Next up in my Full Sail Brewmaster Reserve Round Up is Full Sail’s Imperial Stout. Right out of the 22 oz. bottle this an attractive beer.  Jet black with a thick tan head. It has a strong, sweet aroma with a slight hint of alcohol.  The mouthfeel is full with a bit of creaminess. Classic stout roasted malt flavors predominate with a fair amount of bitterness throughout the taste profile.  I also get a nice taste of roasted dark chocolate, if that make sense.  There is a quiet, underlying taste of alcohol as well.  That’s not surprising at 8% abv.

This brew is a straight imperial stout without trying to be too complex. That’s not a knock at all.  If fact, I think this brew is excellent.  After tasting, and enjoying, quite a few bourbon barrel aged stouts over the winter, it is great to get back to a stout being just a great stout.  I had the same experience recently with Fritz and Ken’s Ale.  That said, Full Sale is racking half the batch into bourbon casks where it will be aged for a year and released as “Black Gold Bourbon Barrel Stout” in February 2011.  I’ve already got that date marked on the calender!   

Name: Full Sail Imperial Stout
Brewery: Full Sail Brewing Co., Hood River, OR.
Style: Imperial Stout.
Color: Black; tan head.
Packaging: draft and 22oz bottles.
Stats: 8% abv, 65 IBU.
Bought: Worden’s Market, Missoula.
Ruling: Four out of Five Hops. Wonderfully good imperial stout.