Phoenix Rising
Imprint Beer Company

Vintage: 2021

A - Dark brown pour with dense creamy, dark caramel colored lacing.

S - Huge brownie and fudge on the nose with a slight bit of chocolate roast. The nose is outstandingly decadent.

T - Follows the nose with big fudge, fudge brownie, sweet chocolate roast, and alcohol. Finishes with a lingering sweet chocolate char and alcohol.

M - Light syrupy body with warming in the back of the throat on the way down.

O - This beer is pretty outstanding and a year and a half in the cellar "did it well".

 

Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours a very dark mahogany brown, appearing opaque black in the glass with a thin, dark khaki head that dissipates to patches with light lacing. Aroma of dark toasted malt, chocolate, maple syrup and a touch of nuts; slightly boozy. Flavor is dark toasted malt, maple syrup, milk chocolate, marshmallow vanilla and a touch of nuts. Vanilla, maple syrup and cocoa in the finish. Medium bodied with silky moderate creaminess, luxurious mouth feel. Busy dessert stouts seem to be popping up everywhere and this one, with chocolate, maple syrup, hazelnuts, marshmallows and honey seem to be one of the busier ones. Fortunately it is well done and the flavors are harmonious and interesting. Although there is a mild sweetness that does taste like honey dipped marshmallows, it is subsumed into the rich chocolate and more dominate maple syrup flavors. This is one of the more maple forward of the stouts I've had, but the maple and chocolate work well together. The marshmallow adds some nice vanilla flavor. I'm not getting much hazelnut, but there is a light generic nut note here. The initial taste seemed like the malt was a bit thin, but it supports the other flavors so well that it is certainly substantial enough and the excellent creamy body improves the enjoyment of the the rich flavors. Nicely done. The price point was a bit high, but it looks like it's going to a worthy cause; this is a rewarding way to do good.