Imperial Stout Appreciation Thread (2023)

Checked the old can I have from the first time I ever had this. No mention of natural flavors or artificial coloring. Not sure if some law changed in Washington where they need to disclose this? My brain now thinks it tasted better before, but it’s probably the same recipe.

 

I said it before in here, but the first two cans I had a couple years ago, it was one of the best stouts I’ve had. This doesn’t taste the same. The maple syrup is strange and artificial. There’s not much coffee. It smells so much better than it tastes. I really think they changed something

 

Long Story Longer - 12.8% stout by Jackie O’s. Another delicious stout from Athens. Cheers.

 

Enjoying a collaboration between Fonta Flora and Perennial called STLTL. This was packaged in July 2022 and acquired via a trade with former BA BMBCLT in January.

Nose is very nice with a mild roasted dark malt base that picks up the strong display of bourbon barrels. Chocolate and vanilla are barely perceptible.
Taste is a mildly roasted malt base that displays the chocolate adjunct that is added with a deft touch. Bourbon barrels provide a nice complement and gives a touch of vanilla. Hazelnuts lend a nice complimentary flavor but not overly perceptible. Finishes with a light touch of sweetness as designed but the barrels keep things balanced.
Mouthfeel is large bodied and very smooth.

Overall a very enjoyable beer, rated 4.32.

Cheers!
Tom

 

Cahoots 5 BBA Imperial Stout, 15% ABV. I rated this a 4.19.

 

Very cool. That was brewed in their OG location before they moved to their location a half mile from downtown on the sketch side in 2015. I never went to their original location since I didn’t get into Craft beer (was bourbon / whiskey primary) until 2015. A few different breweries have cycled in / out since they left.

Their stouts are solid (I rated that one a 4.0) and while I don’t typically like Barleywines, I like their version Old Jackalope. Their beers fall in the 3.5 - 4.5 range for me, consistently good to solid or at times excellent across many styles.

I typically just visit there vs. buy packaged, but would definitely buy some of their vintage bottles if I came across them. Liked your street photo Friday night, was going to mention it while I post my next stout post tomorrow, the last day it will be under 70 F (my stout cut off) next week.

 

Kind of agree. Haven't had too much of their stuff, but the Hazies I've had are basically your standard "solid" shelf hazy around here.

 

First one of these in about 1 1/2 years, one from a six pack from the basement cellar I pulled in March.

Bells Expedition Stout (9/30/20)



Full cellar review linked here. Bottom line, this held up well, though I prefer these within the first year. Like the fact the hops and bitterness held up over time. Not sure we will see these again in our market, so will savor the remaining five hopefully over the course of the last eight months of 2023.

Beautiful 70s F weather forecast through Saturday, so I'll catch you Imperial Stout lovers again next week.

 

Wild Onion Drago BBA Imperial Stout, 11% ABV. I rated this 4.46, and wish I'd have bought more. While I love me some add-junks, I love what they've done with this non-add-junk BBA imperial stout. They do have add-junk variants tho. One of those beers where you wish you'd have bought more.

 

Anyone had 2023 Parabola yet? Got 4 bottles coming. Mmmmmmm

 

Speaking of non-adjunct, barrel aged stouts. Yum:

 

I’m just happy to be here, checking out ya’lls drinks

 

Was this distributed to your area, or did you acquire via a trade or perhaps an online service like tavour?

Would say Drago is one of the top annual BA Imperial Stout releases in our area (city and suburbs). Revolution's Deep Woods and Haymarket's Claire's Thirsty Ale are also excellent.

The variants of Drago I've tried are also good to great, but like most stout offerings, prefer the real thing - just the stout and barrel.

 

I picked it up in an Omaha beer-run. I don't really trade much anymore, and we aren't allowed online beer purchases here (though I've done it). I'd have to say that Drago is the best non-add-junk BBA stout I've had lately. I like add-junks for the intense flavors, but this pulls it off by natural means, if you call bourbon natural.