Remarkable retention and layers of lacing film down the entirety of the glass. Amazing head of mocha bubbles that cascades like Guinness or a nitro stout into a soapy mass. Deepest black and viscous, but not disconcertingly thick and sticky. Pretty close to perfection in appearance. Get a can now and enjoy it during a cold night such as the current one - it's just as good as The Alchemist's more popular offerings! Nov 16, 2021 This only had a "BEST BY" date of 5/23 on the bottom but when you get something right off of the line, it's apparent as was the case with this brew that felt like spiked coffee. A whiff of vanilla and coffee bean stuck around once this fully went down as the fresh, roasted undertone of this beer outlasted all of it's other traits. Sure, this was strong but if you didn't know that going in, then this probably wouldn't be the beer for you. A hint of oats and dank hops stuck around in the aftertaste as there was plenty of booze to be had here, with the tail end containing just a bit of cloying creaminess to proverbially chew on! Some fresh-roasted coffee, powder, and chocolate chips entered the fray once this fully warmed up as this was as inviting as a Russian Imperial Stout could be, with a moderately chewy mouthfeel and just enough carbonation to keep this from being too weighed down. Loads of dark chocolate in the nose along with some cocoa, tart raspberry, and espresso as the taste nicely followed suit. A moderate amount of lacing was left behind although there weren't any discernible rings to be seen in the thick, layered suds. Of course, this poured dark and viscous with a thin tan head topping this off. No doubt that it was easy to see why it's rated so highly on here! This was the first Stout that I had from them and it was a doozy, as there was so much richness to take in from the get-go. Traded for this last week with a friend who made a run up to Vermont, as I hadn't had a beer from the Alchemist in ages. Recommendation: Truly one of the best non-BA Imperial Stouts I've had, this is a must-try if you can get it. I didn't intend to sit on this til the 8 month mark, but glad I did, and wonder what it can do in a year or so. Especially when Alchemist is know for their hoppy beers and IPAs. It's so refreshing to have a non-BA stout and have it be done this well. Granted, this is more in the British-style which I don't have a ton of experience it, but it just seems so true to the Imperial Stout style. Great beers that are just as thick and chewy with that right touch of hop balance that come to mind are Founder's Imperial Stout, Bell's Expedition Reserve and Kuhnhenn's American Imperial Stout. For the style, it's really one of the best I've ever had. O: Wow, I am truly impressed by this beer. Love that you can taste a slight hop addition for balance, but by no means is this hoppy. M: Extremely thick, chewy, and slick beer here. Even a slight touch of chocolate-covered raspberry on the back. T: Very nice balance of chocolate, vanilla, fig, prunes. Some cocoa powder or brownie notes in there too. Fig, raisin, very dark chocolate, vanilla. Almost looks like it could be a barrel-aged beer. So I'm assuming May 2021 bottling, so maybe 8 months old at this point?Ī: Has a pitch black, motor oil look to it. No canned on date, but says best by 05/2023. Serving: 1 pint can poured into a Cigar City snifter. For one, Heady Topper and Focal Banger, both have severe hop bites that over power some of the subtle flavors and last for hours, which is too long. In my non-humble opinion, this libation is clearly more enjoyable. This brewery is famous for its Heady Topper, followed by the Focal Banger. Finish has nearly a dark chocolate, with roasted, mixed grain flavors and a fair bite. Initial, frothy, creamy mouthfeel, that brings on the grain, toffee, etcetera, flavors. lots of non-bitey, very dark roasted grains, espresso, some slight molasses and toffee accents. The taste really grabs oneself, full, rounded. When swirling in glass, it leaves a viscous film on glass that slowly drains down. The aroma is abundant, and has a full, very dark roasted grain aroma. Can label states that this is a British style imperial stout.īought this at the brewery, so it is very likely, fresh.
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