Imperial Stout - Beer Works

Jason

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Damn good stuff with a very deceiving alcohol, the maltiness is huge with waves of roasted barley and slight black currant fruitiness. Hops are layered with in the malt flavours and makes a strong showing. Smooth mouth feel that is nearly silk like, head retention is pretty much perfect and leaves a ring of lace with every sip.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Boston Beer Works - Fenway, 61 Brookline Avenue, Boston

02-09-2003 19:53:35 | More by Jason

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Received a dark brown brew with a foamy tan head. Nice head retention. Head has big bubbles which leaves nice rings of lace.

Coffee here, and in a big way. Some dark fruit. Not super complex in the nose, but what is there really works. Some booze in the background.

Big charred malt and french roast coffee. A hint of alcohol and dark fruit. Bitterness is throughout, but feels like malt not just pure bitter or hoppy bitter. Nice coffee finish. I liked this one.

Fuller bodied. A little zip in the carbonation.

Nice one to find on tap. Nice complexity and flavor throughout.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Boston Beer Works - Fenway, 61 Brookline Avenue, Boston

05-18-2013 04:10:14 | More by OtherShoe2

jaasen64

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%

05-05-2013 15:40:40 | More by jaasen64

snowmaggedon

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +5.5%

11-01-2012 21:44:22 | More by snowmaggedon

bszern

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had both the cask and regular tap...cask was tastier.

Served in a tulip.

A: Black, with a little bit of a head. No carbonation bubbles.

S: Complete alcohol, a little bit of roasted malt.

T: Alcohol is certainly there, but there is a good solid malt body behind it. This was a ridiculously smooth beer for being an imperial stout.

M: Little/no carbonation. Thick, but not too thick to be undrinkable.

O: A great overall beer, and more balanced then it's on-tap brother. The cask brought some great flavors to bear here.

Serving type: cask
@ Boston Beer Works - Fenway, 61 Brookline Avenue, Boston

02-19-2012 22:32:40 | More by bszern

waiting4lunch

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +5.5%

11-18-2011 19:10:44 | More by waiting4lunch

CaptYellow

New York

4.08/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Very dark. Not the reddish brown at the edges like some stouts but a dark brown. Minute head with just a semblance of lacing.

S: Alcohol. That's the only distinct smell that came across to me. Of course it smells like an imperial stout under that.

T: Balanced. Sweet- enought to stick to my lips. Hops in there just enough to balance it out. Tastes like an imperial stout without a great deal of complexity. The brewery told me it runs between 11.5 and 12% but the alcohol doesn't overpower it. It is aged for four (or perhaps it was three) months in a cask so that might account for its balance.

M: Medium heavy. The slightest of carbonation.

D: Pretty good. Not to be downed at once. Although the brewery I talked to mentioned some people ask for the strongest beer, down two of these and drive off. For the heft of the beer it's quite drinkable. It's one for sipping, but not reluctantly.

Overall: I liked it. It's not the best I've had, but it was good. I think it was five something for the 14 oz in a tulip glass.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Boston Beer Works - Canal Street, 112 Canal Street, Boston

05-27-2010 00:22:41 | More by CaptYellow

morebeergood

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap as part of their "February Is Stout Month". Served in a 14 oz tulip glass. Dark black color. Moderate, thick, off-white head. Surge of carbonation right at the top of the head. Smells like a bit of chocolate and coffee. Rich, satisfying taste. Roasted barley, dark chocolate, and a hint of licorice dominate. Thick enough mouthfeel to call it an imperial stout, but smooth enough to be an easy sipper. Alcohol was not hidden too well, so one has to watch how many you order. This is one of my favorite choices from BBW and I am glad they included it in Stout Month.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Boston Beer Works - Canal Street, 112 Canal Street, Boston

02-09-2009 23:58:19 | More by morebeergood

NEhophead

Massachusetts

3.4/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the brewpub on 2/7/09.
Served in a tulip.

