Limited 2001 release has less chocolate sweetness and mocha breadth than Lagunitas’ Bug Town. Hints of cocoa melt in the mouth, causing the finish to be light and unassuming. Crystalline water deflects chocolate malt richness, hurting its chance to strike a nerve with heavy hitters. Perfect crossover for lager and pilsner softies yearning to expand their palate.

Convincing bourbon-barreled Russian Imperial (aged in Jim Beam whiskey casks) maintains lilting espresso head above ruddy obsidian body. Medicinal cherry overture enriched by prune-strewn raisin puree sweetness, viscous anise-licorice ascendancy and creamy molasses frolic. Oaken vanilla souring envelops impending sherry, cognac, brandy and spiced rum illusions as well as recessive Black Forest cake or fruitcake notions.

Challenging ebony-hued Russian-styled stout brings whiskey malt palate to dry chocolate-raisin confluence before sherry, bourbon, and port nuances drape black cherry, black currant, and red grape surge. Raspberry puree and rum cake illusions reinforce brown sugar glaze and burnt wood bottom, deepening alcohol pungency.

Creamy lactose thickness fortifies weighty mahogany-bodied Russian-styled conqueror. Frothy black chocolate sourness gives way to equally opulent burnt coffee bitterness, picking up anise, maple, and hazelnut hints before buttery burnt caramel cluster forms. Tar-like stickiness deepens resinous bottom, adding to robust nature.

Cocksure oak-aged wine-barreled ’07 black ale rightfully claims to be ‘the fuel of revolution.’ Chewy brown-sugared milk chocolate-y creaminess invades powdered cocoa, vanilla, and black strap molasses sweetening. Lactic frontage greatens Black Forest cake, chocolate mousse, licorice, sherry, and bourbon illusions crowding complex barley-roasted coffee bean midst. Cedar-smoked pecan and macadamia nuts engage brownie-like finish. Perfect alongside Stilton blue cheese or Black Diamond cheddar.

Robust mahogany-hued tan-headed Imperial brings unanticipated floral aromatics to rich roasted chocolate theme. Dry maltose midst picks up vanilla-bourbon amble to dirty earthen finish, relegating toasted hop crease.

Impressively agile blend of Imperial and Cream Stout complexities perfectly captured for frothy tan-headed burgundy-bodied milk-creamed humdinger. Burnt caramel, black molasses, powdered cocoa, and toffee support toasted oat spine as roasted nuttiness enlivens oncoming floral hop insistence. Robust chocolate theme forms, mellowing out to ester-y maltose finish juxtaposing bitter espresso dryness.

Coffee flavored cola is more like it. Not as heavy as it pours, and a bit watery for such a dark stout. Kind of like an ice coffee with a bitter bite. Could be richer or pack more body, but that’s just nitpicking an otherwise unique li’l stout.

Spectacular cedar-barreled bottle-conditioned ‘epic elixir’ with ebony hue and swirled sienna head conveys convincing alcohol-fueled Wild Turkey whiskey entry for bourbon-sherry-port theme thickened by stewed prune perpetuity, sour raisin-fig sequence and maraschino cherry serenade. Creamy chocolate syrup richness conjoins medicinal warmth countering dry vinous oaken vanilla finish, preserving initial dewy dried fruiting. 

Cherished ruby-highlighted ebony-bodied dry stout bestows black chocolate frontage, impending roasted coffee souring, and toasted hop slot atop caramelized sugar penetration, retaining creaminess to leathery pine tar finish. At midst, floral rosebud-dandelion bitterness lingers through black cherry, overripe raisin, and raw cocoa cluster.

Luxurious bronze-headed ebony-hued dry-bodied Imperial Stout retains chewy dark chocolate syruping, burnt coffee bittering, tar-like tobacco chaw and hesitant cedar char. Roasted barley-oats persuasion deepens hazelnut-toffee-cocoa creaminess beneath the mucky surface. At frothy finish, toasted hops nearly mask spruce, raisin, and black licorice subordinates as raw maple sap stickiness builds. Stupendous!

Gritty ebony dry body greets rigid dark chocolate entry with espresso-milked coffee bean souring. Prune-stewed black cherry undertones infiltrate piney-hopped burnt cedar spell and charcoal-lined nutty bottom to abrupt maple molasses finish.