Lewis Black Imperial Stout
Top of the Hill Restaurant and Brewery

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nitro-tap at Top of the Hill

A- pours pitch black with a creamy light-tan head with lacing that covers the entire side of the glass as it settles

S- day old coffee mixes with some smoky and chocolaty malt

T- very dry flavor profile that is predominately made up of black coffee flavor, nice chocolate notes with some woodsy and smoky malt

M- nitro tap gives the beer a smooth and creamy mouthfeel, creating high drinkability and hides the alcohol quite well

O- a nice dry stout that is enhanced by the nitro-tap, enjoyed the dry-yet-bitter chocolate notes

 

 

 

I recieved a growler of this beer as a Christmas present from a friend that lives in Raleigh. Top of the Hill's Lewis Black Imperial Stout is beer that I'm not familiar with and clearly many others aren't either because it has only 1 review. I was eager to try a beer that was so unknown. This beer, however, does not live up to the reputation the Chapel Hill native comedian this beer is named after. At 7.6% it is really underwhelming for the style, that's not to say that alcohol is everything in deciding what a beer is, it's indicative of the malt constituents of this beer. Although it looked fine, motor oil black with chocolate milk foam, the beer did not have much aroma, the beer tasted thin and watery (for a double stout), the body was thin and there was not much punch in the beer. When I have a beer like this, there is a certain amount of expection I go in with, I expect high bitterness, strong coffee and dark chocolate roastiness, and a thick full mouthfeel. Disappointing, but definitely not bad.

Appearance: Onyx black body with a full, lush, creamy beige head.

Smell: Black malts and roasted barley with notes of unsweetened chocolate and aniseed.

Taste: Sweet flavors of dark chocolate and dark caramel with a touch of anise and roastiness. Light, earthy bitterness. A bit of earth, a bit of roast, and more dark chocolate for the finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-full body. Mild carbonation. Smooth, silky mouthfeel.

Drinkability: It's delish! Like melted chocolate ice cream.