Imperial Stout Appreciation Thread (2023)

The BCBS thread in Great Lakes has been very high on it. I’m on the fence because I know if I see it, it’ll be $45 or more around here

 

Jesus, no wonder you were put off them. Definitely not worth it at that price. Those were 500ml bottles?

 

Revolution '21 Deth's Tar BBA Imperial Oatmeal Stout. Pours pitch black with a dark mocha, almost reddish, 1.5 finger head that fizzled away immediately. Aroma is still full of rich barrel character despite the 2 years on it: big vanillin, charred oak tannin, and bourbon that meld nicely with dark and milk chocolate, rich caramel, raisin, plum, some tobacco, roasted malt from the base. Taste follows the aroma wonderfully. Charred oak, 85% dark chocolate bar, bittersweet chocolate chip, roasted malt, big vanillin, Raisinet candy, slight peat, caramel, plum, some tobacco, smooth bourbon spirit. Medium to high medium body. Slick, oily, mouth-coating, sticky. This has aged nicely as expected. The barrel character is still forward, yet smooth and complements the base stout wonderfully. Revolution's barrel program is pretty ridiculous.

 

Is it empty because of your highway getting bombed or is it because all the reasonable people moved to Texas?

 

I'm not buying any this year besides a bananas foster and a base. I'm done playing the 200 dollars for 6 beers game. Fancy boxes or not, it ain't worth it to me.

 

Dancing Gnome, “Nobody’s Monkey “ 8th Anniversary Imperial Stout!

 

Ouch.

 

Now I wish we would have something cool like that here that I could have used for the BSBIF with @beergoot .

 

I’m there, too, on price point, and I’ve been known to spend waaaaaaaaaaay too much money on beers. This time of year is horrible/fantastic. I even passed on going to Mortalis Darkness Descends bonanza today. It’s a sad day, indeed. A paradigm shift.

 

My buddy got me this while visiting his daughter at Pitt for parents weekend in October!

 

Ohhhhh.

 

The always good Siberian Night. Cheers.

 

Transient Kentuckley Derbly. Imperial Stout aged in Weller Whiskey Barrels with double Vanilla, double Tugboat Coffee, and double Michigan Maple Syrup.

Pours pitch black with a finger of reddish mocha head that dissipates quickly and leaves nothing behind.

As expected, aromas bring big roasted coffee, vanilla, and maple. The bourbon barrel comes through with your basic notes of oak and bourbon. Accompanying aromas of marshmallow, chocolate chip cookie, and caramel. Smells sweet and decadent.

Taste is big on all of the adjuncts: creamy vanilla, sweet maple, and roasty coffee. The coffee and barrel bring some balance to the sweetness, with the barrel delivering drying oak tannin, char, and bourbon spirit. Brownie, marshmallow, caramel, roasted malt, and slight nondescript fruitiness round it all out.

High medium body. Creamy, slick, plenty sticky, oily.

The adjuncts shine in this one as you'd expect given it's double the typical additions to regular Kentuckley. The barrel still manages to come through though to add some much-needed balance. This is typical Transient stout execution.

 

I've seen this one for sale in the UK. (Both the Amburana and Double-aged).

 

Goose Island Bourbon County Backyard Stout, 12.9% ABV. I rated this 4.33. I don't hate it.

I fully expected to dislike this, but it's excellent. Not overly tart, and I seem to be the only one that's tasting toffee/caramel.

 

2023 Black Note