Imperial Stout Appreciation Thread (2023)

Sofia (Imperial Stout, 9%) on tap at Helsinki Bryggeri.

 

A phenomenal birthday stout. Mega Devil's Teeth - Imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels with hazelnut, vanilla, and cocoa. 13.5% ABV. Smooth as butter, but still has some coffee grounds and black licorice to even out the sweetness.

 

Coming back in here with an imperial stout to share. This is a collab with Fidens and Timber Ales. I assure you we make stouts, 12% ABV, brewed at Twelve percent in North Haven, CT. May try to drop one more in here tonight.

onto my review:

Sampling a cellar temp 16 oz can poured into my snifter. Beer has been in my cellar for slightly over a year. But date stamp is actually 9/01/2021. Oops. I suspect it will be fine.
The beer pours a coffee black color with a dark tan fizzy head of 1.5 cm. This foam is very short lived and fades to a very thin edge layer and this leaves some scattered lattice after each sip.
The aroma on this beer is sweet and malty. I get dark sweet chocolate and fudge brownie notes mixing with some light vanilla and toasted coconut notes. Never any hints of any hop or ABV on this beer.
First sip reveals a pretty thick body with silky smooth texture and very fine sort of tingly carbonation.. Drinks like a big stout on the physical traits, which makes this a bit of a sipper.
Flavor follows what the nose advertises for this beer. Lots of deep chocolate notes and fudge up front, moves to vanilla and toasted coconut flavors and the vanilla lingers after each swallow. Here I also get some warming alcohol that lingers after each sip. Still no hop profile on this beer anywhere.
This is a bold and pretty sweet stout. I enjoy it, but may not buy another one due to the sweetness.
4.11 in the BA DB

 

Another bottle of Impy Stout tonight to share with y'all. This is Kane 3653, or their 10th ANniversary Ale. It is a blend of imperial stouts and aged on cacao nibs and Rook coffee before leaving the brewery. Brewery is in Ocean, NJ. The ABV is 12.5%, making for a bit of a big undertaking.

onto my review:

Sampling a cellar temp 16.9 floz bottle poured into my snifter. Bottle is from 2021 and has been in my cellar since purchase via Kane online store and delivery. The beer pours a black coffee color with no light passing through the glass. No light passes through my glass.
A fizzy and fluffy beige head of 1.5 cm foams up form the gentle pour. This foam fades to nothing within the first 15 minutes of the sampling.
Aroma is faint roast coffee, lots of dark chocolate and roasted malt notes. Hints of bourbon and vanilla as well, and a bit of peppery booziness seeps through the nose. No hint of hop profile here.
First sip reveals a medium to thick body and slightly sticky texture. Fine and spacious carbonation on this beer but otherwise this is a sipping treat.
Flavor is fudge, dark chocolate and roasted malts. I also get some faint coffee notes and hints of cinnamon roll across the finish. The beer is fairly complex and I can feel the booziness by the end of my sampling, but not a lot of warmth during the tasting.
A big tasty imperial stout. Glad I purchased this one and enjoy drinking it.
4.3 in the BA DB