Imperial Stout
Odell Brewing Company

Imperial StoutImperial Stout
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From:
Odell Brewing Company
 
Colorado, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
ABV:
7.1%
Score:
86
Avg:
3.81 | pDev: 9.71%
Reviews:
71
Ratings:
77
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Sep 27, 2014
Added:
Mar 06, 2006
Wants:
  13
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by younger35:
Photo of younger35
Reviewed by younger35 from Minnesota

3.87/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
No idea where I received this brew. I think I got it last year from the Black Booty BIF. Drank from my Ithaca Excelsior tulip.

Appearance- Pours a deep dark black that allows zero light to penetrate even the stem portion of the glass. A very small head forms that recedes fairly slowly leaving no cap and a super thin collar. A bit of spotty lacing is left but nothing to write home about.
Smell- Lots of sweet milk chocolate that reminds me of Tootsie Rolls and Yoo-hoo. Some lighter meringue or cream adds a bit of a lactose like sweetness. A bit of roast and maybe a twinge of coffee along with a smidgen of citrus. Mostly just loads of sweet chocolate though.
Taste- The nose pretty much explains the beer EXACTLY. Starts off with a slightly sweet chocolate or cocoa tinge that again reminds me a lot of Tootsie Rolls. Considering there isn't much of an overly roasted aspect it really lets the chocolate, coffee (to a lesser extent) and cream shine. Some caramel and vanilla round out the sweetness while a light bitter citric bite creeps in toward the end to help balance things a bit. The citrus is a moot point though IMO. It doesn't hurt anything but doesn't add much. The milk chocolaty goodness of this beer is in charge.
Mouthfeel- Fairly thin for the style with pretty crisp carbonation that kind of impedes the silky smoothness that is hiding in here somewhere.
Drinkability- Well I honestly wasn't expecting too much out of the brew. When I moved about a year ago my girlfriend and I stopped in Colorado to snag a hotel and I had a couple Odell brews. While tasty, they didn't re-invent the wheel or blow my mind. This is a really tasty Impy Stout that pleasantly surprised me. Thanks to whoever sent this!
Jan 04, 2009
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by afsdan from Colorado

Apr 06, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by jaydoc from Kansas

Dec 23, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by MinorThreat from Nebraska

May 28, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by Slatetank from Pennsylvania

May 26, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by bsuedekum from Missouri

Oct 31, 2012
Photo of mikesgroove
Reviewed by mikesgroove from South Carolina

4.28/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
ark brown liquid, essentially black with no light penetration what so ever. Rich deep, and thick chocolate colored lace then formed on the top of it

rich and sweet, the first notes to hit me were a nice sweet milk chocolate, lactose, and a nice burnt caramel aroma. Very sweet, with hints of coffee throughout. A nice mixture of roasted malts, and not overly heavy. No, hint of the alcohol in it at all which was very nice. Rich milk chocolate, molasses and vanilla hints were the first right out of the gate. Very sweet with lots of lactose sugar like flavors coming in, probably from the oatmeal. A slight warming on the back of the throat, but other then that there was literally no hint of the alcohol
Nov 04, 2011
Photo of emmasdad
Reviewed by emmasdad from Colorado

4.1/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
I had this one on tap yesterday evening at the Odell Brewing Company. Poured a rich, opaque black with a good bit of off-white foam on top. Aromas of roasted malt, baker's chocolate and lightly roasted coffee. On the palate, this one was fairly full bodied, with flavors of chocolate, coffee and roasted malt.
Jul 09, 2011
Photo of ClockworkOrange
Reviewed by ClockworkOrange from Pennsylvania

3.86/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A 12 ounce bottle poured into a nonic Imperial pint glass. The stout appears nearly opaque black with two fingers of creamy, lingering ecru foam. A great looking pour. Nose and flavor consist of medium roasted grains, earthy bitter hops, a touch of citrus, milk chocolate covered raisins, and some vanilla. A notch better than medium bodied and amply carbonated. Smooth and drinkable, certainly worth your time.
May 28, 2009
Photo of tr4nc3d
Reviewed by tr4nc3d from Kansas

3.22/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
Pours a ruby/velvet red color with a 2inch light brown head. Head goes away but leaves an island of bubbles on top with magnificent lacing. This looks very appealing and tasty.