Opaque onyx in color beneath an inch-high, light brown creamy head. Durable ringed lacing with good strength. Rich, roasted malt aromas: dark chocolate, toffee, and caramel. Faint hints of smoke. Although the aromas foreshadow rich and creamy flavors, the taste is far sweeter and lighter than I would like in a Double Stout. Vanilla and milk over milk chocolate. The hop character is light and not quite a hefty dose of flora that I expected. A light, full bodied; a thin creamy texture. The flavors are a bit of a let down considering the appearance and aroma.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Salem Beer Works, 278 Derby Street, Salem

02-08-2009 18:43:29 | More by NEhophead

Ehouse

California

3.8/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

The creamy, smooth texture and body reminded me a lot of Guiness. But unlike Guiness, this beer has flavor. Chocolate, malt, and a slight hop bitterness linger below the overall coffee creaminess, while the alcohol contributes a nice warming mouth feel.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Boston Beer Works - Fenway, 61 Brookline Avenue, Boston

03-23-2008 23:27:44 | More by Ehouse

IBUnit63

Massachusetts

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

On tap @ BBW (Garden) - served in tulip glass.

Not a whole lot of head here - a little lacing. Dark but a little translucent for the style.

Subdued toasty malt is present; can detect some bitter hoppiness in background.

Decent balance of malt sweetness, bittering, grassy hops and caramel-alcohol feel.

At first, a little clammy (probably served too cold for style) but opens up and becomes very warming - a little chewy even.

Easy to enjoy for this setting - maybe not a powerhouse but quite drinkable for an IS.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Boston Beer Works - Canal Street, 112 Canal Street, Boston

02-22-2008 08:47:51 | More by IBUnit63

Lothar666

Rhode Island

3.8/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A- Head was off-white, thick and creamy. Body was opaque and black and let not a speck of light shine through.

S- Strong chocolate and coffee notes in the nose, along with some dark roasted malts. Not the best I've had, but not bad.

T- Dark roasted malts, chocolate, coffee, and a bit of licorice notes balanced by a sharp hop bite in the finish.

M- This one is not as oily or as thick in the mouth texture as I would have liked for an RIS, but it is a solid beer nonetheless and one that I would definitely reccomend.

D- Very smooth and creamy for an imperial, and it hides its high ABV well. Definitley one to grab again when available.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Boston Beer Works - Fenway, 61 Brookline Avenue, Boston

02-19-2008 01:17:55 | More by Lothar666

rousee

Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Black with a tan head of 1-2 mm. Forms nice lace and leaves concentric rings of foam on sides of glass. Nose is burnt malt or extra dark roasted malt with elements of chocolate and wine-like notes too.

Sweet and malty upfront taste with sugary candy-like character , dark chocolate and vinous aspects are still quite present. As it finishes there is more dark roasted malt and coffee with some hot alcohol and cinnamon spiciness- caramel and barleysugar candy still noticeable. A smooth and bubbly mouthfeel that is tingly too. Drinkability is average.

These seem to vary a good deal from one keg to the next. This review is from notes taken in Jan 05 and when it was re-sampled early Mar 05, it seemed to be a lower quality batch. The alcohol was too noticeable the more recent try. In January, I noticed some pleasant nuttiness like chessnuts on the finish and this seemed completely absent when I had it more recently.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Boston Beer Works - Fenway, 61 Brookline Avenue, Boston

03-05-2005 14:39:19 | More by rousee

warriorsoul

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Was in the area while visiting Nick (aka Beer Panther) at Bauer Wine & Spirits, so decided to trek over to Boston Beer Works for dinner and a few pints.
I started w/ the Imperial Stout...sort of the appetizer.
Arrived a deep dark brown, almost black w/ a full finger and a half of the fluffiest, mocha colored head I have ever seen...delightful.
Aroma was not screaming anything particular...I could detect vanilla and chocolate.
The flavor was much more complex...the coffee I was anticipating came forward, along w/ dark chocolate and a hint of rum-like alcohol.
Texture is thick, yet refreshing w/ a slightly bitter aftertaste.
Drinkability is decent...could have had a couple of these, but there were others I wanted to try.
Hope this one sticks around for a bit...I'll be back soon.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Boston Beer Works - Fenway, 61 Brookline Avenue, Boston

