Tag Archives: imperial stout

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Deschutes Brewery, Stout - Imperial, USA

Deschutes The Abyss Brandy Barrel Aged

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Brewery: Deschutes Brewery
Country: USA
ABV: 13.3%
Style: Stout – Imperial
Other Notes: 2016 remarkably limited release. Barrel aged in brandy barrels for 12 months

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Imperial Stout brewed with black strap molasses, licorice, cherry bark and whole vanilla beans, 100% aged in brandy barrels for 12 months.

My rating: 4+
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.49
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.4

Intro: A 22 fl. oz. black waxed bomber, bottled on 9th December 2016. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Black in colour with a very thin brown head that dissipated fairly quickly but left some nice spotty lacing.
Aroma: Moderate roast, chocolate, coffee, light char, and some sweet notes of molasses, licorice, and brandy.
Taste: Sweet and bitter, roasty, chocolate, coffee, light char smoke, molasses, licorice, vanilla, oak, and a touch of brandy.
Mouthfeel: Smooth, creamy, full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: A very nice and enjoyable sipper. There was a good balance between sweet and bitter, and the brandy barrel was complementary and not overpowering.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Cerveza Granizo, Chile, Stout - Imperial

Granizo Foxy Lady

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Brewery: Cerveza Granizo
Country: Chile
ABV: 11.5%
Style: Stout – Imperial
Other Notes: Hot Imperial Stout matured in wine barrels

Brewer Description: (from can in Spanish) La unión entre una dominante cerveza negra y un rebelde ají putamadre, da a luz a Foxy Lady, una Hot Imperial Stout! Disfruta notas de pimienta, ají, café y madera que se funden con el calor del putamadre que perdura por unos segundos. No la olvidarás!

(translated to English) The union between a dominant black beer and a rebellious putamadre chili, gives birth to Foxy Lady, a Hot Imperial Stout! She enjoys notes of pepper, chili, coffee and wood that blend with the heat of the putamadre that lasts for a few seconds. You won’t forget her!

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.11
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.9

Intro: A 473ml can, canned on 15th February 2022, with a best before date of 15th February 2025. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Black in colour with a nice one finger tanned brown head that had great retention and left lots of lacing.
Aroma: Roasty, dark chocolate, coffee, chili pepper, with slight vinous notes.
Taste: Creamy, roasty, bitter notes, dark chocolate, coffee, pepper, chili, light spice, with slight vinous notes.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with moderate to soft carbonation.
Overall: Was hoping for more chili spice as it was definitely more muted than I thought it would be, and maybe softer carbonation. But the base was good and the barrel notes did go nicely with what chili I could feel.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Stout - Imperial, USA, Westbrook Brewing Co.

Westbrook 7th Anniversary – Chocolate & Sea Salt Imperial Stout

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Brewery: Westbrook Brewing Co.
Country: USA
ABV: 9.5%
Style: Stout – Imperial
Other Notes: 7th Anniversary

Brewer Description: (from bottle) For our 7th Anniversary beer we went big on the chocolate and added a little sea salt to make it interesting. Luscious notes of liquid cocoa and a smooth salinity make this beer deliciously decadent.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.95
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.8

Intro: A 22 fl. oz. bomber, bottled on 27th November 2017. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Dark dark brown to black in colour with a very thin brown head that dissipated quickly while leaving some spotty lacing.
Aroma: Roasty, chocolate, cocoa, dark fruit, prunes, vanilla, cream.
Taste: Light roast, moderately sweet, chocolate, cocoa, prunes, dates, with vanilla and caramel notes.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: A nice sipper although the prune and dates flavours were a little sweet and syrupy for me.

4 - Good (buy), AleSmith Brewing Company, Beer Reviews, Stout - Imperial, USA

AleSmith Speedway Stout – Hawaiian

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Brewery: AleSmith Brewing Company
Country: USA
ABV: 12%
Style: Stout – Imperial
Other Notes: Imperial Stout with Coconut, Vanilla, and Ka’u Coffee

Brewer Description: (from bottle) We often use Speedway Stout as a jet-black canvas for homages to things we hold dear, whether it’s artisan coffee, a favourite edible or sumptuous flavor combination. The most recent variation of our celebrated imperial stout honors the culinary character of the Hawaiian Islands by combining the lush sweetness of coconut with vanilla and Ka’u coffee. Named after the region of Hawaii from which it hails, Ka’u is produced from some of the world’s rarest coffee beans. Slow-grown beneficiaries of nutrient-rich volcanic soil and idyllic climate, Ka’u offers nuances of caramel and hazelnut plus a soft floral character, all of which marry seamlessly with natural sweetness from the vanilla and coconut as well as Speedway Stout’s inherently rich, chocolaty character. Say aloha to something truly exceptional and evocative of its namesake isles.

My rating: 4+
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.47
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.4

Intro: A 750ml foiled bottle, with no clear bottled on or best before date. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Black in colour with a half finger tanned head that dissipated fairly quickly, but left lots of nice spotty lacing.
Aroma: Roasty, milk chocolate, vanilla, coconut, coffee.
Taste: Roasted malts, lightly sweet, lightly bitter, coffee, vanilla, chocolate, molasses, with notes of coconut.
Mouthfeel: Smooth, creamy, medium to full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: Really enjoyable and an excellent sipper. I guess without pineapple, it doesn’t really feel ‘Hawaiian’ to me, especially since the coconut is not as strong as the vanilla. But still, nice aroma and flavours while being super smooth, and just a great variant.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Omnipollo, Stout - Imperial, Sweden

Omnipollo Noa Pecan Mud Willett Vanilla Barrel Aged

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Brewery: Omnipollo
Country: Sweden
ABV: 13.5%
Style: Stout – Imperial
Other Notes: Brewed at Dugges Bryggeri in Sweden

Brewer Description: (from website) We let the base for our barrel aged Noa Pecan Mud Cake Imperial Stout rest on select Willett bourbon barrels for more than 20 months before balancing the elegant barrel notes with an extra dose of Madagascan vanilla. Super limited amount of bottles.

My rating: 4+
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.45
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.4

Intro: A 330ml bottle, with a best before date (as best as I can make it out to be) of 15th October 2023. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Black in colour with pretty much no head, although there is some sparse spotty lacing.
Aroma: Roasted malts, vanilla, chocolate milk, caramel, bourbon, and a touch nutty.
Taste: As you’d expect from the aroma, light to moderately sweet, roasted malts, vanilla, coconut, milk chocolate, caramel, and bourbon.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: This works for me as it’s not overly sweet and pastry like. Almost like old school flavours of roast, vanilla, chocolate, and bourbon. Just smooth and balanced. A wonderful enjoyable sipper.