Samuel Adams Double Bock (Imperial Series)
Poured a 12 ounce bottle into a pilsner style glass. Freshness date is labeled that this brew is fresh until the end of August of 2007. This is one of the most beautiful beers I have ever seen in a glass. Awesome head retention, great lacing on the glass, and the color of the beer is just exceptional. It's a wonderful dark ruby that is simply awesome to see. The beer looks so damn good I could pour it just to view the beer. Nose is caramel sweetness with hints of alcholol and other fruit scents as well. Hops are only slightly noticeable. Oh man is this beer tasty! It starts off with a good amount of caramel sweetness that lasts throughout and then the alcholol hits as well as the spiciness of the hops that last until the end of the sip. As I sipped the beer further, my palate got more used to the beer's alcholol flavor and it faded a bit. A nice roasted malt feel is also present throghout the sip of this brew. Maybe a little choclate flavor in the back as well. Mouthfeel is almost perfect for the style. Just right, not too heavy, by no means not heavy enough. The difference from last season seems to be a more substantial hop flavor and bitterness that perfectly balances everything out. Either my palate has changed since last winter or the BBC improved this brew, but this year it tatstes exceptionally well. This beer is so complex, words can't describe it. It is so tasty, words can't describe it. Also, the ABV of this brew makes it as warming as can be for a cold winter's day (believe it or not, we get those days here in Central Texas!) I would say this is the absolute perfect beer. As for the drinkablity, it's defenitely a sipping brew as it's very strong, but oh is the flavor and everything else just to die for!