A Decade Under the Imperial Stout
Fonta Flora Brewery

 

looks great, smells great - alcohol is present, but not too noticeable at 14.5. I can’t pick out individual ingredients, which is good - but there is something in the combination that holds it back a bit. Overall it’s a nice beer with a ton of add-junks - I prefer a plain imperial, but I’m glad I tried!

I’ve yet to have any big Stouts or high abv beers of any style from Fonta Flora, so this should be an interesting one. It’s an absolute laundry list of adjuncts all from different collaborating breweries. Is a 10 way collaboration where each brewery simply selects an adjunct a true collaboration? Debatable, but I don’t care, I just wanna crack this thing open

Pours a very dark brown with a finger of creamy dark tan head that quickly fades to a ring and leaves minimal lacing

The nose is very sweet but there’s a nice balance to it. I’m picking up on aromas of molasses, vanilla bean, dark chocolate, black cherry, fruity coffee, smooth oak, brown sugar, earthy cinnamon, walnut, light hazelnut, and burnt caramel

It’s a bit sweeter in taste but it certainly could’ve been worse given all the adjuncts. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting cocoa powder, black cherry, toasted oak, walnut, burnt caramel, sweet bourbon, vanilla bean, earthy cinnamon, light almond, and creme brûlée. The swallow brings notes of dark chocolate, molasses, red grape, smooth oak, burnt caramel, fruity coffee, vanilla bean, earthy cinnamon, almond, toasted coconut, and smooth oak

A medium full body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a rich beer. Finishes sticky and sweet

While it does fall into too sweet territory at some points, it remains surprisingly well balanced

 

11/11/23 draft @ The Whale