On tap at Seven Lakes Station, luscious dessert stout loads creamy vanilla icing atop sugared cacao nibs at the mighty dark-roasted mocha entry (disguising ample 10% ABV). Fudged brownie richness and flourless chocolate cake finish gain nutty remnant.
On tap at Seven Lakes Station, determined black cherry pureeing brings sweet-tart dried fruiting to molasses-smoked brown chocolate malting and dark candy syruping for Black Forest Cake-like template. Fudgy chocolate richness picks up latent blueberry-raspberry illusions, nutty cocoa wisps, Cuban espresso hints and teasing bourbon snips. Quite a versatile Imperial Stout.
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead – Haledon, smoothly creamed malt-smoked Bakers chocolate tone gains syrupy raw molasses bittering and nutty espresso enticement, inducing mild port, burgundy and bourbon illusions above oats-charred base. Re-tasting at Taphouse 15 revealed tertiary dark cherry, toasted coconut and vanilla bean whims as well.
On tap at Ambulance, delightful 7th Anniversary Imperial Stout brings creamy sea-salted brown chocolate syruping to bittersweet cocoa tones and sugared oats spine. Fudged brownie, espresso, vanilla and cola illusions seep into salinized chocolate theme of robust 10% ABV full body.
On tap at Dog & Cask, robust breakfast stout allows semi-sweet dark chocolate syruping to affect cocoa-beaned French roast coffee reserve, dissipating smoked cinnamon spicing and wood-charred hop bittering. Mild espresso, smoked molasses and carob undertones complete the score.
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead – Haledon, mild coffee roast, bittersweet dark chocolate smokiness and subtle Canadian maple syruping given light cave-aged bourbon barrel influence for soothingly rich Imperial Stout. Vanilla-sugared mocha finish gains oats-dried cola, walnut and Brazil nut illusions.
White Russian-inspired (and Big Lebowski-referenced) Imperial Stout tastes like a creamy milk chocolate shake with a shot of bourbon at the entry. Milk-sugared cacao nibs, Madagascar vanilla and cold-brewed coffee adjuncts deepen fudgy dark chocolate richness. Refreshing mint chocolate continuance gains light spice rum sweetness, black cherry-pureed tartness, burnt marshmallow tangent and distant charred molasses smidge above its mild oats spine. Sinewy dark chocolate syruping thickened by sticky anise licks.
On tap at Ambulance, rich chocolate milk-doused stout imitates S’mores dessert with its Graham Cracker-honeyed marshmallow fluff gaining brown-sugared molasses snip. Fudgy chocolate syruping coats tertiary cacao nibs, vanilla, cinnamon and anise illusions.
Rich oak-aged vanilla beaned 17% ABV Imperial Stout retains syrupy molasses-sugared chocolate creaminess. Deep vanilla essence receives velvety bourbon licks as well as delicate port, sherry and brandy daubs. Setback dark chocolate fudging picks up gooey anise sway and dried-fruited black cherry, rum raisin and plum undertones. A trusty dessert nightcap with loads of gusto.
On tap at Curley’s, excellent Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookie alternative joins brewers’ classic Crème Brulee, Choklat and Mokah dessert treats as rich, inviting chocolate lovers’ favorites. Junior Mint-like freshness retained as dry Belgian dark chocolate malting and cookie dough sweetness gain syrupy layer above dark-roast hop bittering. Beneath the mocha-minted surface lies mild vanilla, coffee, cappuccino and walnut illusions. Decadent.
Concise milk chocolate-y Imperial Stout aged on cacao nibs and Madagascar vanilla beans quickly gains sweet bourbon licks. Bittersweet mocha-vanilla confluence soon picks up lightly viscous Blackstrap molasses astringency as well as unlikely sandalwood-oiled cedar char, tangy soy saucing and spicy cinnamon snip.
