Weyerbacher Raspberry Imperial Stout

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

2005 Release date, Sampled January 2007
When vigorously roused the beer pours with a very thin, frothy, but large bubbled, light chocolate brown colored head. The beer is very dark colored, yet not quite black. The aroma is non-distinctly fruity at first, but then the raspberry starts to become noticeable; at first it has a light acidity to it, and then a bit of fruity smelling raspberry character kicks in. It is definitely dominated by the raspberry aromatics, but they are still not so much as to be objectionable to me, even though I often don't like raspberry in beer. Underneath the fruit there is a touch of the Imperial stout, but not much that is distinct.

The beer is quite light on the palate, at least for an Imperial Stout. A light, fruity acidity is noticeable and accentuates a subtle raspberry flavor. There might even a touch of oxidation here, though it is quite subtle and reminds me a little bit of sherry, port and maybe even a touch of wet cardboard (though that last note is very subtle). The finish is where the dark malt character is most noticeable; a roasted, burnt grain husk note provides an almost chalky finish to this brew. The beer is perceived as quite dry. This is more a product of the acidity from both the roast malts and the raspberry notes.

This is certainly interesting, and I wonder how much different this is when it is fresh. In the end it is quite drinkable, and even quaffable, which is of course quite dangerous with a brew of this strength. An interesting experience, but I was expecting a bit more from this brew; if it were a bit richer It would be a much better overall experience.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

This Imperial Stout pours an eclipse black color form a 12oz bottle. Small sized beige foamy head. Aroma is raspberries, chocolate and coffee with some roasted malts. A medium bodied Imperial Stout. Malts are chocolate and coffee, roasted malts. The raspberry flavors are prevalent and are semi-sweet, which blends with the coffee and chocolate flavors well. Good carbonation. Nice balance between the fruit and the roasty malts. Mouthfeel is full. Finish is smooth. Aftertaste is sweet.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

Strong raspberry aroma with dark chocolate connotations. Smells like Bruster’s Raspberry Chocolate Truffle Ice Cream. Whoa, WAY carbonated though. Tooo much. Tastes like raspberry soda with chocolate ice cream soda mixed in. yum, excellent idea, but it needs to be so much smoother with not as much acidity.

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

Big thanks to Moejuck for this baby. I finally got around to giving this one a go. Aroma was roasty malts, dark chocolate, coffee and raspberries. So far, pretty damned interesting. Appearane was the usual jet black of an impy stout. Mouthfeel was a bit on the thin side, especially for an impy stout. The taste of this beer caught me off guard. I was intrigued by the raspberries melding with the roast and coffee in the flavors, making this almost something you might find at Starbucks (I'll have a venti Raspberry Mocha Frap please...). Very tasty and Moejuck was kind enough to send two. Yeah baby!

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 5

Poured a dark dark brown almost black with a good size tan head to it. Aroma was of raspberries and roastedness. Flavor was of burnt coffee and chocolate, raspberries come out at the end of a sip. Bettered as it warmed. Good balance of raspberries and stout, problem is the stout was just okay.

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

I was suprised to read so many negative reviews of this brew. I must have lucked out and had the best batch ever brewed or something. Oh well, good for me I say. The pour of the Raspberry Imperial Stout was dark and thick with an average sized head. The aromas were very strong in the chocolate department, and sweet. I could barely get a hint of the raspberry in the nose. The flavor profile is like a huge chunk of dark chocolate with just a tad bit of raspberry flavoring added in--I loved it! The front end is mostly chocolate, and you get a little bit of the raspberry in the end which is accompanied by a very slight bitterness. This brew was very good in my opinion, and I've been craving another ever since I had the first. Nice job once again Weyerbacher.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 5

Poured a dark brown to reddish black with a HUMUNGOUS hePoured a dark brown to reddish black with a HUMUNGOUS head that was hard to pour through. Fun to watch the beer fall out of the head, that was primarily built through overcarbonation. Lacing was decent for the ABV. Aroma was of raspberries and somewhat liquor like. The flavor was burnt coffee, some chocolate, and raspberries. Raspberries were not overdone, but the base stout was wholly unimpressive. Acidic and overcarbonated mouthfeel, somewhat thin even. Finish rather bitter, bad coffee bitter. Maybe I've been too generous on the flavor score, but it was more drinkable after warming.

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

Bottle, 04.11.04. This is my third time with this beer, trying again because I've not been impressed the first couple times and wanted to give it a fair shake. Pours a thick syrupy black with a purplish tint at the edges. The head is thick and full, also sporting a reddish tint. Retention is weak, lacing is sheeting at first, but leaves with the head. Aromas of dark chocolate malts and rasberries. Pretty one dimensional aromas, really, which is one of my sticking points as I so want to love this beer. The flavors are simple roasted maltiness, coffee, chocolate (burnt), hints of raspberry in the front and lingering in the aftertaste. The palate is coating but crisp. I think they really got the nmouthfeel right with this one. The touch of chocolate bitterness adds a crispness to the finish. I like it more with this third try but it still hasn't lived up to my hopes. A beer that just isn't as big as its title.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 6

The body has the same blackness (not quite opaque at the edges, though) with the same head with the same grayish tint. The raspberry brings out chocolate in the aroma which I didn't notice much of in the Old Heathen. Charcoal is still present underneath. In the flavor, the raspberry is so complete and unadulturated that you can taste the seeds. While the flavor still lacks the body that I think is important for a good Imperial, the raspberry makes up for some of that. Unfortunately, towards the end I started getting this bad saltwater aftertaste that really detracted from the experience.

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

This poured a solid black color with a pinkish beige head. The aroma was chocolate, alcohol, and raspberries. The flavor was quite sour with some milk chocolate and coffee flavors. The mouthfeel was grainy and it had a very carbonated presence. I enjoyed it.