Silhouette - Unbarreled
Lift Bridge Brewing Co.

 

22oz bottle. Black foil wrapped cap. 2016 vintage. Bottle #2566.
Black colored body, with a dark brown back lit edge. One finger of dark tan head, which sticks around. Leaves behind some irregular shapes of lacing.
Aroma of dark roasted malts, coffee, chocolate, and dark fruit. Quite dark and dry overall.
Taste has lots of prunes, along with dark chocolate and coffee. Lots of dark roasted malts. After taste is caramel and prune.
Medium mouth feel, with a husky texture. Minor mouth numbing from the higher ABV%. Good carbonation.
Well done RIS but quite standard in all aspects. Provides an enjoyable imbibing experience but not world class.

 

Pours a dark black color with a thin tan head. Smell has molasses,chocolate,fig,wood and dark fruits. Taste was very malt driven with roasted coffee and chocolate notes,molasses and fig . Mouth was smooth and creamy very mellow. A very good Imperial Stout.

 

 

 

 

22oz bottle poured into a snifter
2015 vintage
Bottle 1374

A- pours jet black in color with a small foamy khaki colored head that reduces to a ring around the edge of the glass

S- aromas open with deep dark roasted malt that gives notes of molasses, fig, leather, anise, dark chocolate truffle, earthy coffee & light char, along with some sherry-like aromas

T- dark roasted malt up front gives some char elements, followed by dark chocolate and caramel, as well as fig & date. As it nears the close, highlights of anise, molasses and herbal coffee lead in to a linger of charred malt and chocolate

M- medium body with moderate carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel that continues into the finish

O- a classic Russian Imperial Stout is a reminder of how good beer can be without aging in a barrel

650ml bottle, 2016 vintage. Served into a stemmed glass. Pours a dark black body, slight cola brown hue, one finger thick offwhite head, good retention, bits of lacing. Smells of dark fruit, roast, espresso, milk chocolate, barley, chocolate malt. Flavour is similar, smoother with a bit more roast than the smell would suggest, although less espresso/coffee presence, more roasty than dark fruity, lots of chocolate and cocoa. Mouthfeel is medium-fuller bodied, good carbonation, slightly more carbonation than you'd expect for the style but not necessarily a detractor. Smooth, rich and roasty. Good imperial stout, although I think the barrel-aged version is far better.

 

 

 

 

 

22oz bottle, 2017 version, bottle #1838, 10% ABV, non-BA. Pours mostly black with a medium sized dark khaki head; some lacing. Smells and tastes of roasted malt, earthy hops, cherry/dark fruit, molasses, and cocoa; below average intensity. Medium bitterness and off-flavor of tartness. No noticeable alcohol. Surprisingly rich mouthfeel with a thin viscosity and average carbonation. Overall, this could be a great RIS with more intensity, roasted malt, and no cherry/fruit tartness. Would definitely revisit with a recipe change.

 

2016 on tap in a snifter at a local bar.

A: Pours jet black in color with a very small, tannish-khaki colored head with minimal retention. Thin, tannish colored lacing initially, which dissipates with time.

S: Aromas of dark chocolate, coffee, vanilla, toffee, caramel, roasted malts, and dark fruits.

T: Taste matches aroma well. Starts off with rich notes of coffee and dark chocolate fudge followed by vanilla, caramel, and roasted malts. Finishes with hints of raisins, cherries, and other dark fruits.

F: Full bodied, smooth, thick, and creamy with a slight amount of carbonation.

O: Overall, this is a great RIS. This was my first time having this one and I thought it was extremely well balanced between all the flavor profiles. Super drinkable. This stuff was great! Really wondering if I got the right beer given the other ratings this has received, but just rating what I received in the glass.

 

Poured from the bottle into a tulip glass. Black with a brown hue. One finger of beige head quickly fades to a thin cap with ring.
Smell is very good. Bitter chocolate, vanilla, roasted malt and alcohol.
Tastes like it smells. Bitter hops on the finish.
Mouthfeel is good. Coates the tongue nicely allowing the flavor to linger.
Overall, a decent RIS for the price. I would purchase again.