Clavrock Imperial Stout
Rivertowne Pourhouse

Now on tap Again at 9.3% ABV. Got 12oz pour for $6.50 (a fair price)

A - Pour looks very dark, pitch black like I love it with a 1/2 inch of mocha head.

S - Smell is dominated by a Hershey syrup like sweetness yet not as much as a milk stout it boasts a cocoa powdered body with mild ashy twang of roast.

T+M - Taste is very impressive smooth and slick with defined cocoa dryness and some sweet chocolate glory. It reminded me a lot of Stones RIS but a bit thinner. Roast is at a good balance, hops takes a backseat, and little to no anise or molasses.

Overall I am glad I tried this for my 1,500th beer. It's a very well crafted RIS with a medium to heavy body that I enjoyed sipping over a 20 minute period. It even went well with food!

A: Pours a thick viscous looking black color with a thick brown head that has excellent retention. There is lots and lots lacing all down the sides of the glass. This is how I picture every imperial stout.

S: A really nice amount of dark chocolate, rich dark roasted coffee, anisette and some light herbal hops.

T: The roasted coffee and dark chocolate hit the palate up front and last throughout the whole tasting. The anise is present more towards the back end as are the herbal hops. The hops pull the sweetness and roasted malt character back a bit, give it a subtle balance.

M: Nice full body that leaves a slicky roasted taste on the palate.

D: The ABV is over 9% but the alcohol is well hidden. That makes this imperial stout really easy to drink. I would seek this out again and again!

Growler obtained via Growling at the Moon from EGledhill. Thanks for the opportunity...

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 3/4" frothy dark brown head over the opaque dark brown/black brew. Thick dense head fades ever so slowly, with heavy sticking lace. Aroma is hearty dark grains. Taste is thick dark sweetness, with some hops character on the close, coupled with a slight alcohol warmth. This almost 10%abv must be well hidden. Mouthfeel is velvet, and this is oh-so drinkable. Shouldn't be such a thing as a session imperial stout, but this could be one.

Pours totally black with a tan head that leaves a sheet of lacing that is almost unwavering on the way down. Nose is toffee, coffee, and loads of malt. Flavor is thick. Starts off with a slight bitter tone. It quickly dissipates and leaves a malty thick profile that trails with flavors of molasses. Thick and malty. That is the theme here. Feel is smooth on liquid and the carbonation is nice too. Overall a very drinkable RIS. You can't even tell there is 9.8% in this one.

Now on tap at the pourhouse

A. jet balck with a mocha head tha leaves a lacing

S. chocolate and coffee

T. more of a coffee with a hint of chocolate and a very slight alcohol taste at the finish

M. nice. not as thick for an imperial stout. but Not as thin as the ST choklat.

D. much like the Choklat, another one that well masks the alcohol taste (now down to ONLY 9.3% ABV) with a rich coffee and chocolate aroma and taste... very smooth

"Straight from the highlands, we bring you this grandd daddy of all stouts in honor of castle Clavrock, the Maxwell castle! The incredibly full body holds an abundance of caramel, chocolate, and roasted malt character all supported by a hop complexity that is unmatched by any other style! Be careful with this High Gravity selection!"

Appearance has a dark blackish brown opaqueness to it matched with a dark moccha tan head leaves light lacing around my glass. Aromatics are full of deep roasted character with dark chocolate, stronge coffee yep that's espresso, and licorice anise seed complexities touch of toasted marshmellow as well with some herbal and pine hop accents peeking through the massive roasted malt load. Flavor definitely has a rolling alcohol flow, with dark roasted malts barraging the palate dark chocolate, espresso, and anise flavors with burnt sugars bringing out a toasted marshmellow experience deep fruit notes peeek as well moderate bitterness with herbal piney hop burps following a few sips of this one. Mouthfeel is full bodied slightly sticky creaminess to it with even carbonation that stands up well to the big body of this brutal stout. Drinkability is decent very complex and a little alcoholic in presentation but I would keep this to one or two a session definitely wrecks the palate quite nicely.