Westside Imperial Stout
Chelsea Brewing Company

Once again, Chelsea Brewing Co. brewed this plainly named “Imperial Stout” for Westside Brewing Co. though it is said to be a Westside recipe not to be confused with Chelsea’s own Tsar’s Imperial. The ABV is given (by the bartender) to be 10% -- similar, but not identical, to the Tsar’s.

The Westside Brewing Co. serves this winter seasonal in a tall, attractive 12 oz. schooner. It smells distinctly like French fries. Okay, maybe it’s the rest of the place during the early after-work rush that smells like French fries – make that garlic fries. But the only other aroma I’m able to discern is a slight waft of fusels that threaten to be problematic without going quite that far.

Served on draught with an appropriate brown head and solemn black body, Westside’s imperial tastes like a chocolate liqueur with some fusels and perhaps a touch of lactose or unfermented dextrins. The flavor of ethyl alcohol is otherwise not noticeable though I wouldn’t go so far as to call this a clean tasting brew. Still, it does yield nice lace and is an enjoyable hearty stout.