Chocolate Raspberry Imperial Stout (2009 Rivale Winner)
DESTIHL Brewery

 

I tried this several times yesterday at Goose Island's Stout Fest. It was one of my favorite surprises. It poured a dark, dark brown on the verge of black with a dark, dark foamy mocha head. The nose really hooked me in. It has this superb mix of rich milk chocolate and bitter raspberries with a hint of sweetness. It wasn't overly done or overly sweet which was perfect. It was exactly how I'd want a fruit infused stout to smell. The flavor too was a nice mix of rich milk chocolate, coffee, and sweet and bitter raspberries with a slight hoppiness in the finish. Where did this beer come from? It drank very smoothly, full in body, with a superb chocolate berry aftertaste. The alcohol wasn't present at all. This beer needs to be bottled. It's a nice "dessert" beer that really impressed me and really hit the spot.

Poured from a 2 liter (67.7oz), Grolsch-style stopper top Destihl growler into a DT tulip. Special thanks to HeatherAnn for the hook-up and the assist!

From their beer menu:

Chocolate Raspberry Imperial Stout (2009 Rivale Winner)
ABV: 9.8% IBU: 96 Color SRM: 65
This beer is black in color, high in alcohol content, very robust with a rich malty flavor and aroma balanced with assertive hopping and fruity-ester characteristics. Hop bitterness is high but balanced with chocolate malt, Belgian chocolate and red raspberry fruit character. Roasted malt astringency and bitterness can be moderately perceived but do not overwhelm the overall character. This brew was inspired by this year's DESTIHL Rivale Homebrew Contest winner: Kevin Kozlen.

A: Pours a pure pitch black with a creamy, dark mocha head that cascades for a bit after being poured. Retention is excellent and it leaves a bunch dark lacey specks and webs stuck to the glass.

S: Strong aromas of dark chocolate and fresh raspberries. This is quickly followed by a dose of smoky/roasty malt, a touch of espresso, more berries, and lemon.

T: See above. Taste becomes dominated by the blackened malt and chocolate in the forefront. Raspberry retreats but re-emerges late in the middle and throught the finish. The 2nd half of this beer brings on a healthy helping of lemon/citrus hops.

M: Big and full with gobs of dry, roasty astringency. Also, dry and spicy from the liberal hopping. Long bitter chocolate finish with balance from some milk chocolate in the very beginning. Tangy berry/citrus wraps this whole package up.

D: So friggin' easy to drink, and thankfully, not milkshake thick. Alcohol content felt non-existant. Loved it! I called and talked to Heather while she was sitting at Destihls' bar with her sister and she was (by far) most excited about this beer. What great judgement she has!