Sue - Yazoo Brewing Company

Bitterbill

Wyoming

4.38/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle courtesy of Freethyhops. Thanks Riley!

Notched as bottled on the 3rd week of January.

An Imperial Smoked Porter and at 9%abv, I'm sure not going to argue.

An extremely dark brown coloured brew with some reddish highlights shining through, there wasn't much foam and what was there shrunk quickly to just a ring around the glass. A tiny bit of lacing is on the side of my glass. Both foam and lacing or lack thereof I kind of expected. Still a niced looking brew.

Ahh.lots of malt in the nose. Sweet without being overly sweet, a bit of fruitiness, some grain, a little smoky, and an almost sense of a smell that reminds me of barrel aging. Must be the alcohol but it's nice.

The taste err...ah, ah, ah. Damn this is good! The sweet, the roasty, the smoke, and some dark chocolate bitterness that grows after every sip and I'm thinking wow. Be forewarned, the finish is *extremely* dry but for me, very satisfying. I can see why they call it an Imperial Porter! When you're in the mood for a Porter with some punch, this is the one to drink.

Medium close to full bodied with lightish carbonation. Excellent mouthfeel.

Drinkability? At 9%abv and I'm starting to feel it but whoopee! This one bottle is giving me one hell of a ride and for that, I thank Yazoo and Riley for the Porter named Sue!

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2010 01:19:37 | More by Bitterbill

weeare138

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appears a dark mahogany toned brown with a dark tan head that slowly fades into a small cap. Scattered bits of lacing are left around the glass.
Smell is of smoked malt, cocoa, roasted nuts, and ripe fruit.
Taste is of the mentioned aromas with brown sugar, dark fruit, and a touch of beef jerky.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, chewy, and meaty with light booziness showing itself.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2010 23:49:54 | More by weeare138

JoePat

Kentucky

4/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer pours a dark brown/pretty close to black with a light tan.
I smell a lot of smoked malts in this beer and not much else. Big camp fire aroma in this beer.
The smoked smell carrys over into the flavor. This is not a huge smoke flavor that dominates the beer. It is stong and is the forward taste but it works with the roasted and chocolate flavors to create a balanced beer.
The mouthfeel is smooth and it is very easy drinking.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2010 04:08:04 | More by JoePat

brentk56

North Carolina

4.38/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a nearly black color with a rather modest head that leaves a nice pattern of squiggly lace around the sides of the glass

Smell: Chocolate covered cherries and wafts of smoke

Taste: The smoke reaches out from the get go, with the cherry wood flavor complementing the chocolate malt; by mid-palate, the effect is of a smokey confection of chocolate covered cherries which after the swallow, become even more pronounced in a malty fashion, though the smoke lingers into the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: I always knew Yazoo had it in them and I am so glad to have found a beer where the brewery seems to be reaching its potential; the sweetness and the smoke limits the drinkability a bit, but this is still a fine brew

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2010 01:35:13 | More by brentk56

ktrillionaire

Florida

4.38/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Another great extra thrown in by a fantastic trader, Freethyhops. Thanks.

A - It pours a deep crude hue, with a nice persistent froth.

S - Quite smoky, and sweetly boozy, with something like a mesquite BBQ essence.

T - Tastes great. This is probably the best smoked porter I've had. Also the best Tennessee beer I've had (that one was easy.) Smoky up front, then sweet with elements of the roasted malt apparent, then the smoke comes roaring back. Stone's Smoked Porter is baby stuff compared to this one.

M - Long smoky finish, gives an impression like sitting around a campfire. Medium-to-full-bodied, good carbonation.

D - Good stuff, powerfully flavorful.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2010 02:44:41 | More by ktrillionaire

Gtreid

Florida

3.63/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks go out to freethyhops for throwing this one in as an extra in a recent trade. 12 oz. bottle poured into my Stone RIS tulip.