Smell is very sweet, plums, vanilla, molasses, chocolate covered strawberries, roasted malts, smoked woodchips, grapes. I'am getting a lot of smell from this one. Its making my mouth water just waiting to take a drink.

I get a chocolate like taste upfront, followed by some tartness(a bit too much), dark chocolate, and a mild hop bitterness in the end. Your still left with that sweet tartness in the mouth once your done.

Light body with a sweet tartness and no noticeable carbonation.

This is to sweet for me and could not see myself drinking this beer ever again.
Mar 19, 2009
Photo of Oxymoron
Reviewed by Oxymoron from Colorado

3.97/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a midnight black color with some viscous to it. Dark around the edges with a slight red hint. A soft tan head when originally poured but give it a swirl and a solid tan head comes out and stays for the full tasting. Ok lacing as well.

The nose is rich and malty. Some stronger chocolate and roast notes. Almost like a Mexican chocolate bean type of thing. Minor coffee and hints of vanilla and a light woody aroma. The yeast is light but distinctive when Odells. The esters come out with prunes and definite raisins. Almost like a sugar covered raisin with the sweetness. Some heat but has back down as ages.

The taste is similar. The malt comes out but more of generic malt flavor. Some remnants of chocolate and roast but limited compared to the nose. A more milky but not exactly lactic quality comes out. The woody notes are still there but light. Some nutty flavors into the finish. Some yeasty notes but lighter versus the nose.

The body is between moderate and full. Would like a bit more depth but ok. Carbonation is good and supports the beer. Overall a good imperial stout but lacks that depth that I want in the flavor. Great balance overall though.
Feb 19, 2009
Photo of Guzzler78
Reviewed by Guzzler78 from Missouri

3.95/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a very dark brown/black. Leaves a medium tan head, about 3/4".
Smells of chocolate, molasses, getting some vanilla hints.
Tastes of dark roasted malts, chocolate, some bitter coffee notes, a bit of hot alcohol at the end.
A full mouthfeel, coats with a little creaminess.
I good drinker, a decent Imperial Stout.
Jan 15, 2009
Photo of RblWthACoz
Reviewed by RblWthACoz from Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours black with a brown head. Nose is molasses mostly. Flavor brings the same in mild quantities. Thick and robust enough, but not overpowering or too intense. Smooth liquid feel. Low but iting carbonation. A fairly robust double stout that's easy to drink.
Nov 16, 2008
Photo of Proteus93
Reviewed by Proteus93 from Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A: A very dark cola brown... essentially black. A modest little head, very light tan... more of an offwhite. A little lattice of lacing.

S: Light chocolate notes, cardboard/papery aroma. Got something that almost reminded me of plain, salted potato chips. Kinda strange.

T: Spent coffee, light soy, some cardboardy notes... I imagine it must be somewhat oxidated. Some alcohol notes, and a little tiny bit of bitter chocolate.

M + D: Light carbonation, a little creamy, but a bit light. Not one of the better stouts I've had in recent memory, though it could have potentially been off.
Nov 13, 2008
Photo of CrellMoset
Reviewed by CrellMoset from Virginia

3.27/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Bottle courtesy of objectivemonkey - thanks!! Split w/ proteus93, w/ my portion poured into a brandy snifter.

Appearance: Pours a deep brown, bordering on something darker, with a fast-fading half-finger chocolate head. Lacing is like flecks of bubbles thrown around the glass,

Aroma: Nice dirty, earthy cocoa, some greasiness (Sean gets regular ol' salty potato chips), maple syrup, a few stray lactose notes. It's pleasant if not groundbreaking, and perhaps a little off. I like potato chips. As it warms, an estery alcohol note emerges, accompanied by some slight oxidation.

