Totality Imperial Stout
FiftyFifty Brewing Co.

Totality Imperial StoutTotality Imperial Stout
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From:
FiftyFifty Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
Ranked #1,613
ABV:
10%
Score:
90
Ranked #8,523
Avg:
4.05 | pDev: 9.63%
Reviews:
56
Ratings:
205
Status:
Active
Rated:
Sep 03, 2023
Added:
Oct 22, 2009
Wants:
  27
Gots:
  10
Formerly "Roundabout Imperial Stout"

Everyone has their price. For some it's measured in dollars, for others those that have the gift of passion for the dark side, it's measured in pints of Totality Imperial Stout. Dark brown to black in color, nearly opaque, Totality has a velvet-like mouthfeel, moderate hints of dark dried fruit, espresso beans and dark chocolate, with just a hint of hop bitterness striking the perfect balance. Welcome to the Dark Side, friends.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by stakem:
Photo of stakem
Reviewed by stakem from Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Being a fan of the barrel aged treatments of this brew, I was anxious to get a chance to try this raw, uncut version of the base. Thanks to BA anotherjoe for making this happen dueing one of our exchanges. Poured from a bomber into an eclipse snifter. The brew appears black in color with a thin brown to ruby clarity around the edges. A rich tan finger slowly fades to a film leaving patchy lace on the glass.

The aroma includes notes of raisin, plums, molasses and hints of citrus mixed with minerals and earth. A suggestion of stale coffee blends into more of a deep earthen and roast aspect like tobacco.

The flavor is quite bitter with a hint of unsweetned baker's chocolate, stale coffee, raisins, and tobacco. Almost a bitter tannic oak aspect even though this isnt barrel aged. It is earthy with a mineral component that isnt entirely enjoyable coupled with a bit too much focus on bitter herbal hops. There is a lot of char goin on in this brew to really drive home the bitter and aggressive flavoring.

This is a medium to lighter bodied brew with a modest amount of carbonation. It is interesting to say the least. I can see why this is a good candidate for barrel aging. It is a little rough around the edges that surely gets blended and smoothed out with some aging. Overall I gotta admit, on it's own it is a little harsh and not something I would revisit. However, tossing this in barrels really transforms it into something special. Fans of the eclipse series owe it to themselves to seek this out for comparison.
Aug 13, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.35 by InfernoBoss from California

Sep 03, 2023
 
Rated: 3.33 by npendres from Wisconsin

Feb 02, 2023
 
Rated: 4.19 by mattmarka1 from Minnesota

Jan 14, 2022
Photo of ilikebeer03
Reviewed by ilikebeer03 from Texas

3.87/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pour is deep brown/black. Heavy pour produces 2 fingers of thick, fluffy head. Excellent retention and lacing.
Nose is roasted malts, chocolate, nutty, caramel.
Taste is roasted malt, bitter dark chocolate, molasses dry finish. Nice balance; not overly sweet.
Medium dense body. Overall a very good, but not great beer
Jun 18, 2021
Photo of Treyliff
Reviewed by Treyliff from West Virginia

4.11/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
16oz can poured into a tulip

A- pours jet black in color with a one-finger foamy khaki head that reduces to a ring around the glass

S- char, chocolate, figs, raisins, anise, booze

T- dark chocolate and charred malt up front are quickly followed by an array of dark fruits; fig, date, raisin and black cherry. Mid-palate brings out notes of molasses and brown sugar. The finish gives more dark chocolate with a sweet malty finish, lingers of dark fruits and booze

M- heavy body with moderate carbonation leads to a thick and creamy mouthfeel that continues into a velvety, chewy and warming finish

O- I can see why this works well as the base beer for all of the Eclipse bottles, it's just a big, bold and straight up imperial stout
May 26, 2021
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3.91/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Beer No. 5 of my flight of beers at the brewery tap. Pitch black colour, tan head. Heavily roasty aroma and flavour, notes of strong coffee and dark bitter chocolate. Pretty good stuff.
Mar 08, 2021
Photo of Darkmagus82
Reviewed by Darkmagus82 from Texas

4.28/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a can into a snifter

Appearance – The beer pours a very dark brown color with a one finger head of light brown colored foam. The head has a great level of retention, slowly fading over time to leave a ton of lace on the sides of the glass.

Smell – The aroma of the brew is rather strong of a molasses and brown sugar smell mixed with a big showing of dark roasted malt and a decent sum of cocoa. Along with these aromas, comes notes of vanilla and crème and a touch of coffee and char. At the same time there is a bit of an earthy and peaty smell as well as a touch of herb. Overall, the aroma is dark and rich.

