Seize & Rivet
Interval Brewing

Picked up a single at the Appalachian Vintner in Asheville 8-4-22 for $6.05. No canning date; consumed 11-17-22.

Beer poured black as night with an okay tan head that dissipated quickly.

Nose is very nice as i am getting a well-blended combination of medium roasted malts, cocoa, and coffee.

Taste is really well done. A very large medium to heavy roasted malt base does a great job of assimilating the coffee and cacao. Vanilla and coconut are barely perceptible and blends in nicely. Finishes perfectly balanced as there is no residual sweetness.

Mouthfeel is crazy silky smooth and full. Each sip is very satisfying.

Overall one of the best imperial stouts i have had this year!

 

Look: It pours black with a dark brown head. Head retention is excellent. The head is quite frothy.

Smell: It has strong aromas of coffee and dark chocolate. There is a slight whiff or smoke.

Taste: It has rich and strong coffee flavors with dark chocolate. There are very low vanilla notes with a hint of smoke and burnt in the background. As it warms there are some dark fruits the enhance the flavors from the background.

Feel: It has a full body that is quite silky and smooth. The texture is actually quite amazing. There is strong bitterness, but it is not sharp with just a hint of bite.

Overall: If I could clone a texture for a full bodied beer, this would be it. The flavors are well combined as the flavors enhance as it warms.

A: Pours a clear yet opaque 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 three finger tall dense creamy 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. Light to moderate amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate to strong aromas of roasted + dark + slightly charred + caramel + chocolate malts with a moderate amount of lactose + caramel sweetness. Moderate aromas of cacao nibs and freshly roasted coffee. Light aromas of toasted coconut and vanilla as well as light to moderate aromas of earthy hops.

T: Upfront there are moderate to strong flavors of roasted + dark + slightly charred + caramel + chocolate malts with a moderate amount of lactose + caramel sweetness. That is followed by moderate flavors of cacao nibs and freshly roasted coffee. Finally there are light flavors of toasted coconut + vanilla and light to moderate flavors of earthy hops. Slightly stronger than moderate amounts of lingering roasty bitterness which is well balanced by the sweetness.

M: Full bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Smooth and creamy.

O: Easy to drink with well hidden alcohol especially considering the stronger ABV and sweetness but a wonderfully smooth + creamy mouthfeel. The chocolate + cacao nibs + toasted coconut + vanilla with really well together over the top of the complex malt base.