Boilerman Imperial Stout
Cavendish Brewing Company

 

A: Pours an opaque yet still clear black in color with moderate amounts of active visible carbonation rising along the edges of the glass and slightly stronger than moderate amounts of dark cola brown colored highlights. The beer has a finger tall sudsy creamy foamy tan head that slowly reduces to a large patch of thin film covering the entire surface of the beer and a medium thick ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate aromas of lightly roasted + chocolate malts, light aromas of slightly spicy rye malts, hints of charred malts, and a light to moderate amount of lactose sweetness. Light aromas of vanilla as well as light aromas of toasted oak, bourbon, and caramel.

T: Upfront there are moderate flavors of lightly roasted + chocolate malts, slightly spicy rye malts, and hints of charred malts with a light to moderate amount of lactose sweetness. Just shy of moderate flavors of milk chocolate and light flavors of vanilla. Light flavors of toasted oak, bourbon, and caramel. Light amounts of roasty bitterness which fades relatively quickly leaving lingering bourbon + lactose sweetness.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Slightly creamy but a little thin/watery for the style.

O: Drinks fairly easily considering the strength and the alcohol is pretty well hidden. Enjoyable but I wanted a little more from it - more fullness to the body, more synergy in the flavors from the malts (maybe a touch more roastiness), and a little more bourbon barrel presence. The vanilla + lactose combined give a hint of an artificial flavor to the beer (but I believe that real vanilla beans were used).

22 oz bottle poured into a tulip glass, a pitch black with a half finger of tan lace that moves immediately to ring of lace. Aroma is chocolate and wood (or maybe that’s the rye). The taste starts with roast, followed by something odd, light chocolate, and slight ash on the finish. Ash dissipates some as it warms. The mouthfeel is creamy and medium heavy, carbonation is low. Overall, it was interesting. The only thing I can attribute the odd note is maybe the lactose?