Black Cauldron Imperial Stout
Grand Teton Brewing Co.

Black Cauldron Imperial StoutBlack Cauldron Imperial Stout
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From:
Grand Teton Brewing Co.
 
Idaho, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #416
ABV:
9.5%
Score:
88
Ranked #14,008
Avg:
3.93 | pDev: 10.94%
Reviews:
332
Ratings:
634
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 16, 2024
Added:
Feb 23, 2006
Wants:
  38
Gots:
  65
There are few styles of beer more flavorful than Imperial Stout. Our thick, rich version is brewed with plenty of caramel and roasted malts and subtly spiced with Cascade and Super Galena hops. We accentuate the natural smokiness of the brew by adding a small amount of beechwood-smoked malt. At 22.5 degrees starting gravity and 9.5% alcohol by volume, this beer boasts flavors of chocolate and coffee, along with raisins and dried fruit soaked in sherry.

Black Cauldron is a strong ale best enjoyed in moderation. Try pairing it with full-flavored grilled or roasted meats. Rich desserts like chocolate cake, truffles, fruit tarts, caramel flan or crème brûlée are all excellent matches.

We brew our Black Cauldron Imperial Stout to recognize and honor the women in the history of brewing. Brewing has been women's work since the dawn of civilization. In all ancient cultures, beer was a gift from a goddess, and women maintained status and power through their skills as brewsters. This remains true today in indigenous cultures from Asia to Latin America, Africa to remote villages in Scandinavia. Around the world, women bake bread and brew their own beer.

In Europe, the rise of cities brought commercial brewing, as governments realized the potential tax revenue to be had from large breweries. By 1445, the first all-male brewers' guild was established, the campaign against witchcraft burst forth across Europe, and the purge of women from brewing had begun. Beer historian Alan Eames has written that, when an occupation was listed, most of the women burned for witchcraft in Europe were brewsters or alewives.

Most of the imagery we associate with witchcraft today originated with the brewster. The large black cauldron bubbling over with foam? A brew kettle, of course. The black cat? Necessary to keep rats out of the grain store. The tall pointed hat? It allowed the brewster to be seen over the heads of taller men in the marketplace. A broom? The symbol of household domesticity, it is still associated with brewing all over the world.

Without the work of these women through the ages, it's entirely possible beer would not exist today. To learn more about the role of women in today's brewing industry, visit www.pinkbootssociety.org. For more on the history of brewing, www.grandtetonbrewing.com.

With its dark malts, alcohol and unfermented sugars Black Cauldron is ideal for prolonged cellaring. We’ve enjoyed samples aged as long as nine years.

Original Gravity (Plato): 22.5º
International Bitterness Units: 54
Color (Lovibond): 40.0º
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by jcbogantes:
Photo of jcbogantes
Reviewed by jcbogantes from Costa Rica

3.72/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
This was my first Imperial stout, very interesting beer.

A: Very dark deep caramel color, with off white head that stay for a while leaving nice lacing on the glass

S: Very smoky on the nose, some raisins and sweet aromas

T: Sweet molasses, coffee notes, the smokiness is strong kind of woody but for me the alcohol taste overpowers too much at the end.

M: full body
Jul 27, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.77 by Silke_Neryn from Sweden

Jan 16, 2024
Photo of RJLarse
Reviewed by RJLarse from Washington

3.77/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Pours a black opaque color with a thin brown head. Smell's of charcoal and dark sugars. Tastes like dark fruit, dates and raisins with a dark roasted gran flavor. Charcoal bitterness. Cloying finish.
Dec 17, 2022
 
Rated: 3.72 by Pacioli1445 from South Dakota

Feb 06, 2022
Photo of Captain69
Rated by Captain69 from Illinois

3.65/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
CREAMY MALTY STOUT STRONG BUT ENJOYABLE
Jan 08, 2022
 
Rated: 3.85 by Taybeh from Minnesota

Aug 06, 2021
 
Rated: 4.09 by LunchMoney from Minnesota

Jan 23, 2021
 
Rated: 4.28 by Wisconsin_IPA_Lover from Wisconsin

Sep 14, 2020
 
Rated: 4.28 by thefrog114 from Florida

Mar 22, 2020
 
Rated: 4.49 by Dalbeast from Wyoming

Feb 07, 2020
 
Rated: 3.93 by NCSapiens from Indiana

Dec 25, 2019
 
Rated: 3.77 by Rifugium from North Dakota

Jul 10, 2019
 
Rated: 4.04 by Mikexw from New York

Apr 10, 2019
Photo of GreesyFizeek
Reviewed by GreesyFizeek from New York

4.22/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This one pours a fairly dark black color, with a small head, and a little bit of lacing.

This one smells pretty great - there's dark smokiness, roasted malt, raisins, sherry, espresso, and wood.

The taste isn't quite as good as the aroma, but it's still good. There's a lot of dark fruit here - it's almost tangy, with a nice warming smokiness, and tons of roasted character. There's dark chocolate, too - and a bit of coffee bitterness. There's definitely a lot going on for a no-frills imperial stout here.

This is not super thick, but not thin, with a decent level of drinkability. There's not much booziness here.

This is a pretty wonderful classic take on an imperial stout.
Mar 19, 2019
Photo of hman43
Reviewed by hman43 from North Carolina

4.27/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Look: It pours very dark brown with a brown head. Head retention is good.

Smell: It has aromas of roast and subtle smoke. There are some light coffee notes in the background. There are also subtle sherry and dark fruit notes.

Taste: There is a balanced combination of roast and smoke with a low level of coffee and dark fruits. There are some sherry notes in the back ground with floral.

Feel: It has a full body with a slightly harsh bitterness which actually enhances the flavors as opposed to taking away from them.

Overall, a great combination of smoke and roast with several complex supporting background flavors.
Feb 17, 2019
 
Rated: 4.25 by paulish from New York

Feb 03, 2019
 
Rated: 3.94 by Abe_Froman from Massachusetts

Jan 13, 2019
Photo of Stout80mizer
Reviewed by Stout80mizer from Florida

3.56/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Meh...after dosing my pallet on Expedition the last week may be the reason why this is just so-so for me...Beautiful pour and visual but not much body . Kind of sweet for a RIS
Nov 26, 2018
 
Rated: 4.02 by bigpoppa67 from Wisconsin

Apr 24, 2018
Black Cauldron Imperial Stout from Grand Teton Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 634 ratings