Ridgeway Lump Of Coal Dark Holiday Stout

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

Pours out black but not solid black. The aroma is of dark roasted malt and coffee. The mouthfeel Is right at the edge of being thick. The taste is pretty fair but not very distinct of anything particular.I reckon it’s pretty balance and I’m enjoying it but it doesn’t make me think of Christmas.

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

500 ml bottle. Pours ruby brown with a medium frothy light tan head that goes to a thin film and laces the glass.

The aroma is sweet roasted oaty chocolate and caramel.

The flavor is sweet sugary dark fruits, roasted grainy chocolate malts with some black licorice and ashy bitterness in the finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with low carbonation and a bit watery.

Overall, it's overly sweet, grainy and ashy.

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

Clear coffee black, rocky cap that leaves substantial lace on top and down the glass. Initial aroma is sweet coffee with some spice, herbs, and metal. Flavor is also somewhat sour and metallic initially, detracting from what might have been a nice winter ale? Some orange oil and kola on sweet grain, mostly roasted (good) but also raw (not so good). Not boozy for its strength. Too wet and thin for the style. No plans to go back for more.

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

Pours a semi transparent dark brown with a one finger head that seems to take its time. Aroma is surprisingly very nice with hints of coffee, oatmeal, dark malts, and chocolate. taste is pretty much watered down but it gets the job done. Hints of dark malts, dark roasted coffee, and a smidgen of noticeable alcohol. taste is so watered down I can not believe this is an imperial. It is light in taste and goes down without any fuss. Sub par but incredibly drinkable.

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

The nose is stout but a bit sourish which usually is a sign of cheapness. It's also not a black stout, more of a red hued coke appearance with fizzy head. Flavor is decent though, not mind blowing but tasty. No sourness in the flavor, but it is a bit mild and there is a stale cereal presence at the end which is a disappointment.

Aroma: 5 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 4 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 5

Possibly an experiment gone awry? Roasty, malty, but not so sure this qualifies as an Imperial Stout in my book. Mouthfeel is lacking,aroma is a bit off, flavor needs some serious help.

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

It pours a thick oil-black with light-brown head and copious lacing. An aroma of oats & roasted malts, light hops, coffee, orange, and light spices. The mouthfeel is smooth and fairly rich. Flavors of roasted malts, chocolate, coffee, oats, orange, hops, raisin, molasses, and spices. Not the best .. but very good stout.

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

Of the Ridgeway novelty ales, this one I looked to with the greatest anticipation. A good stout is always my ale of choice. The dark blackness of the body is a good start. A moderate standing head, frothy, light tan in texture and color. No hang time, though. Tight bubbly froth remains, ringed around the sides. The aroma is coffee and chocolate. The body is light to medium with a creaminess on the palate. The taste is roasted malt and coffee. A decent stout. Not a ‘WOW effect’ stout.

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

i can't imagine this was ever an imperial-it's an english sweet stout and comes in at 6.8%, not 8. It's aroma & flavor is on the sweet side. Pleasant enough but not terribly complex. No comparison to Sam Smiths Oatmeal or even St. Peter's. Ends up being a little thin on the palate whether an imperial or not. Overall, a decent beer but nothing I need to try again.

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

The fourth and final bottle from the Holiday Ales Pack. 500 ml brown bottle, label as above. Pours deep and dark, almost black, with ruby hilights when held to the light. Short tan head of foamy bubbles that form a solid floating cap. Smell is mildly sweet, roasted malty. Lighlty toasty grains, a bit fruity. Body is slightly thin and one dimensional. 8% alcohol is well hidden. OK as a regular dry stout, but needs alot more (aroma, flavor, body) to judged against other Foreign, high alcohol stouts. Again, slightly dissapointing.