Brewery Ommegang King in the North Imperial Stout at 11% ABV | 40 IBU (C$16.49 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 750 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 12-Apr-2019, reviewed 27-Apr-2019)
Appearance: opaque near-black with two fat fingers of rocky beige head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: dark roasted malt, chocolate, bourbon, dark dried fruit, light vanilla & smoke. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-full body, moderate carbonation, warming lingering bitter slightly astringent finish. (3/5)
Smells slightly better than it tastes but neither is particularly memorable. It’s a solid barrel-aged stout with a fairly well-balanced bourbon profile that doesn’t get too hot or solvent-like, but neither the aroma nor the taste are anything I haven’t seen done better elsewhere. The finish is probably my biggest complaint here, with an ever-so-slightly unbalanced bitterness that ends up feeling just a bit astringent. Nothing here is off, or problematic, but it does fall short of being a great example of the style. (15/20)
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
