Sea Monster Imperial Stout | Ballast Point Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Ballast Point Brewing Company
California, United States
ballastpoint.com
Style: American Double / Imperial Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 10.00%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
Our Sea Monster Imperial Stout explores the darkest reaches of the traditional oatmeal stout. This bold, rich brew first lures you in with roasted coffee notes, then grabs hold with hints of bittersweet chocolate and currant. Backed with a perfect hop balance, you’ll soon discover this is one monster of mythic proportions.
Added by OlieIPA on 11-28-2008
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 1,858 | Reviews: 514
4.25/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
3.64/5 rDev -8.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
4.1/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This was poured into a tulip. The appearance was a nice looking black color with a slim finger’s worth of white to off white foamy head that quickly dissipated leaving some light clingy lacing. The smell had a sweet cocoa to sticky licorice, light roast of coffee and an ample amount of anise settling nicely underneath my nose. The taste was mainly sweet and roasty. A light vanilla did help to balance out. An even-ed out delicate delivery of balanced vanilla licorice boozy aftertaste lead to a semi - sweet and wet finish. On the palate, this one sat about a medium on the body with a fairly decent sipping quality about it. Carbonation, what carbonation, is it there? Not really, but for the style and age, I’m not worried. It’s good stuff. Overall, I say this was a pretty good D/IS that I would have again.
819 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This was poured into a tulip. The appearance was a nice looking black color with a slim finger’s worth of white to off white foamy head that quickly dissipated leaving some light clingy lacing. The smell had a sweet cocoa to sticky licorice, light roast of coffee and an ample amount of anise settling nicely underneath my nose. The taste was mainly sweet and roasty. A light vanilla did help to balance out. An even-ed out delicate delivery of balanced vanilla licorice boozy aftertaste lead to a semi - sweet and wet finish. On the palate, this one sat about a medium on the body with a fairly decent sipping quality about it. Carbonation, what carbonation, is it there? Not really, but for the style and age, I’m not worried. It’s good stuff. Overall, I say this was a pretty good D/IS that I would have again.
819 characters
4.45/5 rDev +11.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Black with thick brown/tan head. Smell is chocolate, black jelly beans, and taste is chocolate malty goodness. Feel is AWESOME. Smooth, milky, tHick, outstanDing. A little alcohol warming.
189 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Black with thick brown/tan head. Smell is chocolate, black jelly beans, and taste is chocolate malty goodness. Feel is AWESOME. Smooth, milky, tHick, outstanDing. A little alcohol warming.
189 characters
3.88/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.25/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
3.97/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
From a large bottle, this brew is essentially black, with a tan head. The aroma is toasty, with a slightly burnt, almost charcoal aroma. Licorice. The taste is balanced, with intense bitterness....roasted grain, coffee, and peppery hops. Full flavor and creamy texture. Excellent.
285 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
From a large bottle, this brew is essentially black, with a tan head. The aroma is toasty, with a slightly burnt, almost charcoal aroma. Licorice. The taste is balanced, with intense bitterness....roasted grain, coffee, and peppery hops. Full flavor and creamy texture. Excellent.
285 characters
3.53/5 rDev -11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.75/5 rDev -6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.37/5 rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.43/5 rDev +11%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
3.9/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22 oz bottle share, poured into stemmed glass. Great roasted malt flavor, some lingering bitterness. L: Black color. S: Roasty. T: Pleasant roastiness. F: Medium body. O: Outstanding.
184 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22 oz bottle share, poured into stemmed glass. Great roasted malt flavor, some lingering bitterness. L: Black color. S: Roasty. T: Pleasant roastiness. F: Medium body. O: Outstanding.
184 characters
2.62/5 rDev -34.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.25
Dark color with almost no head
Aroma of cappuccino and espresso, roast malts, milk chocolate, oats.
Metallic flavor profile with odd bubble gummy flavors, roast malts, metallic oats...licking a bloody steel knife.
Feel is moot at this point. Roasty. Whatever.
This was an absolute gut wrenching, goosebump-inducing, total drain pour of a beer. One of the worst Imperial Stouts ever.
386 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.25
Dark color with almost no head
Aroma of cappuccino and espresso, roast malts, milk chocolate, oats.
Metallic flavor profile with odd bubble gummy flavors, roast malts, metallic oats...licking a bloody steel knife.
Feel is moot at this point. Roasty. Whatever.
This was an absolute gut wrenching, goosebump-inducing, total drain pour of a beer. One of the worst Imperial Stouts ever.
386 characters
3.98/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at Ballast Point Miramar. Pours nearly black with a small dark head that lasts a while. Nose is more chocolate than burnt./roast barley, and has a nice whiff of coffee as well. Taste is on the mellow side, with rounded roast and coffee flavors rather than anything that stands out and slaps you in the face. Overall, a good imperial stout, but maybe not memorable. Would like to try a BA version of this for sure.
425 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at Ballast Point Miramar. Pours nearly black with a small dark head that lasts a while. Nose is more chocolate than burnt./roast barley, and has a nice whiff of coffee as well. Taste is on the mellow side, with rounded roast and coffee flavors rather than anything that stands out and slaps you in the face. Overall, a good imperial stout, but maybe not memorable. Would like to try a BA version of this for sure.
425 characters
3.45/5 rDev -13.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
4.25/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.18/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
3.42/5 rDev -14.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Sea Monster Imperial Stout from Ballast Point Brewing Company
3.99
out of 5
based on 1,858 ratings.
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5