Taste – The taste begins with a huge hit of dark roasted malt and dark chocolate as well as some coffee and toast. At the same time, there is a rather substantial sweetness, with it being largely of a brown sugar and molasses nature, but also containing some milk chocolate like flavors as well as a bit of raisin and plum. The dark fruit and the sugary tastes grow stronger as the taste advances, all while the rich dark flavors stay very potent. Toward the end, the fruit fades while the molasses and coffee surge. At the same time some light boozy flavors, as well as some light herbal and earthy tastes and a bit of char come to the tongue, leaving one with a rather deep, dark, and moderately brown sugar/molasses sweet taste to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the brew is very thick and chewy with a carbonation level that is rather low. For the big dark and roasted tastes, as well as the decent sweetness and booze, the feel is great and makes for a nice, slow, and warming sipper.

Overall – A nice robust and very “standard” imperial. The lack of peanut butter, fudge, marshmallow, spice, -pick your favorite add in, (although nothing is wrong with add ins), is rather refreshing and makes for a nice, more classic, imperial stout.
Mar 03, 2021
Photo of zonker17
Reviewed by zonker17 from Texas

4.42/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
2017 bottle poured Feb 2021. Pours black, brown head, some lacing. Nose light roasted malt, vanilla, dog biscuit. Taste creamy coffee, chocolate, cocoa nibs, slight anise, mildly bitter finish. Big body with higher than expected carbonation. Much more of an experience than expected.
Feb 10, 2021
Photo of oldmankoch
Rated by oldmankoch from Tennessee

4.12/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Great classic stout with a lot of earthy tones - cocoa, char, smoke and some toffee to balance.
Feb 02, 2021
 
Rated: 4.23 by Shanex from France

Jun 28, 2020
Photo of TBoneJones
Reviewed by TBoneJones from Texas

4.46/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Saw this lone can at Total Wine, looked good. Poured to a small glass, a deep brownish black, low head with some nice tan lacing.
Nose is some chocolate, toasted coffee, hints of black licorice.
Taste brings forth, surprisingly, some fruit jam/ cherry & other dark berries, all while the powdered cocoa notes play along. Really well made stuff to taste. The hop presence is spot-on for the style, finishing this off, incredible balance IMO.
Mouthfeel is thick, creamy, fluffy, chewy, sticky, very nice. What better does one need in an imperial stout?
The best I’ve had in a while. This is how to bring it without cloying one bit. And where’s the booze that’s there? Recommended highly.
May 13, 2020
 
Rated: 4.19 by HopBelT from Belgium

May 02, 2020
Photo of jzeilinger
Reviewed by jzeilinger from Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - Pitch black pour with a creamy toffee ring and no carbonation.

S - Char, some light black licorice, and dark roasted chocolate.

T - Chocolate char, slight cardboard oxidation, roasted cocoa and finishes balanced with a nice lingering cocoa char and sweetness.

M - Thick and viscous.

O - A solid stout.
Nov 19, 2019
 
Rated: 3.92 by kkarimi from Texas

Nov 18, 2019
Photo of champ103
Reviewed by champ103 from Texas

4.45/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
A: Pours an opaque black color. A silky tan head rises that is dense and ever lasting. Awesome lasing left behind as well. This is a looker.
S: Oh wow, this is a big malty beast. Dark fruits, cherries, plums, raisins. That fights for the top spot with the roast. As a smoky, coffee, chocolaty aroma mingles perfectly. Black liquorice and baked bread...oh my.
T: Yep follows the nose with that great mix of dark fruits and roasted malts. Big and nothing subtle about this one. Dark chocolate covered in cherries, plums, roasted coffee. Smoke, liquorice, huge baked bread flavors. Bakers chocolate like bitterness lingering.
M/O: A big full body, that is like chewing on malt without being overwhelming in anyway. Well carbonated but not overly so, as such this is not complete viscous overload. Which becomes silky smooth as this warms. Certainly some alcohol, but warming and not harsh at all. A great sipper.

All around excellent. Every characteristic pops but at the same time compliments each other. This is definitely big and bold, not subtle at all, but also walks that line of not being overbearing. Which is impressive as well. One of the better regular Imperial Stouts I have had, and would actually like to come back to this more than any Eclipse that I have had.
Nov 03, 2019
 
Rated: 2.5 by Eamartin88 from Texas

Nov 02, 2019
 
Rated: 4.03 by Agriverbear from Texas

Oct 23, 2019
 
Rated: 4.27 by jurcab788 from Texas

Oct 09, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by Gagnonsux from Texas

Oct 04, 2019
Totality Imperial Stout from FiftyFifty Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 205 ratings