Robust English-styled Imperial Stout fermented by Belgian chocolate nibs retains dark-fruited cocoa-malted pungency. Creamy chocolate-smoked vanilla sweetness and fig-dried cherry-pureed black grape midst deepened by counteractive deep-grained hop-charred coffee-roasted bittering. Increasingly ascending anise adhesion gains prominence above dry burgundy whir. But sharp alcohol harshness and minor oxidation seeps into the mix, depleting tertiary chocolate bombe, chocolate éclair, espresso, and cola nut splendor.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: CLIPPER CITY BREW. CO., BALTIMORE, MD.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: ALLENTOWN BREWWORKS, ALLENTOWN, PA.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: NEW ENGLAND BREW. CO., WOODBRIDGE, CT.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Lactic mocha malt mildness and guarded coffee-espresso bittering unexpectedly contrasted by fruit-dried port intensity of curious Russian Imperial Stout. At midst, brown-sugared chocolate-milked cocoa powdering usurps wood-smoked hop-oiled oats-charred grain roasting, vinous cherry-pureed prune sourness, and molasses-sapped Madagascar bourbon vanilla tease.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: MIKKELLER BREWERY, ROSKELDE, DENMARK
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: SPEAKEASY BREW. CO., SAN FRANCISCO, CA.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
On tap, chewy melange of milk chocolate-y creaminess, oak-aged cacao nibs parching, and cresting black coffee bittering form robust mocha theme for bourbon-barreled delight. Tertiary peat-y compost dampness and ashen wood coarseness deepen caramel-burnt cocoa-powdered vanilla-sugared cookie dough density.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: NEW HOLLAND BREW. CO., HOLLAND, MI.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Enthusiastic ebony-hued ruby-shaded caramel-malted lactose stout brings rich hop-charred grain-smoked brown chocolate creaminess to brown-sugared vanilla fudging. Cedar-burnt maple-sugared fruit-dried backdrop fortifies viscous blackstrap molasses sapping and French roast coffee tease to hop-charred bottom. Boozy bourbon-fronted rum-sherry perk pleats medicinal chocolate liqueur and Sambuca hints. Black cherry-pureed fig-raisin continuance deepens resolve. Serve as strong dessert-like chocolate milkshake.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: SKAGIT RIVER BREWERY, MOUNT VERNON, WA.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Luxuriant nut-roasted molasses-smoked mocha malt creaminess gives lactic tan-headed brown-bodied stout inviting opening. Brown chocolate, vanilla, and cocoa subdue mild bourbon-sherry-port whir as well as espresso-cappuccino-induced finish. Dark rum soaks ripened black cherry, raspberry puree, stewed prune, and raisin illusions at backend.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: PIKE BREW. CO., SEATTLE, WA.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Robust 9.5% alcohol-fueled tan-headed brown-bodied barrel-aged slow sipper allows welcoming sherry opening to invigorate hop-oiled grain-roasted cedar-burnt bitterness and cocoa-powdered prune-dried raisin puree and black cherry illusions. Chewy molasses-sapped black coffee, brown chocolate and vanilla bean notes surface above warming burgundy-bourbon finish of outstanding full-bodied winner.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: PENNICHUCK BREW. CO., MILFORD, N.H.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Luxurious milk-sweetened chocolate-y espresso theme runs through creamy oak whiskey-barreled full body. Roasted hazelnut coffee slumber picks up cedar-burnt anise, burgundy, bruised cherry, and raisin puree nuances above rich oatmeal spine hiding vanilla bean reticence. Brewery defunct: 2010.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: LAGUNITAS BREWING, PETALUMA, CA.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Complex 8.6% alcohol-doused full body celebrates 40th anniversary of ’69 Frank Zappa album. Chewy molasses-soaked cookie-doughy chocolate malts pick up raisin, black cherry, and raspberry puree sweetness above wintry nutmeg-cinnamon-allspice holiday spicing. Vanilla-soaked bourbon-burgundy-whiskey boozing enriches coffee-roasted barleywine finish.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: TWO BROTHERS BREW. CO., WARRENVILLE, IL.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
- Author: John Fortunato
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Well balanced Russian Imperial Stout with mahogany-hued motor oil-like viscosity places bittersweet cedar-smoked oat-charred dark chocolate frontage and anise stickiness ahead of rich vanilla-tousled coffee-roasted espresso bittering. Bourbon and sherry illusions pick up steam for 9.2% alcohol-infused heavyweight.


