Fuller, Smith & Turner PBC Imperial IPA Imperial / Double IPA at 10.5% ABV (C$8.59 at Okotoks Co-Op, 500 ml, best before 31-Dec-2027, acquired 28-Aug-2019, reviewed 6-Sep-2019)
Appearance: slightly hazy brown with one finger of fine beige head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: toffee, toasted bread, dark fruit, pine, dry cocoa, black pepper. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter, light peppery spice. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, lingering bitter slightly spicy finish. (5/5)
I was a little surprised both by how dark this was, and by how much I liked it. There’s certainly some hop character here, particularly a lingering sharp pine that develops toward the back end, but it’s still very much dominated by a rich toffee malt. It’s actually a lot like an Old Ale, both in terms of the sweet maltiness and the big booziness. The added black pepper registers only slightly on the nose, but makes for a mildly spiciness in the finish that adds a pleasant somewhat non-traditional twist. (17/20)
8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
