Mocha Imperial Stout (for Sunn O))) )
Zebulon Artisan Ales

- From:
- Zebulon Artisan Ales
- North Carolina, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
- ABV:
- 10%
- Score:
- +6 ratings needed
- Avg:
- 4.39 | pDev: 2.05%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 2
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jul 15, 2021
- Added:
- Apr 11, 2021
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 0
We start with traditional English malts with the addition of 50# of Ghirardelli cocoa powder in the mash. Aged on local espresso beans from Penny Cup Roasters. Inky black with an aroma of chocolate covered espresso beans. The flavor is fudgy but without the cloying sweetness, reminiscent of chocolate covered cordials. This isn’t a one-sip wonder, it’s complex and dangerously drinkable.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Rated by pathman from Ohio
4.5/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
04/30/21 bottle @ Cam’s
May 01, 2021Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina
4.44/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.44/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Appearance: Pours fudge brown with a three finger mocha head; excellent retention with sheets and clumps of lacing
Smell: Mocha with a roasted malt element; just a hint of caramel
Taste: Mocha forward, bringing a balanced coffee and chocolate profile; just a hint of caramel sweetness underneath develops; through the middle, the roasted tones and the earthy hops blend to cut the sweetness; bold coffee in the finish
Mouthfeel: Full bodied with moderate carbonation
Overall: This is a big stout with a lot to offer for those who like coffee and chocolate but aren't looking for the big pastry stout sweetness so prevalent today
Apr 26, 2021Smell: Mocha with a roasted malt element; just a hint of caramel
Taste: Mocha forward, bringing a balanced coffee and chocolate profile; just a hint of caramel sweetness underneath develops; through the middle, the roasted tones and the earthy hops blend to cut the sweetness; bold coffee in the finish
Mouthfeel: Full bodied with moderate carbonation
Overall: This is a big stout with a lot to offer for those who like coffee and chocolate but aren't looking for the big pastry stout sweetness so prevalent today
Reviewed by dbrauneis from North Carolina
4.39/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.39/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A: Pours an opaque yet still clear thick viscous jet black in color with moderate amounts of fine active visible carbonation rising along the edges of the glass and faint dark chestnut brown + dark cola brown + dark garnet red colored highlights. The beer has a two finger tall dense foamy dark tan head that slowly reduces to a large patch of thick film covering the entire surface of the beer and a thick ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate to significant amounts of lacing are observed.
S: Moderate to strong aromas of roasted + chocolate + toasted + caramel + slightly charred malts with moderate amounts of caramel sweetness. Moderate aromas of cocoa + freshly roasted dark coffee. Light aromas of fudge with a hint of earthy hops.
T: Upfront there are moderate to strong flavors of roasted + chocolate + toasted + caramel + slightly charred malts with moderate amounts of caramel sweetness. That is followed by moderate flavors of cocoa + freshly roasted dark coffee along with light flavors of fudge. Finally there is a light flavor of earthy hops. There is a light to moderate amount of lingering roasty bitterness + chocolate.
M: Medium to full bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Smooth.
O: Drinks very easily considering the strength and the alcohol is incredibly well hidden. Very enjoyable with tons of chocolate + coffee + cocoa without the cloying sweetness found in so many imperial stouts. Excellent.
Apr 22, 2021S: Moderate to strong aromas of roasted + chocolate + toasted + caramel + slightly charred malts with moderate amounts of caramel sweetness. Moderate aromas of cocoa + freshly roasted dark coffee. Light aromas of fudge with a hint of earthy hops.
T: Upfront there are moderate to strong flavors of roasted + chocolate + toasted + caramel + slightly charred malts with moderate amounts of caramel sweetness. That is followed by moderate flavors of cocoa + freshly roasted dark coffee along with light flavors of fudge. Finally there is a light flavor of earthy hops. There is a light to moderate amount of lingering roasty bitterness + chocolate.
M: Medium to full bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Smooth.
O: Drinks very easily considering the strength and the alcohol is incredibly well hidden. Very enjoyable with tons of chocolate + coffee + cocoa without the cloying sweetness found in so many imperial stouts. Excellent.
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!