World's End
Blacks Kinsale Craft Brewery

look: three finger rocky tan coloured head with rather good retention, beer is jet black in the glass, totally opaque.

smell: smells really nice, really chocolatey, sweet milk chocolate, vanilla, brown bread, treacle, fudge, caramel, hint of dark fruit, not too intense.

taste: that tastes quite nice, milk chocolate all the way, quite sweet, vanilla, fudge, caramel, treacle, black bread, little bit smokey, hint of whiskey maybe, medium bitterness on the finish, sweetness and bitterness lingers, good stuff.

feel: medium bodied, light carbonation, velvety smooth, but too light for the style, drinks like a 5% stout.

overall: a nice beer for sure, good but not quite great, good enough imperial stout though all in all.

The next from Kinsale, Cork is this imperial stout with 8.5% ABV.

When I poured it into a large red wine glass, it didn't look like crude oil as it usually happens with the 10%+ ABV imperial stouts, but still looked thick enough, tho.

Top: it forms a generous, 2" tan/brown head, which descends slowly, just how I like it.

Colour: very dark brown/black, like cola, but the light cannot get through. When there's only a few sips in the glass, it reveals a dark orange - ruby hue.

Smell: vanilla, raw chocolate powder, sweet yeast up front, a little brown bread and alcohol in the background. It smells and tastes best at room temperature.

Taste: bittersweet, interestingly enough I felt milk stout notes. Alcohol is clearly present. Aromatic, chocolate and dark roast espresso with a hint of vanilla and rum in the background. Microbubbles form at the start of the sip and they disappear in a second or two when it becomes creamy and smooth with traces of yeast, its strength is slightly overwhelming, to be honest. It shows itself stronger than it really is.

The sip leaves a long lasting, dry finish. Medium body. Low carbonation as it should be, it's not a lager, this fits the style.

Summary: a decent imperial stout. It could be a bit better if the boozy tones wouldn't be so obtrusive, that being said, I will have this again. I came to the conclusion it gives the best performance served at room temperature as it reveals plenty more subtle details and transforms the taste a bit more velvety.

Almost black, mahogany edges. Abundant light brown head, solid.
Smell: chocolate and vanilla. Intense, sweet and pleasant.
The taste starts with cocoa beans, then the vanilla, soft.
Behind that, the toasted notes, and a good amount of bitterness in the aftertaste, quite long. With again cocoa and vanilla.
Interesting, pleasant.

500ml bottle poured at room temperature. Black colour (even when back lit), two fingers of tan head and lots of lacing. Rich aromas of chocolate and alcohol. Tastes of bitter chocolate, espresso, vanilla and dark fruits marinated in rum. Moderate sweetness up front balanced by a hoppy, bitter finish. Rich, creamy mouthfeel with subtle carbonation and plentiful alcoholic heat. Despite being a big, heady brew this is surprisingly and dangerously easy to drink. Excellent.

On tap at the Brew Dock, Dublin. Black colour, small head with medium retention. Normal lace. Aroma of chocolate, whiskey, wood, licorice, vanilla. Full body, creamy texture, good carbonation. Alcohol is clear present. Astringent finish. Taste of whiskey, chocolate, wood, licorice, vanilla. Good petroleum.

 

 

Really should be listed as an Imperial (with abv 8.5) but that's a minor quibble. Chocolate and vanilla it says on the bottle and they were true to their word.
If that is your taste that you should try this. I really enjoyed it.