Here's why:

Looks dark. Motor oil. Dark tan head leaves foam on the sides of the glass. Looks like a stout.

Smells like coffee and chocolate liquor. Anis is very present in the background.

Sweet yet dark at first leading to cocoa and a bitter coffee taste. I smell the licorice more than I taste it. Leaves a very nice roasty coffee aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is pleasant. I'd prefer a bit more creaminess but it's still nice. Somewhat crisp. I like it.

Overall? I could drink Peg Leg all night. It's not too heavy to the point where it's syrupy sweet, it's crisp and just highly drinkable. Plus local beer gets priority in my book.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2012 19:24:18 | More by CrystalShipMS3

c1377

Illinois

3.33/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

EYE
Inky black
NOSE
Bready chocolate coffee malt
BUBBLE
Light brown froth
MOUTH
Smooth and warming
TONGUE
Dark mocha flavour with burnt toast aftertaste;
faint dryness; warming spirits
MOOD
Cold and windy day near a smoking grill or camp fire
PAIRING
Chicken breast smoked over bleu cheese;
grilled fish with lime/balsamic vinegar/roasted ginger;
pepperoni pizza

This is a dark and smooth English Style "Imperial Stout" with pronounced spirits. Slightly dry and very minimal (if any) hop. Strong burnt mocha overtones. It is not deep, heavy, or even full which is what I expect from a stout...

Brews this dark and this strong (ABV) could have a much richer flavour profile. It is almost like they started with a light lager and than added chocolate and coffee specialty grains untill it turned black.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2012 01:43:09 | More by c1377

TechTriumph

Virginia

3.9/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Best by Jan. 2013; Poured in a snifter.

A - 1/2" of light tan, frothy head that thins out very fast; Pitch black appearance; Tiny bits of carbonation bubbles flowing up the sides of the glass; Pretty good streaks of lacing

S - Not a very strong aroma; Roasty, chocolatey, and a little bit of sugary characteristics

T - The taste is a bit different from the nose; Smooth, mellow chocolate with a bit of vanilla beans and sweet milky flavors; Faint citrus hops come through in the beginning of the taste, but are pushed aside quickly; The taste reminded me of cola-like flavors for a second or two; Roasty qualities are very subdued here; Touch of alcohol towards the end of the taste

M - Pretty good amount of very fine and zesty carbonation; Velvety smooth mouthfeel after the carbonation subsides; A bit above medium bodied

O - This is a very delicious beer that fits into the lower end of the RIS spectrum. It was a bit sweeter and lighter than I was expecting, but had a nice taste with a good dose of chocolate. As smooth and easy drinking as this beer was, it's one that I'd certainly like to try again.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2012 02:42:49 | More by TechTriumph

Lawl3ss

Texas

3.78/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle into a tulip pint. Purchase-by date on bottle 12/12.

Look- Pitch black with here-and-then-not reddish highlights around the edges. Two solid fingers of chocolate milk colored head that settle fairly quickly and leave a moderate amount of shotgun-scatter lacing.

Smell- Dark roast coffee is dominant, with hints of chocolate, grains, and booze. Also a light fruity ripe banana that is enhanced by swirling. It reminds me a bit of what cut bananas in multigrain cheerios smell like. Interesting take, I'm intrigued.

Taste- Now that it's on my mind, I can't shake the banana feeling, and it's present throughout the sip in one form or another. Espresso, chocolate, dark caramel malt, and the faintest touch of pine round out the flavors. The caramel malt is strong- I can almost feel the sweet crunch. Maybe that's just the cheerio feeling coming out again, however. No matter what analogies you use though, it's damn tasty, and has a lighter fruity character that I haven’t seen done well in the style. At the same time, it's a bit too sweet for the somewhat muted flavors.

As it warms, I get some raisin and a stronger cocoa/chocolate milk, but otherwise it doesn't develop much.

Mouthfeel- A little watery for an imperial stout, with smooth carbonation. Mild crispness that comes out in the middle. Moderate to heavy warming afterwards. Not as hearty as I'd like an Imperial to be. Alcohol well hidden, but also on the low end for the style to begin with. Quite drinkable, though.

Overall- Exceptional value for what you get. A hearty London-style stout, to be sure, but the Imperial moniker is a bit of a catch-all in this case- it's just not quite that bold to me. I picked this up in a very reasonably priced assorted 12 pack, however, and I definitely got as least as much as I paid for. It's also exceptionally drinkable for such a dark beer, and I could easily put away a couple of these.

