On tap at Poor Henry’s, creamy ‘mole sauce-inspired’ Imperial Stout brings mild heat to vanilla-beaned cacao nibs and fudgy dark chocolate. Ancho chilis and chipotle peppers softly influence mighty mocha molasses overhaul as sweet cinnamon-cumin-curry spicing reinforces smoky Mexican peppering.
Tag Archives: imperial stout
EVIL TWIN MICHIGAN MAPLE JESUS
Brewed and bottled at Michigan’s Dark Horse, richly creamed stout aged in bourbon-barreled maple syrup proves to be another worthy Jesus descendant. Brown-sugared maple syrup usurps brown chocolate liqueur, fudged brownie, vanilla bean, coconut, marshmallow, blackberry and dark cherry sweetness over oak-charred smoked cedar . At the syrupy bourbon chocolate finish, lovely sherry-brandy wining, tingly anise spicing and raw molasses bittering increase complexity of robust dessert treat.
EVIL TWIN / WESTBROOK IMPERIAL MEXICAN BISCOTTI CAKE BREAK IMPERIAL STOUT
Beginning with a heavy black coffee influence, astoundingly thick and chewy full body (with well-hidden 10.5% ABV) gains moderated cinnamon, almond and cocoa nibs adjuncts draped by viscous black chocolate syrup. Arguably bettering the original Imperial Biscotti Break (and brewed in conjunction with fellow South Carolinians Westbrook), luxuriously rich variant takes time developing a true almond or cinnamon biscotti flavor as wispy habanero peppering contrasts sharp sugar spicing below the chocolate fudge-caked dessert midst. Bittersweet vanilla-beaned dark cocoa and sticky anise goo thicken the massive mocha plot while tertiary black grape, black cherry and fig illusions add complexity to splendid dessert treat.
ROGUE HAZELUTELY CHOCTABULOUS
On tap at Poor Henry’s, delightfully decadent ‘candy bar in a bottle’ blends Rogue’s Hazelnut Brown Nectar with its Chocolate Stout. Up-front chocolate brownie fudging allows toffee, crème brulee, Tootsie Roll, cacao nibs and vanilla illusions to sweeten its lingering dark-roast hazelnut core while light hop charred peanut shelling adds contrasting bitterness. Pleasant caramel-burnt chocolate truffle finish will please any bittersweet-toothed dessert freak.
PIPEWORKS MOCHA ABDUCTION
On tap at Growler & Gill, richly creamed chocolate spicing picks up milk-sugared vanilla sweetness to contrast less profound cocoa-dried espresso bittering and unsweetened Baker’s chocolate powdering.
THIRD RAIL ALTERNATE SIDE IMPERIAL STOUT
On tap at Growler & Gill, boldly pepper-spiced stout allows brazen chipotle peppering and mild Mexican cinnamon seasoning to penetrate bittersweet caramel-burnt black coffee and dark chocolate over dry rye malting. A hint of black cherry wavers below mocha-spiced enticement.
WESTBROOK 6TH ANNIVERSARY HAZELNUT CHOCOLATE IMPERIAL STOUT
Superfine Imperial Stout matured on candi-syruped cocoa nibs, roasted hazelnuts and vanilla beans utilizes sweet black chocolate spicing to contrast dry black coffee influence. Flirtatious bourbon and burgundy warmth deepens dark cocoa aspect as well as bittersweet vanilla splurge and black grape-cherry tease.
STONE / HARDYWOOD / ARDENT GIVE ME STOUT OR GIVE ME DEATH
On tap at Growler & Gill, well-designed dark ale collaboration between three respected Virginia breweries brings black-malted dark chocolate richness, walnut-smoked cocoa powdering and vanilla bean creaming to recessive raspberry-blackberry adjuncts. But its mighty mocha magnitude and dry hop-charred hop bittering almost completely hide the dark-fruited nature.
TRACTOR 2014 BOURBON BARREL AGED LUNA DE LOS MUERTOS IMPERIAL STOUT
Resilient limited edition Russian Imperial Stout (aged in bourbon barrels and then bottled) retains bittersweet cacao nibs and black chocolate richness alongside bourbon vanilla sugaring. Creamy mocha center gains coconut toasted sweetness as well as fruit-caked plum, black cherry, raisin, apricot and burgundy niceties.
(SOMERVILLE) YANKEE SWAP 2014 IMPERIAL STOUT AGED IN OAK RUM BARRELS
On tap at Julian’s, easygoing chocolate-spiced Imperial Stout (aged in Turkey Shore rum barrels) retains delicate soft-water flow. Syrupy brown chocolate sweetness outlasts white rum entry as hazelnut-wined burgundy and bourbon illusions gain affluence alongside tertiary molasses, vanilla and whiskey undertones.
THIMBLE ISLAND MUTUALLY ASSURED DESTRUCTION RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
“Exceptionally dark, bold and complex” Imperial Stout brings molasses-smoked maple syruping to fudgy brown chocolate roast, saucy burnt caramel malting, mild espresso coffee nip and wispy ashen hop bittering. Chocolate-covered black cherry sweetness gains casual sherry influence at smoke-glazed mocha finish.
NIMBLE HILL TURBO DIESEL IMPERIAL STOUT AGED IN WINE BARRELS
Likable port-aged stout welcomes moderate anise-spiced dark chocolate syruping. Mild port wining gains subtle brandy and burgundy tones. Mellow mocha malting turns sour as fermented grape esters gobble up tertiary vanilla-coffee-cocoa conflux.
