Imperial German Chocolate Cupcake Stout
Angry Chair Brewing

 

Bottom line: this is a delectable pastry stout worthy of Angry Chair's lofty reputation. They simply seem to have mastered some sort of alchemy regarding the style that few, if any, can match.

It's perhaps not a dead ringer for the namesake dessert ... but it honestly isn't far off, and the resemblance grows with successive sips. It's sweet, but not cloying; realistically, it's more rich and decadent than sweet. The coconut is a lovely light touch, never overbearing, but adding another layer to the profile. Chocolate and vanilla are prominent, joined by molasses, cherry, and caramel from the malt base. Incredibly long finish, including lingering notes of coffee, chocolate, and vanilla.

This is another absolute home run from Angry Chair. Every single time I have one of their highest-rated pastry stouts, I think there's absolutely no way it can possibly live up to the hype ... and then it not only matches, but surpasses the hype.

 

 

 

 

From a 32oz crowler, filled at the brewery 06/03/23. Served in a tulip.

Pours a thick-and-viscous appearing motor oil black. A scant quarter-finger of coffee-colored suds lasts a half-minute or so, leaving a soft, creamy collar and a barely rousable oily, sugary film of super-slippery lacing.

Nose is roasty-malty, nutty and mildly sweet. Aromas of fudge and dark roast coffee. Some nuttiness and woody, husky coconut as it warms.

Taste is fudgy-sweet - but much less sweetness than anticipated. Tasting brown sugar chocolate vanilla fudge, molasses-sweetened coffee and - more prominently and notably as the beer warms - an earthy, woody nuttiness, ground bitter walnut, thick and heavy perfumy vanilla and husky coconut. Nice! Alcohol is hardly noticeable.

Feel is smooth and viscous, dense but less thick and heavy than it appeared going into the glass! with super-fine, prickly carbonation making it feel a little lighter than it might otherwise. I want to say that it feels ‘sugary,’ like sugar water but that’s totally hallucinatory - it tastes like it should feel sugary but it does not. Abv is hardly evident.

Overall, outstanding! I like to buy these sweet and sticky pastry stouts mainly so that I can complain about them and leave bad reviews but this was so damn good that I was wishing I hadn’t offered to share it with Boy and Spouse. Mammosilenus, who never likes stouts, stole several ounces of this and then came back looking for more and had to be beaten back.

Such an awesome beer! Like most of Angry Chair's stouts, this thing coated the glass with sugar, making it difficult to hold without developing sticky fingers. This is offset completely by the delicious, deep chocolate nose and palette, with boozy sweetness grabbing hold and a light aftertaste of vanilla.

Dark black, little to no head. Imperial German Chocolate Cupcake Stout is super sweet, and not my favorite kind of stout. This needs the barrel. It's tasty - I split this 4 ways, so still got about 6oz, and it was probably 3oz too many. Total dessert stout. Good for what what it is - not for me.

 

 

Sampled 11/8/2019 while in line at Toppling Goliath. Chocolate greatness.