A: Pretty much black but with ruby highlights. The pour creates a thick, nickel size tan head that fades, but leaves little lace.

A: Smoke is dominate in the nose. I get a healthy dose of chocolate and roasted malts, with notes of earthy hops, cherry wood, and vanilla.

T: Notes of vanilla, tart cherry, chocolate, roasted nuts, and of course the smoke. The tart smokiness is something unique and much appriciated. Finishes very dry.

M: I think this is the best part of the beer. Creamy, smooth, and viscous. Full bodied with good amount of carbonation.

D and overall impression: Drinkability is limited due to the high amount of smoke. Overall, this is a very original take on a smoked porter. I think the cherry wood and the chocolate malt play well with each other, it's just not one I would seek on a regular basis. But good though. Skal.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2010 01:56:13 | More by Gtreid

tpd975

Florida

4.33/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This one comes from JohnQVegas a crazy good trader!!

A: Pours a very deep shade of dark black. A nice tan khaki head quickly rises and then dies to a nice solid ring. Beautiful sheet lacing is left all the way down the glass.

S: Wonderful aromas that only got better as it warmed. I started this one at 55 degrees and by the time it got to room temp it was a wonderful smelling brew. Tons of smoked malt for sure. Earthy chocolate, light coffee, earth, and hints of grassy hops.

T: Wonderful Wonderful smoked beer. This one is so much more than just smoke. The smoke is bold without being over the top. Nothing acrid about it at all. Is says they used Cherry wood which is a good choice. As a BBQ'er myself I think the milder smoke from the cherry wood really complimented the base porter. Bakers chocolate and hints of earthy hops are there. Threshold levels of dark fruit can be picked up as well.

M: On the fuller side of medium, smooth for a smoked beer, a bit of bite in the finish.

D: Really good for the style. Glad I got more than one. Next weekend I think I will fire up the smoker, cook some ribs over cherry wood and pair it up with a couple of these bad boys.

I purchased land in Tennessee several years ago. It makes me happy to know that I will have access to these guys when I move there. This is a tasty beer, and I have learned that the only thing better than a boy named Sue, is a beer named Sue!

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2010 21:51:37 | More by tpd975

MasterSki

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Photekut for sending me a couple bottles of this one. I've been seeking out more under-the-radar brews these days and this is one of them.

A - Looks pretty similar to the Simple Malt Stout I just had. A midnight black body with the slightest hint of brown at the fringes. The foam is a slightly lighter tan sliver that dissipated to a thin ring and some haze.

S - Smoky! However, it's not the overwhelming hickory and meat you get from a rauchbier - instead it's more of a sweet smokiness, perhaps from the cherrywood, on top of a dark fruit, chocolate, and roasted malt backbone.

T - I actually like the taste better, as it amps up the cherry sweetness and attenuates the smoke character. A good balance of cocoa, hickory, dark fruit, and earthy hops. More of a 4.25, but I was a little tough on the smell & appearance.

M - Prickly active carbonation, somewhat gritty, sticky, finish. Maybe a touch thinner than I prefer. It's definitely more appropriate for a porter than for a stout, and a appreciate the accurate naming. Not much heat, even at 9%.

D - One of the more drinkable smoke beers I've had. I would gladly have drank the bottle on my own, and I'm looking forward to sharing my other bottle with friends. The feel is a bit raw, but Yazoo will get better at the bottling process as time goes on.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2010 22:40:57 | More by MasterSki

BatDaddy

Tennessee

4.3/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a snifter.

A - Pours a dark viscous black with a cappuccino colored head that settles down to a few wisps on top and a nice ring around the edges.

S - Smokiness dominates, but shares some space with dark chocolatey malts. Nice, but not really impressive.

T - Wow. Lots of complexity here. The smokiness from the nose is there, but not as prevalent as expected - very subdued actually. Dark malts with some earthy roasted notes. A dash of hops balance things out, and it all has an underlying mellow chocolaty sweetness. Finishes a bit dry. Delicious.

