Bottle, 375 ml, shared with Max and Miro B. Black with tan head. Roasted malts, chocolate, cocoa, vanilla, light peppers, smooth and creamy. Medium bodied.

Got in a trade with beergoot. 375 ml bottle into snifter, 2019 vintage. Pours dense pitch black color with a 1 finger dense and rocky tan head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Thick soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of big milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, vanilla, cream, cinnamon, chili peppers, roasted nuts, toasted biscuit, and dark bread/crust; with lighter notes of molasses, raisin, fig, date, smoke, char, leather, tobacco, herbal, grass, peppercorn, and yeast/roast/toasted earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of dark/black/roast/bready malts, cocoa, chili, vanilla, cinnamon, and light-moderate earthy hop/fruity yeast notes; with big strength. Taste of huge milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, vanilla, cream, cinnamon, chili peppers, roasted nuts, toasted biscuit, and dark bread/crust; with lighter notes of molasses, raisin, fig, date, smoke, char, leather, tobacco, herbal, grass, peppercorn, and yeast/roast/toasted earthiness. Very mild herbal, grassy, roast, charred bitterness; and pepper/cinnamon spiciness on the finish. Lingering notes of milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, vanilla, cream, cinnamon, chili peppers, roasted nuts, toasted biscuit, dark bread/crust, molasses, dark fruit, smoke, char, leather, tobacco, herbal, grass, peppercorn, and yeast/roast/toasted earthiness on the finish for a while. Outstanding complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/black/roast/bready malts, cocoa, chili, vanilla, cinnamon, and light-moderate earthy hop/fruity yeast flavors; with a fantastic roast/hop bitter/sweet, and pepper/cinnamon spiciness balance; with no cloying/acrid/astringent flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from lingering bitter/spiciness. Light-medium carbonation and very full body; with a very smooth, creamy/silky/velvety/bready, and lighrly slick/sticky/chalky mouthfeel that is fantastic. Minimal warming alcohol for 11%, or cinnamon/pepper heat after the finish. Overall this is an outstanding spiced imperial stout! All around awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/black/roast/bready malts, cocoa, chili, vanilla, cinnamon, and light-moderate earthy hop/fruity yeast flavors; very smooth and dangerously easy to drink for the big ABV, with the mellowly bitter/spicy/drying finish; fantastic soft feel for the style. Amazingly well rounded super rich malt complexity; with great cocoa, chili pepper, vanilla, cinnamon presence; solid earthy hops and restrained fruity yeast. Not overly sweet/heavy from lingering dryness. A highly enjoyable offering, and amazing spiced style example. Not overwhelming on any aspect.

Taster at the brewery - the chocolate and peppers really add to this - smooth, full texture - nicely balanced between sweet, bitter, and spicy - dark chocolate truffle on the approach, building gradual heat before a moderately spicy finish - lingering vanilla, chocolate, lavender - this is awesome stuff.