John Wayne Imperial Stout
Newport Beach Brewing Company

On tap at Newport Beach Brewing Newport Beach, CA. Pours with a one-finger brown head, goes slowly leaving some lace. Black color. Light-medium carbonation, heavy body, chocolate/malty nose. Starts with a strong chocolate/coffee flavor, middle sweetness, smooth finish. The ABV is 7.5%. $4.00 for 16oz. glass.

Sampled @ Strong Ale Fest San Diego

The beer disembogues a pitch black color with a planetary sized head that is creamy and chocolate in color as it slowly erodes a glutinous veil of lace forma to conceal the glass. Big chocolate sweet nose, hints of coffee and toasted grains, sweet chocolate malt start and the top full and rich. Finish is bittersweet chocolate with a nice hop profile and the carbonation moderate, dry lingering aftertaste, a “beer “Duke” would be proud of.

Sampled at the 7th Annual San Diego Strong Ale Festival at the Carlsbad Pizza Port. Had a near-black color with some ruby-tinged highlights, a long-standing bubbly light beige head and some webby lacing. The smell was quite sweet, of molasses, fresh roast coffee, raisins and prunes, and a hint of alcohol. The taste up front had a coffee-and-caramel flavor with some raisin notes over a nice slightly burnt malt backbone. A mild citrus hops taste came out near the finish along with an alcohol bite. The feel was full, rich, and pretty smooth.
This imperial stout was a bit sweeter than most, kind of like an alcohol-soaked fruitcake with a cup of espresso to wash it down. I found it to be pretty easy to drink and a likeable brew worth picking up again.

Winner of two GABFs. Dark Mahogany with a light tan frothy head. Sweet Malt, hops and alcohol aromas. Full rich sweet malt and highly hopped with some citrus bitterness. Sweet Molasses, coffee and really strong alcohol. Full sticky Belgian lace. Too Sweet for my liking!