If this were marketed as a Baltic porter or London, milk, or sweet stout, I'd raise my marks for sure. As it is, though, it doesn't quite stack up to the bigger hitters in the league.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2012 07:19:50 | More by Lawl3ss

illidurit

California

2.93/5  rDev -19.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Bottle shared at the December iteration of the Santa Cruz tasting series. Looks the part, with a dark brown/black here and a team head, but the aroma and taste do not deliver. I’m having trouble detecting anything on the nose, toasty and chocolate-sweet I suppose. Same with the flavor. Goes down easy with a light moussey body but it isn’t satisfying.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2012 08:26:56 | More by illidurit

jtierney89

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a deep brown with a 1 finger tan head. Lots of prunes and raisins on the nose. Just let the beer warm for a bit revealing some notes of charcoal and bitter black chocolate on the nose as well.

Surprisingly crisp at first but unlike the other two heavy seas beers I had tonight the body is a little less stable (but still more stable then plenty of other beers i've had before). Mocha coffee flavors as well as some rich chocolate. Hop presence is kind of undetectable to me but it has to be there as the balance is quite supreme.

Body starts big and bubbly but thins out a little (tiny bit, not much) on the swallow. The sweetness of the beer is very nice and is worth lip licking. For a Russian imperial though I wish there were more hops.

Also for a russian imperial it's not as in your face as others I've had which can be a nice thing as you could probably have a few of these.

Overall the night of 3 heavy seas beers were nice, I knew they wouldn't disappoint.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 04:27:28 | More by jtierney89

stephenjmoore

Maryland

4.05/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A- Black, no transparency, light tan head that lingers.

S- Heavy roasted malts with notes of chocolate.

T- Very similar to the smell with a little more chocolate
coming through towards the end. Some hop presence comes through as well.

M- Relatively thick mouthfeel, but smooth and creamy at the same time.

O- Good take on an imperial stout. Cannot beat the price and nice in a sixer.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 02:38:59 | More by stephenjmoore

sommersb

Tennessee

3.95/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tasted On: 12-27-2011
Freshness: Best by 12-2011
Packaging: 12 oz. brown bottle
Glassware: Snifter
Purchased: Single from Publix, Huntsville

A: Black and opaque, with a tan head of 2 fingers. Fair retention and a good amount of lacing.

S: Big chocolate aromas, along with coffee, over-ripe fruits and vanilla.

T: Rich flavors of chocolate, roasted malts and coffee. The flavors are not overly burnt or bitter from the roasted notes as in some stouts.

M: Smooth, with a full body. Carbonation is medium to high. Finish is balanced, neither sweet or bitter, with a dark chocolate aftertaste.

O: I really enjoyed this stout, my first beer from Heavy Seas. This RIS would make a great nightcap!

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2011 03:48:13 | More by sommersb

57md

Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Opaque dark brown, almost black with one finger of tan head that had practically no retention. The nose is slightly roasty - very different than the on-tap version. The taste is more roast than sweet, but both are there. The malt flavor is toasty and hearty. As the beer warned, the alcohol in the finish became more apparent and not completely pleasant.

Like the on-tap version, this is not what I would call an imperial - too mild. However, it is still a tasty and interesting offering.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2011 07:27:12 | More by 57md

TappaKeggaBrew

Ohio

3.85/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Very dark brown, with two fingers of large-bubbled head than lingered nicely, with very thin lacing on the glass.

S: Sweet-smelling malt, some vanilla. Also toasty acrylamide. But all rather faint.

T: As the smell suggested, a lot of sweetness in this one, although burnt malts are also strong. There seemed to be light citrus notes (surprising for an imperial stout) before the faint hops bitterness.

M: Noticeable but not unpleasant alcohol. Not much carbonation -- I think it all ended up in the head.

O: Not bad, but not very smooth. I'd have another, but I wouldn't seek it out.

Serving type: on-tap

12-20-2011 03:12:16 | More by TappaKeggaBrew

mikeg67

New Jersey

3.38/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle. Pours dark brown with a thick beige head and a good amount of lacing. Aroma is of bready malt, dark fruit and some chocolate. Medium, creamy body. Toasted, nutty malt, prunes, brown sugar and some chocolate fill the mouth. The finish is bitter-sweet, medium lasting. I find this brew too thing for IS.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2011 14:42:14 | More by mikeg67

WifeEraser78

Pennsylvania

2.88/5  rDev -21.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

This was a beer that I was hesitant of buying when I talked to an employee at the beer distribution center. But I looked up the rating on Beer Advocate and saw that it was a good rating. (Not that I really focus on ratings for things. Hell, Strange Brew did not get god reviews and that movie is fantastic)
Anyway...

Smell did not have an overpowering feature. I kind of like a distinct feature when I inhale a freshly poured beer.

The pour has the great feature that I love in any beer, which is little head. I can almost pour this beer upside down and get very little head.

The pour sequences into the mouthfeel because any low carbonated beer goes down way too smooth. That means I can pound these down quickly.

In the overall rating, I think that this beer is pretty easy to drink. It comes with a good price tag and it can be a good introduction to a Russian Imperial Stout.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2011 04:07:57 | More by WifeEraser78