Signature Series Raspberry Imperial Stout
Dry Dock Brewing Co.

On the heels of the popularity of their every popular imperial stout, the infusion of raspberries give this roasty and cocoa driven stout a hint of tanginess and brightness of red berry and a kick of complexity to challenge the dark grains and barley sugars.

As part of their "Signature Series", the simply named Raspberry Imperial Stout pours a jet coffee black and topped with a similarly mousy coffee creme. Those coffee influences roll onto the nose with char, java, cocoa and the distinctive red character of raspberry. Brown sugar sweetness couples with caramel and a hint of molasses for a sweet and succulent early palate, wrapped in a cocoon of burnt marshmallow.

The beer's roasty, toasty and more robust attributes eventually engulf the sweetness and render it to a supporting role. But the middle palate brings those dark roast coffee, bittersweet chocolate and black walnut flavors to the forefront while the echoes of raspberry become more expansive as the beer dries and the roastiness relaxes. Broadly bitter with a woodsy, smoldering ember and brushfire character, the late palate begins to take on those berry and chocolate dessert flavors.

Spicy with elements of kahlua and Irish whisky, the full bodied beer allows the tanginess of raspberries to balance as much as the woodsy hops do. A long trail of turkish coffee, baker's chocolate and remnants of raspberries provide a tannic balance with a slight red wine character deep in aftertaste.

 

 

11-30