Chaos Chaos Russian Imperial Stout
Marshall Wharf Brewing Company in Belfast, Maine, United States 🇺🇸
Stout - Imperial Regular|
Score
6.45
|
|
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
Draught at MW’s 8th anniversary, 10/17/15.
Deep, inky, dark ebony body is opaque and has a fairly light colored beige head atop with moderate to moderately-low retention.
Chocolate, licorice and vanilla dominate the nose, which is less given to roastiness than a majority of imperial stouts I’ve had. Not sure if that’s a good or bad thing, but it dosent make for quite as big an aroma, nor is there much vinousness/plum/prune-like notes in the nose that I associate with a good dose of roasted barley. Clean, however, as their beers always are and with some alcohol sharpness, but not a boozey mess by any means.
Malty and yet rather drinkable for its size, which is surprising. I do see what people are saying regarding it being not quite as thick and chewy as it could be. Yet for all its lighter bodied character (for the style, of course), it is still decidedly bitter (chocolate malt) and does have a bit of an alcoholic edge to it (seems inevitable at this size). Vanilla, mild coffee and light hop bitterness are all notable. Texture is slick and malty with ample carbonation. I love the drinkability here, even though that’s not something I or many people really look for in an Imperial. But it’s nice to be able to drink more than 2 ounces of an Imperial stout without your palate being wrecked. Don’t see that a lot anymore these days. Still, a little more chewiness/suppleness to the body would be appreciated, as well as a touch more complexity.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 4 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5
on tap-pours a tan ring for a head that quickly disappears and black color. Aroma is dark malt-roasty, earthy. Taste is dark fruit-raisin, dark malt-roasty/chocolate, earthy, nail polish/varnish/acidity over powere throughout, alcohol.