Skeleton Key
Lazy Magnolia Brewing Company

Skeleton KeySkeleton Key
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From:
Lazy Magnolia Brewing Company
 
Mississippi, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
ABV:
9.5%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.93 | pDev: 8.4%
Reviews:
7
Ratings:
19
Status:
Active
Rated:
Apr 28, 2020
Added:
Dec 07, 2016
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by brewskifan55:
Photo of brewskifan55
Reviewed by brewskifan55 from Mississippi

4.1/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at the Mahogany Bar in Hattiesburg, MS.

A: Dark black/brown with a one finger tan head that held on to watch the USM bowl game. Thick lacing.

S: Roasty malts, dark chocolate, dark fruits (raisins, figs). Anise, leather.

T: Follows nose with a robustiness and smoothness that lingers on the palate. A terrific sipper that begs for a big gulp. Perfect by the fireside.

M: Medium to heavy with medium, creamy carbonation.

O: A great surprise from Lazy Mag. Can't wait for this one to be bottled. Stout-worthy!
Jan 04, 2017
More User Ratings:
Photo of chinchill
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina

3.89/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle with an October 2017 bottling date notched on the label.
Pours near black with a short and weak beige head.
Distinct aroma with bourbon, as expected, and more roasted nuts than expected. Hints of vanilla.
Leans to the sweet side for the style but has enough countering bitterness in the finish and aftertaste to avoid being overly sweet.
Very smooth with fairly well hidden ABV.
Apr 28, 2020
 
Rated: 3.9 by kjkinsey from Texas

Nov 08, 2019
 
Rated: 4.06 by NolaHopHead from Louisiana

Mar 29, 2019
Photo of BucannonXC5
Reviewed by BucannonXC5 from California

3.77/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Type: 12-oz. bottle
Glass: Rip Current 8-oz. beer glass
From: Total Wine Preston Village in Plano, Texas
Price: $2.79
Purchased: Dec. 17, 2018
Consumed: Dec. 26, 2018
Reviewed as: American Double / Imperial Stout
Misc.: Bottled on Sept. 28, 2018

Picked this up with a bunch of other beer (mainly barrel-aged stouts) while on a work trip in Frisco, Texas. Bottle description read, “Imperial stout aged with bourbon oak chips.” Basically had me at bourbon. Realized when I got home that this beer was from a Mississippi brewery, my first. Will be six stats to go after this. Would be having this after a 12.1 percent stout, so hopefully can get some of that out before I reviewed this.

Poured a pitch black color with 2-to-3 fingers of khaki-tan frothy head. A few slow moving bubbles coming up along the sides of the glass. Good spotty lacing. Outstanding retention. (Sight - 4.00)

Smelled dark fruit, plum, oak, fig, raisin, wood, black pepper, rye wintry spice, nuts, anise and leather. Maybe some toffee/caramel addition from the bottle, but not much. (Smell - 3.75)

First thought on the first taste was that it was more American Strong Ale than American Double / Imperial Stout, but did follow the nose. Got raisin, fig, plum, dark fruit, woody oak, black pepper, rye wintry spice, anise and leathery cork. Smooth for 9.5 pct. ABV. (Taste - 3.75)

Full body. Sticky texture. Soft carbonation. Long, earthy finish. (Feel - 3.75)

A solid beer, certainly hiding the booze. But it did feel more like an American Strong Ale than an American Double / Imperial Stout. (Overall - 3.75)

3.77 | 85 | B+
Dec 31, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by StoutAtTheDevil from Alabama

Oct 16, 2018
Photo of Thomas_Wikman
Reviewed by Thomas_Wikman from Texas

4.18/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Skeleton key, an Imperial Stout from Lazy Magnolia is pretty good. I really enjoyed it while grilling antelope. I thought it was darn good.

Look: Dark brown with a thick mocca colored head

Aroma: toasted bread, citrus, grapefruit, barely noticeable yeast.

Taste: The flavor is roasted malts, chocolate, a hint of bourbon, not boozy at all, relatively mild flavor and a bit watery but that is actually nice in the Texas heat.

Feel: a perfect medium to full body, easy drinking.
Aug 19, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by Keene from Washington

Jan 23, 2018
Photo of cackalacky
Reviewed by cackalacky from South Carolina

4.43/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 22 oz bomber into a snifter. Color is lovely and dark with a thin head and ephemeral lacing (wow, that sounds snooty...sorry). Smell is of malt and a scattering of chocolate; the bourbon-barrel-chip aging provides a hint of whiskey aroma, but it's not terribly pronounced. I seem to taste the bourbon more than smell it, but even that's just a hint. The roasted malt and chocolate flavor is strongest, followed by coffee, then the taste of my granddad's empty bourbon glass. The booziness is well managed. Mouth feel is a tad thin for an imperial stout, but it's not a distraction. Overall, I think this is a very strong example of an imperial stout. If you're looking for KBS, you'll be disappointed, but Skeleton Key is delicious and satisfying in it's own right.
Jan 20, 2018
Photo of ColonelFrobin
Rated by ColonelFrobin from Mississippi

4.61/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Exceptional Imperial Stout.
Dec 05, 2017
 
Rated: 4.21 by chris826 from Mississippi

Nov 26, 2017
 
Rated: 4.04 by madelf66 from Pennsylvania

Sep 25, 2017
 
Rated: 3.04 by kidzord from Illinois

Sep 11, 2017
 
Rated: 3.98 by animal69 from Louisiana

May 22, 2017
 
Rated: 3.52 by Pearlstreetbrewingco from Florida

Apr 27, 2017
 
Rated: 3.99 by Wrigfen from South Carolina

Apr 15, 2017
 
Rated: 3.89 by hazedandconfused13 from Mississippi

Feb 25, 2017
Photo of Jason
Reviewed by Jason from Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
750ml brown bottle, sample from the brewery.

A pretty mellow Imperial Stout, smooth and balanced with a slight sweetness. Bourbon Barrel Oak Chips do lend a very noticeable oakiness. Hints of vanilla and wood tannin but not much booziness, that warmth seems to come from the beer itself. Roasted grain character is on point without being harsh. Semi-dry finish lets the wood, faint bourbon and roasted flavor linger a bit more.
Feb 22, 2017
Photo of russpowell
Reviewed by russpowell from Arkansas

3.9/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a chestnut hued mahagony with a pinky of cocoa colored head. Average head retention

S: Carob, roastynness & oakyness

T: Cocoa, oaky dryness, a little roastyness, a faint amout of coffee & vanilla up front. Chocolate as this warms, vanilla , woody dryness, slight roastyness too. Finishes with cocoa, traces of black currant & subdued roastyness, a little cherry & vanilla

MF: Medium body, slightly over carbonated. Carbonation mellows out as this warms

Drinks easy enough, not a world beater, but very tasty & easily one of their best beers
Feb 10, 2017
Skeleton Key from Lazy Magnolia Brewing Company
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 19 ratings