YellowBelly Brewery Mummer’s Brew (2016) Imperial Stout at 8.5% ABV | 50 IBU (C$11.00 at YellowBelly Brewery, 1 l, no bottle date or best before, acquired 6-Jan-2017, reviewed 8-Jan-2017)_
Appearance: nearly opaque black with little or no relief around the margins, one finger of fluffy beige head diminishing rapidly to a thin ring, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: dark chocolate, briny, boozy dark fruit. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (7/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate to low carbonation, off-dry bitter and lightly tart finish. (4/5)
Somewhat surprising, especially when compared side-by-side to last year’s Porter. Yes, the Porter had an extra year of ageing, but this is surprisingly thin for an Imperial Stout. That’s not to say it’s necessarily lacking, but it might be another one that will benefit from some additional cellaring: there’s a lot going on here, and some extra time to mellow might help. It’s pretty mild for the high ABV, but the brine from the oyster is a little more emphatic than I think it should be, as is the rum note from the Lamb’s-soaked dark fruits. (14/20)
7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
