Oak Aged Siberian Night Imperial Stout
Thirsty Dog Brewing Company

 

 

 

Appearance - Dark black in color. Nice foamy sudsy head formed at the top two inches of the tulip glass it was served in creating a nice thin lace.

Smell - Caramel right up front, roasted coffee and malt wafts up into your nose as you tilt it towards your head.

Taste - Again caramel, dark roasted malt flavor, cocoa powder hints on the tongue as it settles.

Mouthfeel - Slick and smooth, medium carbonation and it dances on your palate like a chocolate troll as it finishes.

Drinkability - Very much drinkable. I would have had another if there weren't other offerings on tap that I wanted to try so bad. This is no longer brewed, but I'm glad I got a chance to try it before it was totally gone.

Akron is in the house, or rather, glass! A very nice 9.7% Imperial Porter, gratefully received from my brother-in-law in Ohio. An inspiring oily dark brown-black pour with hints of dark ruby at the edges. Just the slightest pomegranate red-orange head & no lace retained, I think, due to the alcohol's obvious presence. Strong, rich aroma of black raspberry-alcohol-chocaolate & espresso. Oily but nice mouthfeel with the above flavor along with floral hops & a dark-roasted, slightly dusty malt taste. Creamy even without the head, and complex hearty porter indeed!

This beer was a gem. It was served on tap at Track 84. It was served in a tulip glass and boasted a big chocolate brown head. The beer was incredibly well balanced with mild but well places hop notes. Chocolate and coffee were the predominate flavors with a mellow mouth feel brought on by the oak aging. Though some alcohol was present the beer wasn't "hot" and it finished incredibly smooth.

This was a rare treat...Cheers!

Had on draft a Track 84. Not sure how Dave procured this, but sometimes he tucks some rare things away. Served in a tulip. Poured pitch black with a tight quarter inch tan-colored cap. Nose was a well-balanced blend of roasted coffee and cocoa. Taste consistent with nose; however, I also detected a little vanilla and oak in the background. Mouthfeel was medium-bodied and lightly carbonated, but lacked the silky or viscosity typical of the style. Incredibly easy drinking RIS. Flavors were well-balanced without being cloying, and alcohol was very well-hidden. Hands down, one of the easiest drinking RIS's I've had to date.

had me a pint of this at the Thirsty Dog tasting at Riverside in Kent, OH

appearance is fair. pitch black (no highlights at the edges even) with nominal lacing. head is nominal too but there are some belgianish ringlets on the beer's surface

the beer's tangible qualities are subdued compared next to the fresh sample. smooth, without the hint of heat. a bit of oak comes through despite the complex flavor profile, as well as a smaller amount of the winey flavor i might have expected from an aged brew. up front i get some bitter chocolate, but it fades to a super smooth caramel with a hint of bitterness (fresh sample is much more bitter)

hop flavors are muted in both versions. no chance of identifying the variety. some diacetyl evident

more toffee/mocha aromas come through in the aged version, yet i can't smell hops so easily

it's tastier than the fresh bottle...easier to drink. kinda fun in a RIS: not a kick in the tastebuds like so many are. complex malt flavors dominate with minimal esters