Imperial 1st Meal
RAR Brewing (Real Ale Revival)

 

 

 

 

 

Sampling a cellar temp 16 oz can poured into a small snifter. The beer pours a jet black color with minimal beige head that fades quickly to a thin edge layer. The aroma of maple syrup dominates right from the can popping. This does have more of an artificial maple note than genuine maple syrup, and this is a little off putting with how sweet this nose starts off. I also get roasted malt and some black coffee notes too. A bit of Dark chocolate mixes in to complete the profile Not really boozy at all and no hops show through on this maple dominated nose.
First sip reveals a lighter body than I expected and a slightly sticky texture, which doesnt seem to be possible , but that is the way it feels on my palate.
Flavor is sweet maple like the nose advertised with some roast notes, black coffee and a bit of charred note almost smokey on the finish. I dont get any hint of the ABV or any hops on this one. The flavor is pretty solid and I enjoy this one. A bigger body and dialing back the artificial maple would be an improvement IMO, but it isnt a bad beer for sure.

 

 

I get coffee/maple/caramel in the taste and the smell but their is also a distinct smoky/pork flavor in the nose and the taste underlying everything. This has got to have either bacon or sausage in in it. This has more than 10x as much pork flavor as the Maple Bacon Porter from Funky Buddha I tried last week. Not sure how I feel about this one, it is definitely different. If you have ever smelled the Mmmm Bacon candle from Yankee Candles this tastes very much like that smells. I think this may be a love it or hate it type of beer for most people.

Dark black, very clean. No light penetration.

Typical burnt espresso and burnt caramel, with a smell that triumphs that can only be described as pork sausage. Noticeable boozeiness, but only around 6-7%. Does not taste or smell like 10.5%.

Burnt coffee, and pork sausage. I get nothing of taste out of this, besides pork sausage and burnt black coffee.

Very thick and full. A bit of a lactose-ness feel to it, without any lactose in taste.

Personally, I am not a fan. All that I could taste was Jimmy Dean Pork Sausage.

That is not to say that it was bad. It was certainly drinkable and interesting, but only for a single beer. After a drink of this, I felt done with any dark beers for the night (which is certainly unusual!).
Personally, my 32oz Growler fill for $11.99 was NOT worth the cost, and some was a drain pour. YMMV though.

 

 

Smokey chocolate maple coffee goodness. Great beer to share. Nice and sweet and full bodied as expected of a 10.5% imperial dessert stout. Will be getting this anytime i see it available in the tap room.

 

Draught 8oz snifter at Wet City in Baltimore