Imperial Blair's Breakfast Stout
Wilmington Brewing Company

 

 

A: Pours an opaque thick viscous jet black in color with moderate amounts of fine active visible carbonation rising slowly along the edges of the glass and very faint dark cola brown + dark chestnut brown colored highlights. The beer has a two finger tall dense foamy dark mocha head that quickly reduces to a small to medium sized patch of very thin film and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Minimal amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Just shy of strong aromas of dark roasted malts, dark malts, dark chocolate, freshly brewed coffee, and maple sweetness. Moderate aromas of toasted oak, vanilla, and caramel.

T: Upfront there are strong flavors of dark roasted malts + dark malts with a light to moderate amount of maple sweetness and lactose sweetness. That is followed by moderate to strong flavors of freshly brewed coffee and dark chocolate. Finally there are moderate flavors of toasted oak, vanilla, and caramel. Light to moderate amounts of roasty bitterness in the finish which fades away leaving lingering coffee flavors.

M: Full bodied with just shy of moderate amounts of carbonation. Light amounts of alcohol warming in the finish.

O: Very enjoyable with a really pleasant flavor and really nice coffee notes - the maple really makes this beer scream out brunch. Drinks pretty easily considering the strength and the alcohol is relatively well hidden. Glad I got the chance to grab this one.