Imperial Stout Appreciation Thread (2023)

The Bruery -- Brueonico
Bourbon-barrel aged imperial stout with coconuts, strawberries, granola, raisins, honey and Madagascar vanilla beans
ABV: 19.5%; pouring temperature: 39 °F; bottling info: n/a
Source: unknown (likely Tavour)



4.14/5 rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Pours a clear, dark brown color, opaque in the glass; no lasting head except fro a thin, partial arc of light tan bubbles inside the glass. Very enjoyable smell of roasted and charred grains; a hint of vanilla; cacao nibs. Rich and complex flavors; milk chocolate and whiskey; berry-like taste, strawberry or raspberry; vanilla and coconut; a kind of subliminal spiciness. Heavy, silky body; oily; nice boozy warmth permeates the residual sugar density.

The beer isn't much for looks but really comes through with the taste. As it warms, deeper, fuller aromas tickle the nose while the flavor blossoms with more distinct impressions of the beer's adjuncts. Awfully damn good!

 

the cellar clearing continues. This is 3floyds and their cocomungo BA Coconut Impy Stout. 15.6% ABV. This was part of a trade or winnings and I am totally blanking on sender. I apologize!

onto my review:

Sampling a cellar temp 12 oz bottle poured into my stemless tulip sample glass. Bottle doesnt have a date stamp. Its been in my cellar for about two years.
The beer pours a dark black coffee color with no light passing through the glass. A tan fizzy head of .5 cm foams up and fades away to nothing very quickly. I didnt even get a photo taken before the foam was gone after the pour.
Aroma is dark chocolate, bourbon notes, some molasses and a hint of toasted coconut note. Not really any booziness. And no hops anywhere.
First sip reveals a medium body with mild and fine carbonation. Some silky texture but also a bit of coating on my palate when I take a sip.
Flavor is roasted malts and dark chocolate with good amounts of bourbon and hints of coconut. I never really get any booziness, which is scary for 15.6%!! No hops either. This is a solid big imperial stout. I do wonder if the coconut is more prevalent on a fresher bottle.
4.26 in the BA DB

 

Shared Brewing -- Parallels
Double barrel-aged imperial stout
ABV: 14.1%; pouring temperature: 51 °F; bottling info: 2022 (DRINK WITHIN 90 DAYS)
Source: Tavour



4.58/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Opaque, ink-black body; virtually no head other than a hair-breadth ring of dark brown foam ring inside the glass. Big nose of dark roasted malt, rich chewing tobacco; raisins and dates; subliminal whiskey undertone; maple syrup; a modest zesty spiciness. The taste mirrors the aroma; richer, more intense sensations of the various smells. Dense, heavy, oily mouthfeel; rich and sticky on the palate; moderate alcohol warmth permeates the velvety thickness.

This truly is one rich and decadent dark beer. Dense and sensuous in in character, reeling you in with well-crafted barrel-aging tones with the flavor and caressing the palate. The cinnamon and maple syrup really add depth and character to the beer. The vanilla beans are overly obvious to me, but I could be led to believe I'm sensing their presence. This is just a fantastically massive dark ale. Incredibly good!