Fools Rush In
East Forty Brewing

22oz bottle. Poured out an opaque, jet-black color with a small, light brown head of fluffy foam. It left sudsy trails of lace on the glass. It smelled of roasted malt, chocolate, toffee and caramel. It tasted of roasted malt, dark chocolate, rich toffee and vanilla.

Pours black with three fingers of fluffy mocha colored foam. Aroma is roasty and toasty malts, with an emphasis on roasty. Toffee, molasses, and dark chocolate add some further depth. Vanilla bean is present, but it's light, folded into the mix well. Flavor profile is roasty and toasty malts, which share the performance with chocolate, vanilla bean, and toffee. Chocolate is the most forward, with vanilla notably more forward than in the aroma. It has really great presence, focusing on its notes, and then a short decay at the finish. It remains remarkably well centered, and simplistic (but not bad.) Bitterness is low, with chocolate and vanilla bean smoothing over the semi-rough malt surface. Mouth feel is medium-thick, nearing a full, thick consistency. A consistent, subtle grit elevates the texture a little. Effervescence is soft and mild. Overall, a smooth imperial stout that drinks well. Approachable 11.8% ABV imperial stout.

Served in a 15.5oz Spiegelau tulip from a 22oz bottle. Bottled November 2021.