Imperial Stout Appreciation Thread (2023)

I opened this tonight JUST to start this thread and scoop Tomas. GDI!

 

In 2023, I am definitely starting the 2024 thread with some horrifically adjunct-laden pastry stout.

 

Final beer of 2022. Final one to try from the 2022 BCBS lineup (that I purchased). This is obviously delicious, but not much of a difference between the base (unlike the amazing 150 last year). Overall the lineup this year was one of the better in recent memory, though. Cheers to the new thread! I should have tried to start it off with Jam the Radar from Bottle Logic to troll @Resistance88

 

Half Acre - Cherry Brandy BA Benthic

here’s to another number that is a year and more importantly, lots of imperial stouts!! cheers!!

 

DFH and Boston Beer - Utopias barrel-aged World Wide Stout.

This is a 2021 bottle that I stashed in the cellar for a year as I heard this one was a bit harshly boozy when it was fresh. Its only moderately hot in the taste, but does have a huge fruity cognac-like aroma that dominates the roasty malt flavors of normal WWS. But the finish does have some nice underlying dark cocoa notes. Thinner bodied for such a huge beer.

 

Umm Budweiser still makes some incredible beer

 

Tomas just gives me crap, because he is a hypebeast, and he demands that he will only trade for hypebeast beer.

 

Free Will Brewing's Ralphius (Two Year Maple). Great depth of flavor - rich maple mixed with dark chocolate, caramel, bourbon. Thick and smooth like all the variants, but not overly sweet.

 

I am thoroughly enjoying an Old Rasputin as I type this.

It's been years since the last one. I don't know if I just forgot about it or if Trader Joe's only carries it occasionally. I'll be on the lookout in February.

 

Glad to have caught this thread during my Imperial Stout Season (November - April) as last year's thread got away from me.

First Imperial Stout of 2023, from the King of Beers and King of Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperual Stouts.

Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout - Willett (2022)



Full review in the New Beer Sunday #932 thread. Bottom line, I am enjoying this beer, but like my 2020 experiences, the single barrel treatment yields a harsher less balanced bourbon treatment. Still enjoying, but believe I'll enjoy my blended four pack better.

That said, I really hope this is a permanent return to the 12 oz four packs, a much better serving size for this type of beer. They need to price these four packs at $29.99 to move better, perhaps future Coffee and Barleywine four packs at $34.99. Still glad to return to the Regular and Coffee after a one year hiatus from GI BCBS, my OG bourbon barrel aged offering that got me all in on craft beer now eight years ago!

Bourbon County Brand Stout - The Big Number #1

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

July 2021 cellar pull...



Praline Pecan-inspired 14% ABV double-mashed Imperial Stout aged in extremely wet Buffalo Trace bourbon barrels for 15 months. Transferred out of the barrels and aged on house-made praline pecans.

Such a great beer!

Cheers!

 

World class

 

Troubles End Brewing (Collegeville, PA) - Absent Void. 11% abv Imperial Stout.

nice rich espresso, dark chocolate, and a touch of dark fruit flavors. fuller bodied, drier finish.

 

Low key, digging this better than the BA version BA!

 

*whispers* it's better than the BA version *whispers*

 

Finally, Beer Advocate shines a light on the near-extinct style of Imperial Stouts!!

Let's revive IPA's next, team.

(good natured sarcasm font)

 

Ive had a lot of beers over past two days with a bit of travel and not a lot of screen time. I did take a few photos of beers, so I may circle back and post a couple with abbreviated notes.
So anyway, tonight Im back in Connecticut and Im catching up with a nice imperial stout. Imperial Oatmeal Stout from Stoneface Brewing in New Hampshire. This is an 11.7% ABV imp stout.

onto my review:


Sampling a cellar temp 500 ml bottle poured into my snifter. I picked up this bottle fro the brewery in November, and its been in my cellar since then. Label only says 2021 as a date.
The beer pours a rich dark black coffee color with a frothy, yet also dense tan head of about1.5 cm. This head fades to a sturdy edge layer that remains through the sampling.
Aroma is roasted malts and dark chocolate with a bit of coffee grounds. Malt forward aroma, not sweet at all. No hop profile nor hints of the ABV. I get a little bit of anice and maybe some tobacco as the beer warms a bit. The tobacco could also be a charred note, its very faint.
First sip reveals a medium body with very smooth and silky texture and fine tingly carbonation. The beer drinks very easy for a higher ABV.
Flavor is similar to the nose. I get roasted malts, molasses, charred wood or burnt notes, some dark cacao hits too. The anice is there and maybe a little dark fruit. No hops here either. No warming booze or fusol notes to speak of.
Pretty tasty old school imperial stout. Enjoyable purchase from this New Hampshire brewery.
4.22 in the BA DB

 

Central Waters Bourbon Barrel stout The force is strong in this one.

 

I'm back with another traditional Imperial Stout.



Bhramari Rummage Through The Silence - 11.2% ABV Imperial Stout aged in Blanton's barrels with chocolate, Tahitian vanilla beans, raspberries and blueberries.

Nice beer!



Cheers!

 

from earlier before i knew we could post pics again. cheers!!

 

if this is trolling it’s not funny

 

I don't buy too many milk stouts, but this was included in my Revolution Season Ticket (one box of every Deep Woods release) and was very happy after diving in.

Revolution Very Special Old Dark Mode



Full review in the New Beer Weekend thread. Bursts with several flavors, potent, very well balanced, restraining myself from gulping it all down at once with the taste being sooo good. If Revolution says it is Very Special Old, do not doubt, just buy, drink and enjoy immensely.

 

Lagunitas Willettized 2022

cheers!!

 

Glad to see you're COVID free!

 

@Resistance88 Glad to see the thread started again this year! Been off the site over the weekend. Glad to see you are past "Cova" but then an accident?

You must have hit your head because i cannot believe i am reading this brotha!

First post of the new year is Jackie O's Cellar Cuvee 1 from 2022. Man, this is an awesome beer, very balanced, not overly roasty but BB notes of vanilla with some dark fruits in the background. Very balanced!
Cheers!
Tom

 

Oh damn, I did not realize you were being literal when you said you got hit by a truck the other day. Glad you and your wife were able to walk away. Gonna have to be a 2020, still no '22 here, but I'm having a willittized to toast your health later on tonight.

 

Here's to the health of the host, glad you're okay Tomas. #properglassware

This is still drinking like a champ.

 

Thankful to hear y'all came out of it pretty well. Sounds like it was a wicked collision! I'll raise a toast to your health with my next round!
Cheers!
Tom