M - Nice, full-bodied, creamy and smooth.

D - Excellent. Alcohol is extremely well hidden and the beer is yummy. I wish I had bought more than a single.

Yazoo has produced a great beer here. I've really got to make my way down to the brewery and sample some of this on tap.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2010 06:09:34 | More by BatDaddy

John1985

Tennessee

4.2/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Oil can black with a quarter inch brownish head that disappeared with a small white cap.

S-Pleasant. Smokey sweet fruit aroma

T-smooth dark malt, tangy bitterness on the tongue, moderate to strong smoky flavor on the finish.

M-ample full bodied but not cloying

D-the alcohol is very well hidden. The smokiness took a little getting used to but I could drink several of these. Very well done.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2010 19:23:32 | More by John1985

generalnotsew

Tennessee

4.45/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

A: Careful pour produced 1 finger milk chocolate head. It is as black as any RIS I have ever seen.

S: Smoked wood, vanilla, chocolate a bit of cherry. Pretty complex and as pleasant as anything I have smelled before.

T: Hoppy smokiness dominates immediately. My first smoked beer so I may be taking the smokiness for hops. It fades into a smooth chocolate where the smoke disappears into the background. I place some of the cherry in the middle and a lot in the end.

M: Very rich and satisfying. A bit of alcohol warmth shows up after a few drinks.

D: I personally will never be able to drink lots of beer of this style. But most people will have an easy time with this.

I had been apprehensive about this for awhile. I don't care for Porters much. Only had 1 other Imperial Porter and it was far too sweet for me. This however has a lot of that RIS quality that I like. Most Porters are just too Meh for me. But this is very complex and not weak at all. I wish Linus Hall and the folks at Yazoo the best of luck!

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2010 00:53:16 | More by generalnotsew

ckeegan04

Texas

4.47/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A - Incredibly dark brown, verging on black. Thick, creamy medium brown head that is about two fingers thick. Slowly fades to about one finger that lasts long into the drink. Thick rings of lace left behind.

S - Smoke. And then some more smoke. Initially the smoke really dominates the nose. As it warms hints of roasted grains come through. Mixed with a touch of nuttiness. Earthiness comes through stronger as well.

T - Smoke is still the dominant flavor much like it dominated the nose, but it is not as overwhelming. Lots of roasted malts with an earthy nuttiness. Light fruitiness with hints of cherry and maybe a little pear? Smoke provides the backbone and carries throughout. I find smoke to be hit and miss in beers but this one is a very good one.

M/D - Full bodied with a touch of dryness. Easy drinking for a big smoky porter. Alcohol is not noticeable in the taste at all.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2010 17:10:46 | More by ckeegan04

KevinHollowell

Tennessee

3.35/5  rDev -19.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 4

Bought a 4 pack here in Nashville for $6. I waited until I drank all 4 to review this.

The appearance is good, pouring a brown color with a generous head that slowly fades into a ring of bubbles. Smells like wood that was burned 2 days ago. I expected this to be similar to a scottish-style ale, which I like, but it wasn't at all. It tastes too much like actual wood. It literally tastes like liquid smoke, which isn't necessarily a terrible thing. This beer defintely has a very unique flavor. The mouthfeel is very thin but goes down smooth. It is a very different beer and not one that I would buy again.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2010 03:55:46 | More by KevinHollowell

augustgarage

California

4.43/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Obtained in trade from Imperialhopper83 (thanks!). Bottled in the 4th week of December, 2009. Poured from a 12oz bottle into my Dogfish Head shaped pint glass. Blasting Jay Reatard in the background (because this beer brings to mind fantasies of Memphis more than Nashville).

Very dark brown with faint chestnut highlights when held up to very bright light. An even finger of tan foam recedes to a rich collar and a thin slick coating. Fast moving sandy lacing and oily varnish on the sides of the glass.

Tallow, bacon, mice, brown butter, brown sugar, black malt, and sour coffee in the nose.

