Péché Mortel (Imperial Stout Au Cafe)
11.5oz. bottle poured into broad mouth glass Appearance: Black. Black as the black sweatshirt I am wearing. Minimal tan head that dissipated quickly but decent lacing. I don't know for sure but I'm guessing this bottle is at least a year old because my local liquor store doesn't get this is all the time and they've had it on the shelves for a while. Smell: The coffee is definitely there in a big way but there's a lot more chocolate aroma than I was expecting, a pleasant surprise. Alcohol is somewhat detectable through the smell. Smells magnificent. Taste: I usually start reviewing after taking my first sip and keep sipping throughout my review but this one I had to take a second sip immediately. I already know this is a great beer and I've only had two sips. Ok, enough gushing. Coffee and chocolate are prominent but share the spotlight equally making each taste a delight. After that there is some bitter nut flavor, hazelnut perhaps. And finally it finishes with a decent amount of hop bitterness, bite, and surprisingly flavor. I don't know what kind of hops they use but you can taste the earthiness and very subtle fruitiness from them in the finish, which to me makes this beer not just good but great. Mouthfeel: Not overbearing but thick enough to meet style guidelines, very smooth. Drinkability: High ABV but it's so damn delicious I would buy this in sixers if it was offered. Overall: I put off trying this one for a while and now I have no idea why. This is an amazing imperial stout. I think coffee makes a nice addition to any brown, porter, or stout but in an imperial stout it might be the best because of the way it balances out the sweet malts. This is a must try and it's completely understandable