Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout

[jkpq45]

Drinking this right now, posting to update those who haven't had the pleasure.

Poured a Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout in a 10 oz tulip glass about 10 minutes ago. It might be up to about 45 degrees F now, has a nice thick tan-brown head that is slowly deflating. At this colder temp, this beer is all roast and alcohol flavor. Doing my best to wait; as it's warming up the aroma is turning from hops to caramel malt. Chocolate is just barely starting to come through.

Will post updates soon.

 

[jkpq45]

This beer warmed to about 48 to 50 degrees F while I was typing the last post.

Mouthfeel has thickened significantly and chocolate is really coming through now. Aroma is of chocolate and noble hops. Can't tell if this is a Kent Golding beer, Tettnang or some other noble hop (yes, I could Google the recipe and cheat, but I prefer to taste it out--who wouldn't?)

 

[jkpq45]

This beer smells a lot sweeter than it comes across on the palate. Lingering post-swallow is the dryness from the alcohol and nice, warm hop flavor.

 

[jkpq45]

Aroma is strong, finish is clean, alcohol flavor is high for a beer at 7.0% ABV (bad as I assume this beer hasn't aged out enough.)

This one seems like there's some phenols/esters from poor fermentation. Perhaps the batch got a bit hot during fermentation and produced the clove flavor I first mistook for hops. Still a good beer, but thinking about going back to the Sam Smith's Oatmeal Stout next time I look for something from the "old brewery at Tadcaster."

 

[curlyfat]

Crap, I ended up on BA again without meaning to. Wait, what?

Oh...



Seriously, I like that beer. It's delectable.

 

[jkpq45]

BA?

As in Baracus?

 

[curlyfat]

BA?

As in Baracus?

I was thinking more of Beer Advocate (dot com). WTF is Baracus?

Nevermind. I googled: "Baracus is a genus of skippers in the family Hesperiidae." -Wikipedia

If that's what you meant, very obscure!

 

[jkpq45]

BA Baracus: Character on the A-Team, a television show in the 1980s, played by one "Mr. T."0

Linkydoo

 

[curlyfat]

I saw that too...that was less funny to my drinkin' self.

Drinking a SA Double Bock...guilty pleasure.