Hyperphagia
Esker Hart Artisan Ales

 

Poured into a tulip glass. A beautiful pour: Ink black with almost a finger cap of creamy, medium-mocha-colored foam and film of lacing. The fragrant smell includes lots of maple syrup, chocolate, freshly-brewed coffee, and cinnamon, along with subtle notes of leather, tobacco, and nuts. The taste is sensational! Rich, dark cocoa, acidic coffee, with flavorful but delicate maple syrup. I can also taste the granola and cinnamon. Beneath these flavors lies roasted malty base with hints of nutty char and tobacco. The tastes blend beautifully. This Stout has a rich, creamy, viscous mouth feel with low carbonation, and the 11.8% ABV is very well hidden - especially if slowly sipped. Overall, Hyperphagia is a World Class American Imperial Stout. While it is adjunct-laden, none of them are distracting. It is an terrific recipe and I'm not certain it could be executed any better. It would pair very well with vanilla ice cream.

 

Imperial stout brewed with maple syrup and later conditioned on maple granola, Sumatra coffee, Ecuadorian & Haitian cacao nibs, and cinnamon.