Founders Imperial Stout

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

355 ml bottle, from the Norwegian importer. ABV is 10.5%, 90 IBU. Pitch black colour, impressive brown head. Roasty aroma, roast malts, strong coffee, dark chocolate, liquorice, tar, wood and a hint of smoke. Rich mouthfeel. Medium sweet and rich flavour, roast malts, liquorice and strong coffee galore, bitter hops in the finish. High "Wow!" factor.

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 10 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 10 | Overall: 10

Pours out 100% black with a really dark chocolate color head. The aroma heavy malt and some chocolate. The mouthfeel is solid and thick. The taste is coffee in your face and the rest of the taste is complex.

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

I picked this beer up from the Wine Gourmet in Roanoke, VA as part of the New Year's line-up. The beer was amazing. It was thick as motor oil and dark as night - zero light penetration. The head retention was great - dark brown two finger head. Tasted of roasted malts. Amazing.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

Dark Brown, almost black pour with dark tan head. The aromas of black coffee, dark chocolate, malted milk balls, licorice and a hint of smoke fill my nose. Coffee, roasted malt, dark chocolate, smoke with some earthy hop notes dominate the taste. Alcohol is well hidden among the myriad of flavors. Full mouthfeel with ample carbonation. Recommended for anyone is a fan of the style. The Midwest has many outstanding brewers and Founders is one of the best.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

Pours out black as night with a three finger nice brown head with incredible retention with nice lacing. Smell is of dark fruits, burnt malt, and a little black liquorice, Taste is just like the nose and doesn't let up. Mouthfeel is really thick. Although it's not my favorite stout it is one of the best. Hard to beat.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

This is an excellent IPS. Nice, rich chocolate content. Actually some hops to this one too...along with the licorice, gives it a decent bitter bite to it. Definitely not a sweet stout. Also tastes like a darker chocolate in there. ABV hidden quite well for 10.5%. I like it better than Expedition or Ten-Fidy...not sure about Old Rasp, but in that category. Only grabbed a single for now, but I'm sure I'll buy a 4-pack at some point.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 10 | Overall: 9

A deep dark blackness in color with a big frothy textured, brown head rising above. There's great hang time in the head. Settles eventually into a moderate sized ringlet and splotches of film. Bold chocolate bitterness in the nose. Deep chocolate and roasty maltiness in the tasting. Thick like syrup and slick. Nice

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Notes from 1/1/13:

Bottle from the people under the stairs. 2009 edition.
Black, tar body. Soapy, generous, dirty, tan head.
Smell is of Chocolate wafers, cake mix, & soil. Illusions of hops.
The taste is of mellow chocolate & faded herbal hoppage. Malt balls & a touch of anise.
Thick & barely carbonated. Hidden oxidation that I didn't really put effort in to finding.

Solid, mellow, albeit unintentional aging. Soothing. :)

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

Another excellent beer by Founders. Pours black with a small tan head. No lace but it oils the inside of the glass. Smells of strong coffee, chocolate and cocoa. Very full flavour. Coffee, dark chocolate, licorice, cocoa, a bit of smoke with a touch of bitterness. Full creamy mouthfeel. Another beer that could make you late for work.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

Wish List time - from PfoxyJohn. Black pour, like pouring cold Hersheys Chocolate out, oozing, very tight tan head leaving syrupy lacing, very little carbonation. Beautiful stout. Dark bitter chocolate aroma, near burnt molasses, toasted malts, very slight java. Taste is just as exquisite as the inviting aromas: deep toasted malts, dark chocolates, dark molasses, earthy and warming, only hint of sweetness, slight coffee bitter. Fantastic stout. Definitely a Top 100 brew. Huge thank you to John for this one.