Black Ice Imperial Stout
Hollister Brewing Co.

 

 

On tap at Hollister brewery, sb, CA

A-dark body with pretty good head retention. Carmel head

S-chocolate and malt on the nose. Very inviting

T-lots of chocolate. Wow. This is impressive. Little syrupy at the end...

M-medium body and smooth,

O-another pleasant suprise. This is very good

Enjoyed on 10.01.11 from a 4oz taster at the brewpub. This review is based on the growler I purchased on 10.01.11, enjoyed on 10.02.11. Poured into a hi-ball glass for the review.

A: Just about pitch black. Small head that drops quickly into a very slight retentive head.

S: Good roast w/coffee. Maybe some nuts & chocolate there as well. From reading the reviews from late June, it appeared that batch had a rough acetone smell. This one has corrected that problem. Not a bit of acetone to be found in the nose.

T & M: No acidity & acetone at all as was very apparent in the June batch. Good roast and the nuts/chocolate are a bit more up-front now. Mouthfeel was light-bodied for a stout w/little to no carbs.

ABV listed at 10.6% for this batch at the brewpub. Does not taste like a 10+ at all.

Thanks to Andrew for sharing this beer.

A: The pour is nearly pitch black with almost no head at all.

S: Starts off with a nice roast and coffee smell with a bit of dark chocolate and toasted nuts. However, there is a very strong aroma of acetone that comes through and just destroys the aroma.

T: things don't improve much on the palate. The acetone is still there and there is a definite acidity. There is some decent stout character there, like the roast and coffee and a little bit of dark chocolate.

M: Medium bodied with a fairly low carbonation.

O: The acetone was just too much to get past. Was not a fan of this beer.

6/26/2011

Thanks for sharing, Andrew.

A: Black in the snifter with a dark brown head. Looks like an imperial stout.

S: Moderately roasted with evident molasses and some nuttiness. Dark chocolate and a little coffee. There's a distracting acetone presence that was hard to get past once someone mentioned it. A little alcohol.

T: Nutty notes with roasted malt, chocolate, molasses, coffee, and a moderate earthy bitterness. There's that damn acetone again. It's even a little stronger in the flavor.

M: Smooth and creamy with moderate carbonation and a full body.

Overall: Acetone kills what would have been a nice beer.

Draught at the brewpub. Black with red edges and a brown head. The aroma has coffee, bitter chocolate, and some sweetness; pretty typical roasty stout territory. The flavor is sweet with roasted dark chocolate and slight alcohol. Full body with smooth carbonation. A really drinkable and creamy imperial stout. Surprised me. Plenty of malt and flavor, but everything is controlled and balanced.

Poured black with a small brown head to it. Very little carbonation. Smells choclately and small roastiness. Taste was thin, followed the nose, roasted malts, little dryness. This beer was not Imperial at all. It was watery. Drinkability is good but is more of a regular stout not Imperial. Average regular stout.

I've had the pleasure of sampling a few pints over the last few days of this. Good enough that I asked for a growler, but to no avail. Apparently this was a small batch beer that they will only serve on premise.

Pours a very rich dark color with a nice tan head that sticks around nicely.

Smells very rich and chocolatey. Maybe some coffee here too, but this leans toward the chocolate.

Taste is truly that of a dessert sipper. Luscious chocolate is complemented by touches of coffee. Alcohol seems well hidden. This is not the most complex RIS I've had, but it sure is a tasty one.

Mouthfeel is extremely smooth and fulfilling. Very nice.

Drinkability is good - but the alcohol will surely catch up to you!

Highly recommended. One of my favorite offerings so far from one of the best brewpubs around. If you happen to stop by soon, get yourself a pint of this while it's still on tap.