Charcoal, burnt sugar, roast malt, molasses, and a hint of hops on the palate. Heavy roast malt. Very low diacetyl is easily forgivable for the style. Dry, almost salty finish after multiple waves of dark sweetness. This would possibly make the best addition to a tri-tip marinade imaginable (is this a beer or a sauce?).

Alcohol heat comes across as black pepper on the gums - and adds a bit of body to what is at heart a medium-light ale. Slightly astringent, but not acrid - imagine if Schlenkerla did a sort of "imperial" schwarzbier.

A damn fine beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2010 04:14:14 | More by augustgarage

JohnQVegas

Tennessee

4.7/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle into snifter. Bottle date is Wk 4 of Dec. '09.

Pours deepest brown to black, impenetrable to light, with a very thin khaki head. Nice legs, decent lacing, poor retention. I'll be up front, I'm giving this a slightly higher app. score than deserved mainly because (A) app. counts for way too much, and it wouldn't be fair to an otherwise superb beer to lower the overall score, and (B) my wife washed the glass and I'm not sure if soap was involved, so I'm giving the benefit of the doubt.

Nose is just gorgeous - dry, mesquite smokiness wraps around notes of cherrywood, roasted malt, chocolate, and a snappy candy sweetness that balances and works fantastically with the smoke.

Taste is as good as or better than the the nose. Even more complex, if that's possible - the dry smoke is prominent but not dominating, blending seamlessly with a roastiness from the malts; the big sweetness from the nose is there as well, with a candy-coated chocolate-cherry character, and a light, drying hop presence rounds out the experience towards the finish. Finish itself carries notes of dry smoke, sweet roasted malt, and a light hop bitterness. So complex, it's hard to pull all the stuff going on out.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied, heading into full territory, big and smoky and dry, with a carbonation that may be just a hair coarse.

As far as drinkability, I never thought a smoked beer would define moreishness for me, but this has come close. Alcohol is pretty much missing from the taste, and everytime I drink this beer, I fins myself wanting a second. Just a fantastic beer, and a fantastic value @ $42 a case, from Yazoo. I'll be heading towards my third case before too long I fear.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2010 19:01:55 | More by JohnQVegas

stephens101

Oklahoma

4.7/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A huge thanks to JohnQVegas for hooking me up with a number of these. Going to put a couple down, but just have to tear into one now.

Off a medium pour a bubbly tan head grows to two-fingers, and perfectly fills the SA specialty glass. As the bubbles pop furious the froth fades and leaves some random curly spines of lace behind. Jet black in color with no light penetration, although some slight ruby hues are barely discernible at the very edge.

Aroma involves a good mix of sweet and smoky notes with black licorice, cherry wood, a slight earthy mustiness, some cotton candy and a distant hoppiness which all evolve into a near perfect mix.

Oh so smooth and pleasant on the palate like liquid candy at first, then some more sublime smokiness, some big malts, black coffee, and some nuanced bitterness which infuses itself at random points. A slight alcohol heat lingers in the throat, and it goes down almost a true medium, but just a little extra weight pulls it toward the full-bodied end of the spectrum. Creamy and not too filling either, as I could have a couple and move onto an IPA or something and not feel too weighted down.

As always with beers of such high ratings you initially wonder if they're a bit over-hyped. I can honestly say this one is an A+, and is the best Imperial Porter I've every tried. From the first smell to the last taste, what a wonderful experience. Future Best of BA we have here folks.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2010 22:30:23 | More by stephens101

jacobseyb

Alabama

4.83/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured from the bottle into a standard pint glass. Pours a very dark alomst opaque brown with an off-white head that dissipates quickly and leaves no lacing. Smell is of coffee and roasted malts, smokiness is evident though almost closer to mesquite in aroma. Taste is definitely smoky, again more mesquite-like in flavor, with some smoothness of coffee. Feel has ample carbonation, very tight and crisp. Excellent beer with great characteristics, very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2010 04:59:22 | More by jacobseyb

Tilley4

Tennessee

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I found a few 4 packs of this left in Nashville when I was there last week and snagged a couple... I've been hearing about this offering and I've been excited to try it... Bottled the 3rd week of December so this one is uber fresh...

