Imperial Reuben Claus
Reuben's Brews

 

Christmas may be gone but this minty and chocolatey stuff keeps the holiday cheer going. Well balanced, smooth, and dangerously easy drinking. As it warms it gets a bit syrupy, but still tasty.

Pours Black with a light brown and creaming looking head, retention in form of thing opaque film, splotchy lacing with each sip.

The nose is minty first and foremost, some dark chocolate and roast come out as it warms.

The taste is much more dark roast driven than the nose would tell you…very dark chocolate like with a hit of mint on the finish.

Medium verging on big body; creamy in nature…the carbonation adds to this; on the lower end; and smooth creamy tongue coating frothy feel…nice hit of roast bitterness on the finish.

I personally enjoyed this beer for a few reasons…the taste is very well balanced, because this was preceded but an unbalanced nose so it was a very nice surprise. It also had a great mouthfeel and avoids being too heavy

 

Poured into a Reuben's Brew small snifter. Pours a very dark mahogany brown with little light transmission in the glass and a one finger khaki head with good retention and nice lacing. Aroma of dark toasted malt, cocoa, light peppermint and a touch of lactose. Flavor is lightly toasted malt, cocoa, moderate peppermint; mild peppermint finish. Medium bodied with light creaminess. A light bodied porter with good chocolate milk character and a nice touch of peppermint that does not dominate the flavor. A little peppermint spiciness in the finish, but only leaves a light lingering mint flavor. The porter body is a bit on the light side for the ABV; although I've never had the base Claus, this one doesn't taste like it's over the original 6%. It's so drinkable I'm having to pace myself. Well done and a great festive can motif.