The last of the beers I picked up at the brewery in Stowe, this one has no indications on how to consume it (or much of anything, really) on the label, so I’m just going to use my stout glass.
Flashlight shows nothing. Seriously, not even around the edges of the glass, no light makes it through this beer; Surly Darkness has a rival. The head retention is excellent and the beer’s aroma is a tantalizing balance between resinous hops and smoky, chocolatey coffee notes. The taste is very rich, a dark chocolate flavor instantly hits the tongue, with a deep smoky char edge to it and a dense, velvety smooth body. The finish is crisp and dry, with a moderate bitterness coming from herbal and lightly astringent hop notes, balanced against some warm alcohol and the perpetual char throughout the beer. The best way to describe this beer is like drinking a nice strong DIPA while chewing on charred meat, like burnt ends of brisket without any sauce. That is not to say this is a bad beer, I actually like it a lot; it’s very bold and exactly as advertised on the label, an Imperial Stout with American hops, perfect for New England winters.
