Dark Muse Imperial Stout
Worthy Brewing Co.

A 2017 vintage, tasted mid-March '19. A very deep, almost black, brown. Opaque in the glass. Modest, thick head, fades away fairly quickly We pick up coffee, dark chocolate and molasses for the smell. Very prevelant dark roast, mild bitterness, medium mouthfeel. The Imperial ABV comes out as a bit hot and boozy. It's a good go for this style, not in the top tier.

 

 

Sticky off-white foam on the dark brown brew. Very handsome in the tall Maredsous goblet. A little musty in the aroma. Quite prickly carbonation so the mouthfeel is sharp with the carbonated sugar taste that makes me think of Rum and Coke.

Flavor of sweet malt with some fruity roasted grain. Dried apple flavor with a little bitterness. Ovaltine. There is not much of the usual burnt malt taste. It's more of a sweet Porter flavor. I haven't tried too many Imperial Stouts lately, but why not for a summer tipple? It's quite sippable but not of much interest.

Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours a very dark mahogany brown, appearing opaque black in the glass with a thin brown head that dissipates to a ring around the glass with light lacing. Aroma of mildly sweet dark toasted malt, milk chocolate, hints of vanilla and coffee, a little boozy. Flavor is dark toasted malt with light char, milk and dark chocolate, a hint of nuts, grassy hops with a moderately hoppy, dark toasted malt finish. Medium bodied with light creaminess. It's been a little while since I've had a big stout with some hoppiness, and this is a good one. The malt body is full with solid chocolate flavors and nice hints of nuts and vanilla. The hops come to life in the late taste and carry on into the finish which is robust enough to support the char and hops. A little bit of harshness near the finish on the first taste, but this smooths out well as it warms. The ABV is noticeable in the aroma, but well covered in the malty taste. Flavorful and one of the better offerings from Worthy.

Had this on tap, and it was waaaay too hot (at least for myself). Also tasted of molasses.

 

 

 

 

Bottle from Fred Meyers. Pours out a dark brown with silky tight beige head. Normal dark roast malt aroma leads to a fuller, more robust flavor. Overall body is creamy and smooth, adding to the experience. First impression was ho-hum, but it gets better as it warms. Elements of chocolate in the finish.

A: Midnight black, with a thin tan like lacing.
S: Bourbon, roasted malty, vanilla, chocolate and caramel.
T: Similar to nose, I really could taste a bourbon like malty smokiness to it. Some caramel/vanilla sweetness. The alcohol really comes through.
M: Very thin, silky like mouthfeel. Mild carbonation.
O: Good stout!

Very enjoyable for a mid-priced stout. The flavor was a pleasant surprise as the aroma leaves something to be desired. All in all a very good effort from worthy.

 

 

 

 

Thanks to Skuter for sharing this one at his tasting.

Pours a clear dark orange-brown with a foamy khaki head that settles to a small cap on top of the beer. Foamy swaths of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, cocoa, and vanilla aromas. Taste is much the same with roasted malt, earth, char, and slight cocoa flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of roast bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer with lots of roast and earth qualities all around.

Serving type: bottle.

 

This Double Stout is bottled year-round. I'd like to thank Worthy Brewing for their thoughtful contribution. Aromas resemble fudge, cocoa powder, sweet maple syrup, vinous dark fruits, and oatmeal grains.

The palate introduces itself with a blend of bitter and sweet notes, beginning nice and roasty with hints of chocolate. A sudden onset of hops quickly establishes a classic, herbal character. The middle is soon filled with dark fruits as hops continue to rise into bitterness, reaching toward an appropriate level of 60 IBU's. A strike of sweet caramel flows into hints of coffee, followed by hops that rise up into a sour note that resembles oranges. Malts continue to develop into a dark roast, stopping just short of burnt, closing with touches of oatmeal. The mouthfeel begins creamy, slightly slick with alcohol, holds on with good sustain, then closes with light hop oils that close in pleasant dryness.

I like how the malts and hops attack simultaneously, then things get dark and grainy as it nears closer to the finish. In many ways, I find the flavor closely resembles the aroma. A balanced blend of bitter and sweet hit right on target, then a sour note elevates the body to another level. As for my taste, I could do with a little less fruit, and a little more burnt coffee. The body load lands just slightly lighter than I would prefer, which is something which may be resolved with more malts or less hops. Regardless, this palate of flavor is something to be desired. This satisfies my expectations, and I think the balance is great. I recommend it.