02-25-2005 03:01:00 | More by warriorsoul

carln26

Missouri

3.3/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I often stop in a Beer Works when catching a train at North Station. There’s good and bad news to that. Many of the beers there are average or below quality, but occasionally you are surprised (the cask conditioned IPA for example). What would await me today?
Deep black color with a thin tan head. Nice clean sheet of lace down the side of the glass. Nose is all roast malt with a little hint of alcohol. The taste has the roast malt that becomes chocolaty as you drink. No hops show up in the flavor, just a little alcohol. Not quite the richness I expected in the mouth feel, but very drinkable anyway.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Boston Beer Works - Fenway, 61 Brookline Avenue, Boston

01-09-2005 21:03:54 | More by carln26

Truh

New Hampshire

2.2/5  rDev -42%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Played the part of the official tester with this one on 12/18/2004. 12-oz. cask pour in a short one at the Fenway location.

Expected and pleasant pillow of frothy 2/7 inch head that stays. Deep, dark black hue with no light; complete black hole. Holy hell, the bouquet possesses an almost curdled milk quality that penetrates the nostrils immediately, curling the hairs within. Granted, there is a slight roast character as well, but the gloppy milk quality overrides to the point where I am almost hesitant to drink the offering. Still, oak, baker’s chocolate, overripe plum, clam juice, and fried raspberry jam are all present to taste and luckily abate quite expediently. I cannot state how incredibly degenerate this was; were this served to a king, the brewer and his entire family line would be drawn and quartered.

Serving type: cask
@ Boston Beer Works - Fenway, 61 Brookline Avenue, Boston

12-19-2004 00:54:23 | More by Truh

bigbeerdrinka

Germany

4.03/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Had on cask at the Fenway location

Pour a super dark jet black color with a thick chocolate head that just doesn't want to dissipate (it literally chilled with me the entire time I enjoyed the brew) and left a nice lace... Aromas showed off just minor hints of roastiness with a robust chocolate and cocoa nose. Initially this brew started off quite sweet with tones of cocoa and chocolate making themselves present from the get go. Following there were lights hints of roastiness, some sweet molasses like flavors, and some juicy dark fruits (mostly plums and almost a slight grape tone).. The finish to this brew was as chocolatey as the beginning but ended with a decent hop bitterness to keep this brew well rounded. Though I found the body of this beer to be quite thin, it may have just been the effects of the cask, but overall this brew was quite quaffable and the alcohol wasn't noticeable until after I finished a pint. Overall a nice offering to try on cask, just I wish this brew had a bit more body..

Serving type: cask
@ Boston Beer Works - Fenway, 61 Brookline Avenue, Boston

12-10-2004 21:07:21 | More by bigbeerdrinka

mschofield

Massachusetts

4.4/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours pitch black with a two finger dark tan creamy head, leaves very wide rings of lacing, the head never fully dissipated.
A lot of coffee in the aroma, with notes of chocolate, roasted malt, caramel, and a bit of nut.
Good strong coffee and dark chocolate taste, the alcohol makes itself known in the taste. Dark almost burnt caramel, and currant.
Full and creamy, the body knocks down what would be a high bitterness in a weaker beer.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Boston Beer Works - Fenway, 61 Brookline Avenue, Boston

04-05-2004 22:16:11 | More by mschofield

UncleJimbo

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This stout was dark black with a small amount of tan foam. There was a faint smell of malt. The taste was strong: rather sweet and malty, with hints of chocolate and licorice. The mouthfeel was dry (despite the sweetness) but the carbonation was almost non-existent (fairly flat). The drinkability was good, though a bit sweeter than I prefer in a stout.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Boston Beer Works - Fenway, 61 Brookline Avenue, Boston

01-19-2003 09:20:39 | More by UncleJimbo

goz

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours jet black, with a nice creamy tan head, strong lacing. Aroma is strong on the roasted malts, with hints of sweetness and alcohol hiding in the back. Flavor starts off with bitter roasted malts, middle shows some sweetness and, and finishes with some vanilla and slight nuttyness, and a bit of alcohol. Served way too cold initially, gets much more flavorful as it warms up.

Serving type: nitro-tap
@ Boston Beer Works - Fenway, 61 Brookline Avenue, Boston

01-18-2003 14:17:17 | More by goz