Imperial Stout Appreciation Thread (2022)

Humble Forager Existential Bliss BBA Imperial Stout, 12.5% ABV. Pours thick and darkest brown/black with a real nice two-finger dark brown head that dissipated quickly, leaving an oily sheen. Nose is strong dark chocolate, bourbon, and vanilla. Taste follows, moderately sweet, slightly bitter. Nice smooth mouthfeel, overall world-class.

4.84/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 5

Over the past three years, I've become such a w*ore for the regional Drekker, trying everything they come out with. I like Humble Forager more. Existential Bliss is tied as my highest-rated beer.

 

Clearing the last of the BCBC & Variants out of the fridge. Classic Cola seems like it is sweeter than the first time around. Still a solid BBA IS.
Cheers!
Tom

 

Cabernet finish Dire Wolf aged in George Dickel barrels. Wow, what a stout!

 

i probably don’t have the history with speedway like you do @Resistance88 but i think this is a damn fine imperial stout. not the thickest, not the most barrel-forward, no even the most coffee-forward but the combination of everything is balanced yet rich and enjoyable.

 

Hoppin' Frog - BORIS

 

Had this one yesterday at the brewery

Arkane I'm Sweet Enough Salted Toffee Dark Chocolate stout.
Almost too sweet for my wife, which was shocking! It was really delicious.

 

Southern Tier Warlock Imperial Pumpkin Stout - I've always preferred this to Pumking and it's a nice mix of styles: everything I like about Pumking plus the Stout characteristics. This one has some age on it, looks like an early July bottling date with a BB date of 06/29/24 which is great, as I've never had it with some age on it and have always wanted to try it.

Pours a dark color but when held to the light it's not pitch black and you can see some lighter color in there, decent head. Smell is nice and the pumpkin spices are there along with some Stout characteristics. Taste is great, everything I like about the beer is still there but the age has mellowed the flavors a bit and they are nicely blended...ends nicely balanced and still not too sweet. Good stuff and clearly a nice beer to age and in many ways I am preferring this to fresher. Budmo!

 

Been so excited for this.

Finally getting into this beast. B1 may be my favorite stout of all time, & this is right there with it. Chocolate, burnt caramel, stewed figs. The rye influence is a touch more restrained from B1, but great spicy kick on a warm, whiskey-soaked finish.

 

Usually stay away from pastry stouts now. But this is a damn good beer

 

I found some online for an absurd price ($40). I almost did it because yolo, but I don’t know how it was stored. Taking a huge risk for something so old that probably will not live up to expectations

 

Shield - Lough Gill

We picked this up in East Aurora, before the snow gods punished them with 55”. They were spared Orchard Park’s 77” only 9 miles further West.

WOW! The charred malt and peat flavors are intense. The whiskey barrels added light oak and faint whiskey. It has an Irish Whiskey aroma. By no means a pastry stout, the oatmeal gives it a super smooth, soft, and creamy feel. Shield just might be my favorite stout period. Three other stouts from Lough Gill on deck, and THE BAR HAS BEEN RAISED.

And then there is the Extreme Beer Box taunting me from the periphery.

 

True, it is a bit thin for an Oatmeal Stout. Still, WOW! I have Spear, Lunula, and Cask lined-up. Next weekend is gonna be epic.

And I’m about to cut into a filet mignon with the second. My Wife just rolled her eyes BTW.