Poured into my new Chimay goblet (which I received courtesy of Kris at Party Mart-Thanks, Kris!!!).

A super looking porter here... Its 95% black and the other 5% is such a dark brown you'd think it was black... Slow forming head of light mocha appears and quickly fades to a ring... Laces terrific throughout...

The smoky malts bombard the senses immediately and have my mouth watering and my curiousity of how this will taste is going full on... I was expecting a little smokiness here but this is pungent and complex and delicious smelling...the chocolate malts are deep and rich and blend beautifully with the smoke... The bottle says they're smoked with cherry wood and I'm curious as to how that will lend itself to the taste...

The chocolate malts are smooth and rich and then comes the smoke.. And loads of it... And its delicious... Not overwhelming but done beautifully... I can't taste a drop of booze here which is surprising as well considering the 9% ABV here... Dangerous, this one is... Its a sipper, not one to rush or hurry with...it finishes with a hint of bitterness from the hops and then there's this smoky peaty aftertaste that I find absolutely delicious..

I'm not sure if this is going to be a regular in the Yazoo lineup but I think it should be... I thought this was a world class brew... It had everything a great porter has and then some... Its deep and dark and smoky and delicious... Very well done, Linus... A real heavyweight here...

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2009 01:06:24 | More by Tilley4

dustinTN

Tennessee

4.68/5  rDev +12%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is actually 9%, not 7.5% (as the description says at the time of my writing.) A beer named Sue - dressed in a black label and black cap (just like the Nashville legend in whom's honor this was made.) White "SUE" on the label in the same font as "CASH" on Johnny Cash's last several albums. Ok, to the beer...

Appearance - dark, dark opaque brown, almost black. Very little head which quickly disappears.

Smell - Lots of smoke and malt, very nice

Taste - SMOKE, SMOKE, and more SMOKE! There is no doubt that this is a smoked porter, but it is nicely balanced by some chocolate and maybe a hint of coffee. Lots of complexity. One would never think this was a 9% brew.

Mouthfeel - Not bad. Little carbonation - medium body, solid.

Drinkability - For a 9% beer, this is amazing. Very sessionable. I'll be giving this as a gift to many this holiday season. Very proud of my hometown brewery (and, for the record, I don't love everything Yazoo does, but they nailed this one.)

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2009 04:36:19 | More by dustinTN

Freethyhops

Alabama

4.18/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle. freshness notches indicate it was bottled the 3rd week of December, so a super fresh batch of beer here.

A- pours a darkest of browns with less than a finger of tan colored head that dissipated to a thin film. some hints of red at the edges when held to light. very nice color for a porter, the head could be nicer, though. minimal lacing, as well

S- the smoked malt really come through in the smell, but I still picked up some nice roasted characters as well. some sweet cocoa in the back round as well.

T- this is an interesting beer...at first it tastes like a nice robust porter with some light roasted notes and a load of chocolate but quickly the smoked malt takes over and lingers through a bitter bready finish. i would never guess that this beer is 9%, a load of flavors cover it very well. The smokey finish probably does most the work masking any potential boozy notes in the finish.

M/D- nothing really stands out in the mouthfeel dept. the carbonation is subtle and smooth if I had to pick out something positive, and it could be creamier for a negative critique. doesn't drink as big as it's 9%. it really drinks as smooth as any 6-7% porter...very smooth.

I ran into this beer randomly at a hole in the wall store that said they had just received it this week. Yazoo's Bremaster Reserve 4pks are one of my new favorite's at the $7-8 price range. my pint is raised to the great local beers.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2009 21:28:24 | More by Freethyhops