Alvinne Podge Belgian Imperial Stout

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 7

First, this isn't an Imperial Stout; the Belgian yeast is too predominant and the malts are hidden by other flavors. Second, this has one of the sexiest heads I've seen in some time; a thick cloud of cream that is quite magnificent to behold. Body is dark brown, but not quite dark enough to fit in the imperial stout style. Continents of lace cling to the glass as I drink. Aroma is predominantly toffee, with sour notes and hints of some highly toasted characteristics, like coffee; it even has a sort of chicory character to it. Taste is quite sour and acidic though. It's not unpleasent, but I was hoping for something different. It seems like it has gone through a souring period, like an "old English" souring. The only taste that breaks through the sourness is a hint of chicory-coffee, which makes for an interesting, albeit unusual, mix. There's something odd about this one, and if it were cheaper I'd say I like it. Too much of an oddball for its own good, at least at this price. Bottle should say "Belgian Flemish Sour."

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

Comes out of the bottle an opaque, dark chocolate brown with a fairly thick beige head. Aroma is chocolaty and smoky with a bit of an alcohol nip and just a hint of fruit. Mouth-filling flavor is malty and chocolaty with undertones of roast chocolate and caramel and just a teensy touch of fruit. The alcohol zing is not as strong in the flavor as in the smell. Texture is thick and creamy smooth, leaving a lively tingle on the tongue and lips.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 4

no! .. . pours a dark black with little foam raves .. nice but out there aromas .. pretty sharp stuff, meaty and flying sideways .. seems aged abit to long here.. stu didn't even give it a try.. a revist is needed ..

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 6

Bottle: Poured a deep cloudy brown color ale with a super large foamy head with perfect retention and lacing. Aroma of spicy yeast and sweet malt with some alcohol ester easily detectable. Taste is also dominated by some spicy yeast with notes of sugar and loads of alcohol ester. Body is full with perfect carbonation but alcohol is way too detectable and ruin this one for me.

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

This was a very good beer. This is the first Belgian stout I've ever had and I really like it. It has the typical qualities of a Belgian and a stout and they prove to work together nicely. An interesting beer for sure, I would recommend it.

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

Bottled. Quite much black colour, mediumsized brown head. Aroma is roasted malts, some fruits, licorice and also some yeastyness. Flavour is yeast, fruits, roasted malts and some licorice. Also alcohol shows and some quite wooden notes. A lot sweeter than I expected, yet quite wellbalanced and drinkable.

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

I tried this one at the 2008 Max's Belgian Beer Festival in Baltimore, MD. The pour had very little carbonation in it, leaving not much of a head at all on the beer. It was almost flat, but thats OK in my book with stouts. The beer was dark with a reddish hue to it when being held to the light.

After receiving it from the bartender, the first thing I did was let it warm to room temperature, as I do with all my stouts and porters. The beer was pretty nice. The aroma was that of something pretty standard for an imperial stout. Maybe a hair above average. The beer was flavorful though. The flavor had a nice mix of cherries and chocolate which really came out of the beer once it hit the right temperature.

Overall this beer was pretty good. I would tend to buy it again, should I find it on tap. Compared to other imperial stouts on the market though, it just doesn't reach the pinnacle that something like the Old Rasputin Imperial Stout is at right now.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 4 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 3 | Overall: 3

Pours dark mahogany with a mountain of clumpy foam. Head dies down within a couple minutes to sporadic clumps sticking to the side of the glass. Aroma is a little cidery, with some burnt wood and burnt coffee showing through. Flavor is all sorts of weird. Starts interestingly nutty and a little acidic. Some roast shows through, before a wave of hot alcohol, some cider, and burnt chocolate. Finishes with lots of a heat in the form of really cheap blended whiskey, as well as some sweet milk chocolate. Not a pleasant beer at all, tastes like it was fermented at high temps with a mix of house Belgian yeast and the Irish ale yeast that the bottle claims.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 8

This really isn’t even all that close to an imperial stout. It’s a dark brown, but not close to black. Surprisingly light in color. This is really more of an imperial brown ale than an imperial stout in both appearance and flavor. Sweet. Not overly complex.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Bottle from SL. Pour was deep black, full brown colored head, super huge, difficult to pour this one in less than 5-10mins. The retention was solid, mainly be a streaming steady supply of carbonation, lacing a little spotty for the amount of head. The aroma was cocoa, light roast, some belgian candy type notes. The flavor was firm alcohol, milky cocoa, light roast, dark fruits (raisins and plums), faint astringency, but not in an offensive way. The mouthfeel was airy, overly carbonated, light lactic acidity. Overall a neat brew, but not the best of the Belgian Stouts I’ve had.