Imperial Stout
Boston Beer Works - Canal Street

 

 

Small head, but it leaves plenty of streaky ring lace. Near black color where no light shines through.

Mild aroma for the style. No problems with it, but not much to it. In fact I can't get any of the traditional smells. It's a bit like smelling water.

I'm pleased to say that the flavor is bountiful--lots of chocolate and mocha with cream. I even detect some dark cherry in the swallow. Modest, but notable alcohol, to the flavor. The aftertaste is a combination of all of the above. Relatively short aftertaste. Leans to the thin side body-wise. Good carbonation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Received a dark brown brew with a foamy tan head. Nice head retention. Head has big bubbles which leaves nice rings of lace.

Coffee here, and in a big way. Some dark fruit. Not super complex in the nose, but what is there really works. Some booze in the background.

Big charred malt and french roast coffee. A hint of alcohol and dark fruit. Bitterness is throughout, but feels like malt not just pure bitter or hoppy bitter. Nice coffee finish. I liked this one.

Fuller bodied. A little zip in the carbonation.

Nice one to find on tap. Nice complexity and flavor throughout.

 

 

Had both the cask and regular tap...cask was tastier.

Served in a tulip.

A: Black, with a little bit of a head. No carbonation bubbles.

S: Complete alcohol, a little bit of roasted malt.

T: Alcohol is certainly there, but there is a good solid malt body behind it. This was a ridiculously smooth beer for being an imperial stout.

M: Little/no carbonation. Thick, but not too thick to be undrinkable.

O: A great overall beer, and more balanced then it's on-tap brother. The cask brought some great flavors to bear here.

 

A: Very dark. Not the reddish brown at the edges like some stouts but a dark brown. Minute head with just a semblance of lacing.

S: Alcohol. That's the only distinct smell that came across to me. Of course it smells like an imperial stout under that.

T: Balanced. Sweet- enought to stick to my lips. Hops in there just enough to balance it out. Tastes like an imperial stout without a great deal of complexity. The brewery told me it runs between 11.5 and 12% but the alcohol doesn't overpower it. It is aged for four (or perhaps it was three) months in a cask so that might account for its balance.

M: Medium heavy. The slightest of carbonation.

D: Pretty good. Not to be downed at once. Although the brewery I talked to mentioned some people ask for the strongest beer, down two of these and drive off. For the heft of the beer it's quite drinkable. It's one for sipping, but not reluctantly.

Overall: I liked it. It's not the best I've had, but it was good. I think it was five something for the 14 oz in a tulip glass.