Imperial Stout Appreciation Thread (2023)

This year’s DT is top shelf. I have 3 cans of Cafe, and I can’t wait to open one

 

Deth's Tar is so damn good, and surprisingly pairs very well with a burger despite the huge flavors

 

Enjoying a Deep Orbit - Duel of the Fates from Other Half. Thanks @Mikexw for the opportunity to try.

Nose is very nice with notes of roasted malts, cacao, vanilla, and leather.
Taste is awesome as the large roasted malt base is melded nicely with the vanilla and cacao. Each sip is warming as the wet bourbon barrels lend a strong touch of oak and leather with the finish being long and bourbon forward.
Mouthfeel is medium to large bodied and velvety smooth.
Overall a delicious BBA stout. This takes me back to when i first started imbibing on BCBS as the warming element is so similar to what i experienced back in the day. Overall rated 4.47. Thanks Mike!

 

This is really good, but a little different this time. It’s basically a KBS variant, which, it always kind of was. This time, though, it tastes like KBS with maple syrup drizzled in. To me it always stood apart and was a different beer. Maybe I’m just misremembering

 

Damn, that's a bit disappointing to hear. I picked some up last week but haven't tried it yet

 

Goose Island Bananas Foster BCBS BBA Imperial Stout, 13.9% ABV. I rated this 4.42

I optimistically bought four of these, and while I don't regret that, it's not as wondrous as I had hoped, so I'm on the fence about whether to get more. Oh hell, I probably will. Also at play is recalling past variants where the primary flavor faded quickly, such as 2018 Vanilla and Midnight Orange which dropped off by Summer 2019. If the banana faded, would this end up tasting like Central Waters Cassian Sunset?

 

The more I drank it the more it started tasting like the old CBS. Could be a temperature thing, or it could be I’m still hungover from way too much alcohol last night. And yet here we are again

 

I feel like 4.42 is a pretty damn good score, and shouldn’t be a disappointment at all (imo). I bought one $30!!!!!) and will stay away from the backyard rye if I see it. The banana/cinnamon definitely interests me, but the places here are on crack charging that much. If the MSRP was $17.99 I would probably buy 2 or 3 even before trying. Happy to hear you really liked it tho. It’s always a gamble with these

 

It was only a disappointment because my expectations/hopes/dreams/delusions were that it would be world-class. It was a lot better than 2022 Sir Isaac's and 2022 Biscotti, but not as good as 2022 Coffee. Here the Backyard and Bananas Foster were $23, at least where I got mine. I got two of the Backyard, but probably should have only gotten one, since it doesn't sound like I'd like it.

 

I really disliked the 2018 Bramble, so there’s no way I’m spending more than $12 on the backyard

 

Yeah, tart stouts aren't my thing.

 

Via @Beersnake1 for Imperial Stout/Barleywine BIF #1. 2022 Parabajava from Firestone Walker. Fantastic coffee barrel aged stout!

 

Went to Ralphius day at Free Will today and came home with bunch, grabbed one at random to try first. Three year Whiskey/Hoodoo chicory liquer. I almost didn't buy this one and it might be my favorite Ralphius yet. It's as chocolatey but not as sweet and more boozy than regular Ralphius. Charred brown sugar, light licorice, over-roasted espresso, earthy licorice, deeply toasted walnuts, and stronger oak all compliment the base beer wonderfully while blunting its sweetness a bit. The heat at the end is strong for Ralphius but it has a unique flavor that I'm really enjoying. The body is moderately think and very silky with very gentle carbonation. This is magnificent.

 

In the words of my ancestors, ach du Lieber!

 

Review here and in NBW #175 - cheers!

 

Nice cold chilly night, I knew what to pour…sips of warmth to keep me from getting too cold while hanging lights

Tonewood Brewing - Space Jazz (American Imperial Stout 10%)



“Boatloads of dark & roasted malts…”

 

this rocked! lots of vanilla, especially as it warmed, but plenty of chocolate, coffee and bourbon too. cheers!!

 

Greetings pipples - I'm new to this thread. Impy stouts, huh. Thems and barleywines are my favorite brews. Today's New Breakfast Beer (And a x-post) is:



Overall, a damn good rye-based impy:
Incantations (2022 Vintage) – from Burlington Beer. Acquired 06/11/23 from Spec’s #100 SAT, TX. $ 14.90 (Including tax)/500 mL bottle, $ 0.88/fl oz. Reviewed 25/11/23 (Review 3178). Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Only date on bottle is “Vintage 2022” on one end of the label, but the opposite of end of the label has embossed “120722”. On room temperature shelf at the store, stored at 34 degrees at home. Served at 57.0 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature was 59.9 degrees F.
Appearance – 4.
First pour – Amber Brown (SRM 18), light barely penetrates.
Body – Black (SRM 40), opaque. Under direct light, same but looks slightly oily. When rear-lite, same with light penetration at the edges only, red amber.
Head: Average (Maximum 1.5 cm, aggressive center pour), brown sugar, high density and fizzy, dropping to a 0.15 cm crown and a thin partial cap.
Lacing – Poor - three prominences of extremely tiny bubbles.
Aroma – 4 – Weak whiskey and oak, chocolate. No hops, no yeast.
Flavor – 4.5 – Begins slightly sweet with chocolate and whiskey, some peppery background, becomes slightly bitter almost immediately. No yeast, no hops. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl. Moderate gastric warming.
Palate – 4 – Full; creamy; moderate carbonation. None of the oiliness noted in the appearance is present.
Final impression and summation: 4.25 Very good rye-based impy stout! Next time I’m in TX, I’ll look for more of this VT beer since it’s not available here in NW PA.
Rating 4.25, rDev +1.9%