Quaffed on tap at Barcade in Brooklyn with then-Chelsea promoter Ron Carlson. Robust black-as-coal full body brings opulent roasted coffee ground bittering to sticky anise, dark chocolate, and cocoa bean embrace. Harsh wood-charred acridity exceeds charcoal, tobacco chaw, and raw molasses illusions. Liqueur-stained port notes linger behind java penetration. Carlson agreed, ‘bitter blaster would benefit from better counteractive residual sugaring.’

Roasted coffee dryness, sweet chocolate creaminess, and powdered cocoa bitterness sufficiently supplement smoked mocha-malt assertion to mineral-grained finish. But thick-bodied stout needs deeper black tar density supplementing moist dewy earthiness for true distinction.

Coarse hop-roasted char and seared wood bittering joust musty waft of pencil shavings, crayon, and clay. Coffee ground midst musters Blackstrap molasses, cola nut, cocoa, and vanilla illusions, but tertiary port-wined plum-fig-black cherry whir lost by sticky black licorice finish.

Rich ink black stout with sturdy 9% alcohol rush brings up-front black chocolate roast to coffee-burnt cappuccino nexus, leaving tar-like maple-molasses gunk along the way. Concealed oak-dried black cherry souring tempers murky oatmeal-walnut bottom. Only its phenol acridity mars perfection.

Sumptuously creamier version of Keegan’s Mothers Milk Stout pleats dry black chocolate frontage with brown-sugared vanilla sweetness and bitter hop-charred oats toasting. On tap, rich espresso theme (provided by Muddy Cup coffee) mildly embitters milk chocolate, black coffee, and tar-like molasses illusions further.

Opaque mahogany stout commences with black chocolate souring complementing coffee-roasted espresso, cocoa, and molasses bitterness. Black currant, bruised cherry, and black licorice coat wood-dried recess bracing mellow Merlot-port luster.

Hilariously named brown-bodied sienna-headed Imperial Stout’s unexpected tannic grape dryness and unripe black cherry tartness compensate for hesitant roasted coffee sourness and brief chocolate chalkiness. Maple molasses backdrop fades at oily finish, leaving watery iced coffee residue.

Aromatic mocha malt serenity, bitter java palate, and dried date-prune punctuation give exquisite beige-headed ruby-shaded jet black stout initial pomp. Toffee creaminess allows lingering molasses-lactose thicket, cinnamon-allspice reminder, and roasted coffee aftertaste to increase full-bodied assertion. Addictive stuff.

Deep brown Imperial embeds syrupy malt resin into rich barley-hop roast. Not nearly as heavy or mocha-like as better stouts, and thus, lacking a thorough finish and sturdy distinction. Brewery defunct: 2006.

Lactic ebony-hued full body imparts exceptional hop-charred roasted coffee bean bitterness. Nutty coffee theme nearly overwhelms finely bittersweet creme de cacao, burnt caramel, and tar-like molasses latency. Milky cappuccino and black espresso eruption sidle ice coffee finish of rich, creamy aggressor. Black cherry-pureed hazelnut and vanilla bean illusions bounce around back end. Anyone for a coffee-flavored chocolate milkshake?

Copious sugary chocolate sweetness and creamy lactose aggression infiltrate limited edition single batch ‘100 barrel series’ invigoration. Clean water flow depletes some cocoa bittering and burnt caramel residual, but milky coffee segment brings enough oomph to mocha finish to please robust thirsts.

A true first! A metal-canned Imperial Stout with all the expectant viscous tar-like thickness and hefty 10% alcohol intensity needed to please connoisseurs. Reminiscent of molasses-sapped milkshake on sweet side and burnt espresso on bitter end, tan-headed mahogany-hued full body latently drops tobacco chew, sticky anise, and cocoa powder illusions atop charcoal-smoked flaked oats.