On tap at Poor Henry’s, sinister Russian Imperial distorts sweet brown chocolate setting with hop-charred grain roast and dry-spiced vanilla sweetener for ‘freeze-dried Neapolitan ice cream’ sedation. Mild black-malted mocha smokiness, teasing strawberry nip and distant blackberry rip fortify soy-sauced coffee backdrop. Not sure everything’s balanced, but it sure is uniquely qualified to satisfy bolder dark ale imbibers.
On tap at Growler & Gill, monstrous Imperial Stout collides syrupy black chocolate richness with peat-smoked whiskey malting, soy-sauced black cherry souring and oaken vanilla esters for peculiar sweet ‘n sour blend. At the midst, anise, black currant, cinnamon and raw molasses illusions abound.
On tap at Doherty’s, colossal whiskey-bent espresso warmth (and mighty 18% ABV burn) secure French roast coffee continuance of remarkable stout. Below the surface, dark chocolate, cocoa, vanilla bean and molasses sweetness pleasantly contrasts sour-milked espresso bittering.
On tap at Ambulance, smoked cherrywood setting affects heavy black chocolate influence and bittersweet black cherry surge, receiving soy-sauced peat soiling above mild oily hop char. Far beneath, bitter cocoa tones and wispy dried fruiting waver.
On tap at Growler & Gill, soft-toned black coffee frontage gains luxurious black chocolate syruping as well as creamy fudge richness. Pleasant black-peppered cocoa and cinnamon adjuncts add distinction. Tertiary vanilla, espresso and molasses undertones bring further depth. 2017 bottled version: serene dark-roasted coffee tone and syrupy black chocolate malting gain deeper black peppering, sweeter cinnamon toasting and mild bourbon smidge.
Majestic 11.1% ABV Imperial Stout drapes molasses-heavy chocolate syrup upon striking bruised black cherry sweetness, elegant bourbon-sugared vanilla bean impact and luxurious Vietnam coffee overtones, picking up tingly rum-spiced warmth. In the distance, sherry, bourbon, blackberry, black grape and black licorice illusions stay subtle.
On tap at Eddie’s Roadhouse, fudgy molasses-thick black chocolate syruping and dark-roast coffee respite reach rich climactic midst as spicy anise tingle works its way into the mix. Understated champagne yeast adds white winy wisp but gets lost inside the marvelously creamed and sneakily liquor-drenched (15.1% ABV) mocha dessert treat.
On tap at Doherty’s, syrupy black chocolate entry deepened by dark-roast hop bittering for limited edition 2016 version. Creamy chocolate center picks up wispy molasses-caked vanilla, coffee, caramel and cocoa illusions as well as tingly sugared spicing.
Creamily fudged black chocolate richness overridden by molasses-smoked anise goo (that sticks to the tongue). Syrupy chocolate chewiness picks up ancillary coffee, vanilla and coca illusions. So thick you could almost cut it with a knife, though its fudgy aspect seems a tad understated when compared to ample anise assertion.
Creamy black chocolate syruping and chewy caramel malting get a tad watery contrasting red hot chili saucing and daintily smoked paprika snip of gimmicky medium body. Milk chocolate-y vanilla sweetness, chalky cocoa dryness and earth-scorched nutty coffee reminder lose intensity alongside dissipating chili heat, leaving tongue exhausted after a few sips.
On tap at Ambulance, profound up-front coffee bean roast thrills the senses. Cracked Ethiopian coffee plus fresh espresso provide unique combo as creamy java influence seeps into mild tarry hop char and sinewy anise goo licks. Ancillary black chocolate syruping deepens capacious coffee overtone and cinnamon-dabbed sandalwood impression picks up bourbon, vanilla and coconut snips.
A fine twist on Evil Twin’s sweeter, more distinct, Even More Jesus, takes a turn to the sour side as raw molasses bittering and dry cocoa powdering upend black chocolate syruping to soily earthen bottom and its ashen hop char lingers on the tongue. Distant anise-spiced black cherry, raisin and plum undertones never reach the mocha surface.
