Imperial Stout

Brewery: Founders Brewing Co.

Supplier: Beers of Europe

Merry Christmas! I decided to review one that I have had for a while now, this is founders Imperial Stout brewed only on special occasions around the beginning of each year. This has a best before of the end of November 2014 (take no notice as imperial stouts tend to only get better by age - also this age is written in the european format indicating it was put on by people other that Founders who don't usually to BB dates), meaning that it was bottled in 2013 - I think. This beer has ranked well with a WBC Bronze Medal in the "American-Style Imperial Stout" category in 2010. This was served at room temperature and lest to breath for a bit.

Appearance: An incredible dark black with a very thin and short lived head that had the colour of red clay. 

Aroma: Coffee, red berries, caramelisation and lots of boozy notes. I kind of want to say the caramelised flavour is a bit like that you get on the meat, but that sounds gross and this smell is definitely not that. 

Flavour: Nice sweet flavour with some surprisingly fresh notes but also with those roasted notes that you would expect in a beer like this. There are definitely some notes like liquorish on this

Body: Incredibly smooth and velvety 

Aftertaste: There is a bitterness that starts to come, partly from the hops and partly from the malt, that increase throughout the taste but is still pleasant. 

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 8, a strong but well balanced beer. Well made and what you expect, but nothing that is a surprising flavour.

Price Range: £3.89 for a 355ml bottle, an appropriate price for this, expensive but worth it.

Food Pairings: Something slaty to offset the sweet, but with strong flavours, maybe like a beef roast.