Imperial Stout Appreciation Thread (2023)

i have a bottle i’ve been saving for christmas eve. can’t wait to revisit. haven’t had it since christmas of like 2018. cheers!

 

Knocking off the hit list of reputable beers to have this month.

Received a 2022 bottle from @Beersnake1 3-13-23.

Nose is awesome as i am getting a medium roasted malt base that absorbs the rest in the bourbon barrels which lends notes of cocoa and bourbon. The vanilla adjunct is very prevalent and lends a nice tangent-4.5.

Taste is a medium roasted malt base that gives a big dose of vanilla up front with the barrels lingering in the background. With subsequent sips the blast of vanilla is coalescing with the barrels and am getting cocoa presumably from the choice of malts used. Finishes almost sweet but hopping and the barrels take that away-4.5.

Mouthfeel is very good as the large malt base is very viscous and each sip delightfully smooth-4.5.

Overall, initially graded Taste at 4.25 because it seemed to have too much vanilla but as my palate acclimated everything came together very nicely. A big thanks to Tim for a very generous trade! Overall rating 4.49.

 

2023 Sunday Morning Stout

 

2020 a very good year
This offering ages so well
Cheers all

 

Ellicottsville Chocolate Cherry Bomb Stout. 8.2%. Cheers.

 

Ok. Now THIS is a coffee stout. Tons of bitter black coffee. Almost no maple to speak of, though. @Resistance88 you would definitely like this

 

I can’t get them to use UPS in my area for some reason. They ship to NY, used to ship to my house with a horrible little carrier with whom they parted ways. Now I drive to Erie PA and pay $10/box for adult signature. What I do for good beer.

 

Great Lakes BA Blackout Stout. I don’t recall having this before. It’s a bit pricey at $29/4 16 oz cans, so I bought a single at $8. I can get the Central Waters BA stout ten feet away for $20…so, I got a 4-pack of those, too. Tomorrow, I’ll probably be buying the Mortalis caramel, butterscotch, coffee stout. The beer budget is absolutely pulverized.

 

Timber Ales ~ Coconut Lumberjack Style
Imperial stout conditioned on maple syrup, coffee, and toasted coconut 12%ABV

Pours a dark cola color, viscous looking, with a thin mocha tan crown that settles out rapidly. Some spotted lace noted with a light leggy stick to the glass walls.

The nose is pretty straight forward sweetened dark molasses. Really treacle like rather than all of the key adjuncts listed. There is an underlying dark roast here that is putting out some umami vibes as well. Definitely signaling on the sweet side.

A sweeter stout indeed but with a light fluffy mouthfeel to keep just enough balance resulting in a semi full feel. The maple is very forward in flavor. Definitely sugary with some deep dark roast malt character. Dark chocolate melds with the coffee bringing out some slight char. The coconut comes across more like vanilla whip cream in the end and the alcohol is extremely well hidden. Sticky sweet with a light tacky finish.

Good but leans pretty sweet for my tastes which makes me want only about half of this pour for now. I can feel the spike already BA

Overall some sweet adjuncted stout goodness here

 

Down to my last 4. Damn.

 

Stopped for a couple of beers with my wife after an evening of Christmas shopping and to my delight I saw Founders KBS on tap! a very nice beer, even if a little boozier than I remember it.

 

Gingerbread by R. Shea. 12% oatmeal stout aged with gingerbread coffee beans. Surprisingly good stout that has good coffee and gingerbread flavor. Cheers.

 

Giggity!

 

Lawson’s Finest Liquids, “Fayston Barrel Aged “ Fayston Barrel Aged Imperial Stout aged in whiskey barrels with coffee added!

 

Surly Parker’s Heritage 15-Year Heavy Char Bourbon Barrel-Aged Darkness Imperial Stout, 12% ABV. I rated this 4.67, really incredible. Aged in 15yr bourbon barrels.

 

A long-time want for me, Bell's Black Note:

Appearance: Black, ok head at first, fades to nothing.

Smell: Strong roast and char, molasses. Surprisingly little barrel.

Taste: Dark chocolate, roasted malt, a little cherry alcohol hit, a splash of black coffee. Lots going on but the flavors are working together. As it warms up, the barrel starts showing up with some woody vanilla. Medium-heavy mouthfeel. More chocolate in the finish as it warms.

Overall: Finally getting to try Black Note, total wine had a shelf full. Very nice BA stout. I've been a little hit-or-miss with Bell's big stouts, sometimes they are not quite sweet enough for my palate, but this beer hits the spot. Very Good!