Taste: Sweet, with tons of darker notes, some citrus, other fruits, and a little too much alcohol. I get licorice, dark chocolate, some tart milky notes, cherries. Lots of dirty, woody earthiness. A little too tart, and perhaps off (though I'm not as certain w/ this one as I have been w/ others), but not terrible.

Mouthfeel: Fairly thick, syrupy, and cloying. Uneven, w/ mild carbonation.

Drinkability: Alcohol is far too prominent for such a low abv%, and there are a few too many funky off notes, some tartness, a little too much milkiness. Everything that's supposed to be there is there, but it's just a little ... off.
Nov 13, 2008
Photo of SaCkErZ9
Reviewed by SaCkErZ9 from South Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Thanks to unclejedi for this one.

Etched on the side of the label is 1 2008: I assume that is the bottling date. Also, according to the label on the bottle, this one is 8.2%abv.

Pours from a 12oz bottle into a snifter. Pitch black with a touch of raisin colored higlights. A small, white head forms and leaves almost immediately. No lacing, not much retention.

Aroma is very sweet. Heavy on the molasses; the black strap kind. Even doses of brown sugar and maple syrup. This one is kind of malty in the aroma and nothing much else. Molasses is about all I get, which disappoints me.

The flavor closely mimics the aroma but isnt quite as sweet, although this one is on the sweet side for an Imperial Stout. Molasses, licorice, some coffee malt with a good amount of breadiness. A touch of hop bitterness in the end somewhat balances this one out. Alcohol is moderate but gives a warm feeling on the face and ears.

Kind of sickly sweet and syrupy on the tongue with a bitterness at the end. Chalky as well. This is one of the sweetes Impy Stouts I have had, and sad to say, I am not a fan. Seems unbalanced and just kind of all over the place. I received this in a trade so I am thankful, but this wasnt my cup of tea.
Oct 06, 2008
Photo of AMo
Reviewed by AMo from Missouri

3.88/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Odell Brewing Co. Imperial Stout pours a dense jet black with a short stiff tan head. The smell is medium strong of dark roasted malts. It tastes mellow of malt, chocolate, and coffee like flavors. The mouthfeel is on the thin side, but exceptionally smooth with a low to medium amount of carbonation. Overall drinkability is very good. The best attribute has to be this brews silky smooth feel. The taste was very enjoyable and well blended, but it just didn't stand out in a very bold way. Still, its a good stout that I've enjoyed and felt like I got my moneys worth.
Sep 23, 2008
Photo of TheManiacalOne
Reviewed by TheManiacalOne from Rhode Island

3.92/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Acquired via trade from jpm30, so a big "Thank you" goes out to him. Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep black color, with a very thin light brown head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of strong chocolate along with roasted malts, some coffee, some dark fruit and a faint touch of hops.

T: The taste is likewise full of chocolate as you would expect with back ground flavors of dark fruit, bourbon and coffee. The malt character is very hearty as normal for the style. There's a very mild hops presence that brings some balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and very smooth, medium-to-heavy body, medium carbonation, slightly sticky finish.

D: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, good kick, good representation of style, there are certainly several other big stouts that I would choose first, but this is still a very solid beer.
Sep 11, 2008
Photo of swizzlenuts
Reviewed by swizzlenuts from Wisconsin

3.33/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
The beer is completely black, except a slight part at the bottom. There is a small head and a small bit of carbonation. The nose is very roasty and smoky. The beer tastes like the nose but only more watered down; it doesn't really taste good nor bad. Almost like a mix of a stout and smoky bacon flavours. The beer isn't very thick like a RIS should be, and it's not that drinkable.
Aug 18, 2008
Imperial Stout from Odell Brewing Company
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 77 ratings