Vendel Imperial Stout
Kelsen Brewing Company

Vendel Imperial StoutVendel Imperial Stout
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From:
Kelsen Brewing Company
 
New Hampshire, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
Ranked #528
ABV:
9.4%
Score:
95
Ranked #1,585
Avg:
4.32 | pDev: 7.87%
Reviews:
25
Ratings:
79
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 26, 2023
Added:
Jan 04, 2015
Wants:
  10
Gots:
  17
Dark and luscious, Vendel Imperial Stout is a big roasty beer with a wonderful aroma of coffee and dark chocolate emanating from its light brown head. Brewed with flaked oats for a creamy, satisfying mouthfeel, you’ll experience flavors of dark-roasted coffee and rich, bittersweet chocolate. Vendel’s recipe includes Sumatra coffee roasted locally at the Coffee Factory in Derry and is the perfect beer to warm up with during the harsh New England winters.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by johnnnniee:
Photo of johnnnniee
Reviewed by johnnnniee from New Hampshire

4.06/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Growler and sample from the brewery today.
Solid black color with a smallish tan head that dissipates quickly. Aromas of coffee and roasted grains dominate with a bit of bitter chocolate and touches of caramel and vanilla to counter. Light alcohol nose especially as she warms, touches of pitted fruits and burnt sugar round out the nose. Creamy smooth mouthfeel that shows a touch of sweetness. Velvety chocolate flavor up front segues into light coffee and roasted grains. Caramel, molasses, and a creamy light vanilla come through next before a touch of alcohol warmth, earthy hop, and bitter roast finishes us off. Thick body with a light level of carbonation. Big thick rich tasty stout right there, I'm going to have to pick up a couple of bottles when they come out.
Jan 04, 2015
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by atlbravsrno1 from Maine

Feb 26, 2023
 
Rated: 3 by LAM01833 from Massachusetts

Jul 31, 2022
Photo of Smakawhat
Reviewed by Smakawhat from Maryland

4.25/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from the bottle into a long tulip glass.

Creamy forming body, with dark classic opaque walnut black color. Rich forming mocha brown head, easily three fingers and a slowly crawl of lace and collar.

Nice aroma. Deep mocha and cocoa chocolate tones. Dark cacao powder, with ripping coffee beans. Light hints of mild molasses mixing in with an excellent balance.

Palate is excellent. Faint creamy mouthfeel, almost hints of vanilla flavor before balancing into real nice flavors. Mocha cocoa blast with some interesting fruity esters of raspberry and prickly piping coffee notes. An almost chocolate cinnamon punch on the cocoa angle. Real nice mix of excellent roasted qualities.

Very impressive stout.
Nov 28, 2019
Photo of Dope
Reviewed by Dope from Massachusetts

4.19/5  rDev -3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
No sign of a bottling date. I've had this for approximately a year.

A: Pitch-black pour with a tall dark brown head. Excellent head retention and thick walls of lacing as it finally recedes.

S: Lots of chocolate, with some anise backing. Hints of smoke. No real sign of coffee but this has been sitting a while in my cellar. Slightest touch of dark fruits.

T: A little bit of mild coffee on the front end, quickly turning into dark chocolate. Dark fruits lightly cover everything. Roasty on the back end, some light char, smoke and anise. A touch more coffee on the back end, mixing with some residual dark chocolate and a decent hit of booze as well.

M: Heavy, slick and oily.

O: Nice well-rounded imperial stout. I should have drank it sooner, I suspect the coffee may have stood out more. As it stands, it's a nicely complex, well-balanced and smooth imperial stout. Very oily mouthfeel, I found that interesting. Really sticks around between sips as a result.
Mar 25, 2019
 
Rated: 4.25 by Pippuri from New Hampshire

Dec 19, 2018
 
Rated: 4.35 by KMcGrath from Massachusetts

Dec 03, 2018
Photo of jzeilinger
Reviewed by jzeilinger from Pennsylvania

4.04/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Many thanks to SawDog505 for this bottle.

A - Pitch black pour with thick, creamy toffee colored lacing and head that's very sticky on the sides of the glass.

S - Roasted chocolate malt, some black licorice, and cream.

T - Dark roast chocolate, cream, anise / black licorice.

M - Thick, full bodied, silky, and with delicate prickly carbonation.

O - Had this beer in the past thanks to SawDog, I think I sat on this bottle a little too long. Still, a respectable score and enjoyable, but remember it being better than this.
Jul 25, 2018
Photo of Holderness
Reviewed by Holderness from Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Nice dark body with a mocha colored head that laces and retains well. Somewhat odd dark fruit aroma with mild vegetal qualities. Tastes are robust and bitter, with a definite coffee and bittersweet chocolate presence. Reminds me a lot of Hill Farmstead's Everett Porter. Nice velvety, thick mouthfeel with a moderate level of carbonation.

79/100
Jul 23, 2018
 
Rated: 4.1 by Mikeluzzjr from Massachusetts

Jun 28, 2018
Photo of Craig-er
Reviewed by Craig-er from New Hampshire

4.17/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured into a tulip glass. Kicked up some nice chocolate foam that dissipates after few minutes. Some lacing on the glass that stuck like rain drops. It smelled like Chocolate and molasses.
Taste is full bodied with a hint of dryness. Overall a splendid stout for a cold winter evening.
Feb 02, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by Patches826 from Massachusetts

Jan 28, 2018
 
Rated: 4.6 by Tcsox from Massachusetts

Jan 14, 2018
 
Rated: 4.48 by Bogdawg from Massachusetts

Dec 30, 2017
 
Rated: 4.09 by REVZEB from Illinois

Dec 28, 2017
 
Rated: 4.61 by dpgoblejr from New Hampshire

Dec 26, 2017
Photo of brureview
Reviewed by brureview from Massachusetts

4.12/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Dark opaque chocolate color with a 2F head.
Aroma: roasted coffee. That’s the main flavor in this stout. Some chocolate.
Medium-heavy MF. Malty.
Taste:quite good with an emphasis on coffee.
Smooth coffee finish.
Very well done. However, I would have liked more chocolate and less coffee, the chocolate notes don’t seem to come out for me.
Dec 20, 2017
 
Rated: 4.25 by Zuidman from Illinois

Dec 29, 2016
 
Rated: 3.65 by Duff27 from Illinois

Dec 19, 2016
Photo of TheManiacalOne
Reviewed by TheManiacalOne from Rhode Island

3.85/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
On-tap 11/20/2016 at Natty Greene’s Tavern in North Attleboro, MA, served in a tulip glass.

A: The beer is a deep dark brown color, with a short beige head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains coffee, chocolate, roasted malts and a touch of hops.

T: The taste starts out sweet with strong flavors of coffee and chocolate. Then a hearty roasted malt character comes in. The hops presence is mild but complementary and brings a good balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet and slightly bready.

M: Crisp and smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

O: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, strong kick, good representation of style, this is solid beer to drink for a while.
Nov 20, 2016
Vendel Imperial Stout from Kelsen Brewing Company
Beer rating: 95 out of 100 with 79 ratings