Nimbus Imperial Porter
Nimbus Brewing Company

 

 

 

The beer arrives with a one-finger thick, lightly browned, tan colored head that produces some spotty lacing as I work my way through the pint. The beer has a dark, concentrated brown color, that is opaque and perhaps a touch murky when held up to the light. The aroma smells of sweet malt and almost leans toward bourbon like aromatics (with notes of alcohol spice and Bourbon like fruit). Other aromas of cocoa malt, some roast grain firmness, milk chocolate notes, toasted whole grain bread and some hints of umami concentrated malt richness are also noticeable

My first sip of this has me noticing the big, chewy, viscous body that coats palate, but there is alcohol in the finish that lightens up things considerably (as does some prickly carbonation that adds some light texture to this brew. This tastes sweet but not cloying and has flavors of rich cocoa, an almost milk chocolate like flavor, it definitely reminds me of malted milk chocolate balls and a touch of coffee liquor. The finish has a light toasted brown bread note that is somewhat drying, though a dark malt sweetness is still dominant. The alcohol is accentuated by the food I am eating, but it was surprisingly smooth prior to my taking my first bite. This beer is actually fairly light bodied for its strength and viscosity; the alcohol certainly keeps this as a sipping beer though. The alcohol has enough esters & higher alcohols mixed in with it to evoke bourbon notes that lean towards the spicy, a touch boozy and a bourbon fruit character (especially towards the finish).

This would be almost perfect for some sort of barrel treatment as long as this didn't' dry out or lighten up the base beer from what it is currently. This is quite tasty and just about the strongest thing ever from Nimbus, and it is certainly the strongest thing they have made in a long time by long shot. I can see beer geeks going crazy for this one, though it can be a touch boozy for me at times.