Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout
500 ml clear bottle with one of the grandest little labels... It's the deepest darkest, reddish walnut with a fine sticky dark tan head. Beauty. The nose is all roasted malt, citric hops, a bit of a tang, wonderful combo, cocoa, faint cherry-ish aromas, caramel, espresso brings up the rear. Burnt edges, whiff of smoke. So smooth. First sip is tangy hops, a flash of herbal bitterness and dusty cocoa powder, quickly followed by a sweet malt, roasted, toasted and round. Raisins, caramel.The sweetness lingers. Alcohol shows up and buzzes around the tongue, but it's not too forward. Bitterness returns, but this time dry and citric, slowly sliding towards a cocoa and dark fruit aftertaste. Jeepers. The tastes develop slowly and the finish is long. Soft and smooth mouthfeel, rather full and foamy. Luscious. One of my favorites.