Gonzo Imperial Porter
The pour is thick and opaque with a thin but persistent tan head. It looks like a fairly typical imperial stoutish brew, but then you get your nose over it and get a snootload of hops. OK, this is the second clue that this is going to be a weird beer, the Steadman label being the first clue. There's really nothing else in the aroma but serious hops, though I can't place the type. In the flavor, the hops are present but don't dominate, competing with dark malts and semi-sweet malt body, with no real winner except your taste buds. The malty bitterness clings to your tongue long after you swallow, well in style for anything claiming to be imperial. Likewise a complex imperial brew does not lend itself to a drinking session, but at a very well hidden 9.2% ABV, that might just be a good thing.