Imperial Stout Appreciation Thread (2023)

Continuing to create space for the incoming Big Stout and Barleywine BIF that is certain to damage my cellar shelves. This is Rev Cuvee a blend of 3 years of Rey Gordo Imperial Stout blended together and aged in Woodford reserve barrels. Beer is from Cruz Blanca Brewing in Chicago and this beer registers 13% ABV. I received this from the illustrious @FBarber as part of my winnings of the English premier league Fantasy contest for BA. Thank you!

onto my review:

Sampling this 2021 bottle at cellar temp and poured into my snifter. Beer has been in my cellar for a while since I received in a trade.
The beer pours a very dark black coffee color with no light passing through the glass. There is a dense creamy tan head of about 1.5 cm. This foam fades slowly to a sturdy edge layer and a few very small islands on the surface. I do get scattered lacing when I take a sip from the glass.
Aroma is some dark chocolate, dry wooden popsicle stick, bourbon and a bit of dark fruit (raisins, but also cherry). No hint of hops and the ABV is hidden. No peppery bite and no fusol notes.
First sip reveals a medium to thick body with very fine and fairly sharp carbonation.
Flavor is some rich malt notes and dark chocolate, pipe tobacco, bourbon hits, some brown sugar, and a bit of a charred note (Barrel?). Again I get some fruit, but here it really is mostly cherry to my palate.
No hops and no warming on the swallow nor any bite on the finish. ABV is hidden here too, and by end of review the booze has caught up with me a little bit.
This is a bit of an olde school barrel aged impy stout, with no frills or adjuncts. Pretty tasty and a little dangerous on the drinkability.
4.5 in the BA DB

 

Such a good beer!

 

Continuing to create space for the Impy Stout and barleywine BIF. This is ZeroDay Brewing out of Harrisburg, PA and their Random Santa BBA stout. 10.5% ABV, 2022 vintage. Surprised I got to add this one to the DB.

onto my review:

Sampling a 2022 can at just above fridge temp. Poured into my snifter. Beer has been in my fridge since I received it last year around Christmas.
The beer pours a coffee black color with no light passing through the glass. A fairly fluffy beige head of 2 cm foams up in the glass and fades slowly to a thin edge layer that remains through the sampling.
Aroma is some dark chocolate, some roasted malt and a bit of molasses. Bourbon is in the background, but doesnt dominate. No hint of hops and not boozy either.
First sip reveals a medium body with fine, fairly tingly carbonation. The texture is smooth and the beer drinks easy with no stickiness nor coating impacts. Lighter than I anticipated to be honest.
Flavor is dark chocolate and roasted notes, a little bit of charred note too. Only hints of bourbon sweetness and not much more. Lingering is roast to char notes after each swallow. Never any hint to the ABV and hops absent everywhere.
I thought this beer might have been sweeter, but it doesnt contain any adjuncts so it sort of is what it should be. But the body is lighter than I would like. Its a fine beer that drinks easy for a bigger ABV.

4.17 in the BA DB