Imperial Stout Appreciation Thread (2023)

Equilibrium Brewing Co. / Civil Society Brewing Co. -- Graceland
Imperial stout with peanut butter, marshmallow, and bananas
ABV: 12%; pouring temperature: 42 °F; bottling info: n/a
Source: beer trade with @NolaHopHead (many thanks, David)



4.47/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Black and opaque pour; thin brown ring of foam inside the glass; stringy spidery strands of foam cling to the glass after each sip. Richly sweet aroma; chocolate and bananas; subtle peanut undercurrent. The taste amplifies the aroma; rich milk and bitter chocolate, peanut butter; a touch of banana; dark roasted grains; Reese cups. Super heavy body; dense and viscous.

This beer came to me as a surprise during a trade, and what a surprise. The right descriptor would be a pastry stout - it seems to be one in taste and texture. What's nice is that even with its near overpowering richness of flavor and mouthfeel, it is actually quite balanced and easily approachable. I saw no ABV listed on the bottle label, but other sources indicate a 12% ABV. It is well hidden. All in all, a wonderfully complex and engaging imperial stout.

 

Cross posted with what beer are you drinking New England Thread.
Here we go with Bunker Brewing out of Portland Maine and their Big Youth Imperial Stout. Features cocoa, banana, and toasted coconut and registers 10% . Label talks about jamaican rum , but no mention of barrel aging, although the tasting tells me there is for sure barrel aging here.
Ive added this one to the BA system.

onto my review:

Picked this bottle up at the brewery on a recent road trip to Maine. Beer is in a 500 ml bottle and I am sampling at cellar temp and pouring into my snifter.
The beer pours a jet black color and no light passes through my glass. Even with an aggressive pour I only get minimal frothy head that settles as the thinnest of edge layers. This edging does stick around for the sampling.
Aroma is complex, but a little messy too. I get charred wood and dark cocoa with some light banana notes and booze hints too. No mention of barrel aging on label, but it smells like some liquor, rum sweetness is what Im getting, and no coconut.
First sip reveals a fairly thick body and almost no carbonation, texture is sticky and coating. Wooo and there is some heat in here!
Flavor is sweeter for sure, I get some chocolate and banana and a good bit of rum and here coconut does show up, but then peppery booze carries through and lingers. Sweetness at the start of each sip gives way to booze on the finish. I like the idea of this beer more than the execution. Physical traits are good, but the booziness and heat take away from the enjoyment of the flavors. I dont believe I would buy another bottle of this beer.
3.79 in the BA DB