Offshore The Inkwell Imperial Stout

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

Growler, HUGE thanks to cooperrip for dragging an '05 and '06 growler off the island for me. Wish I coulda made the invasion.... there's always next year. Poured black with a thin, very dark tan head of foam. Decent lacing, but the head eventually settles down to thin whisps here and there. Aroma is very complex. Aromas of vanilla and some earthy woody notes, dark chocolate, burnt molasses, loads of raisins and figs, spicy peppercorns, peppermint, and licorice burst from the glass. Molasses and sweet milk chocolate greet you up front, with some subdued vanilla hints. Raisin and fig flavors follow, dark chocolate and burnt toast, mingling with a nice balancing blackstrap molasses flavor. Dark fruits (more figs and raisins) continue to develop into a huge theme for this beer, and remain behind post-swallow. Finishes out on the spicy side, with black peppercorns, star anise, and a hint of licorice. Some warmth follows as it goes down, yet it remains dangerously drinkable for a 10ish% beer. Extremely thick and creamy, without being cloying, an absolutely great beer, even better than I was expecting. If only it were bottled...