What Our Panel Thought
Aroma: “Moderate coffee notes with a slight smoke note and medium chocolate. Medium alcohol notes. Medium oak with a light cherry note. Light vanilla, moderate licorice. Smooth blend of dark roast and peppery phenolic. Light tobacco accents the light amount of roast malt. As it warms, a bit more roasty chocolate and alcohol.”
Flavor: “Strong coffee and chocolate, but also some nice malt complexity (caramel, toffee, dark fruit, and roast). Light nutty notes, medium body, touch of licorice, and moderate sweetness. Medium-high alcohol heat dries out the sweetness. Coffee blends well with the alcohol and fruity oak-barrel notes.”
Overall: “Fun coffee-dominated imperial stout. Supporting notes of caramel, licorice, cherry, and other fruits, with a light bitterness. The alcohol notes are just enough to accentuate the big nature of the beer. Good balance of chocolate, roast, high coffee, and an alcohol warming in the background.”
What the Brewers Say
“Began as a Serpent’s Stout base aged in bourbon barrels with coffee and cacao nibs added before packaging.”
