Oat (Imperial Oatmeal Stout)
This wins. Pours black as night, but if you put it to the light it has an oakwood colour. Thick but compact head that is immovable, aside from the gloopy slug trails it leaves on the glass. My first taste impression is of turpentine. Three sips in and the flavour floodgates open. Star of anise, cardamon and coal dust. The stout is spicy and exotic tasting, with a dirty funk of discordant sourness that revives you. 3/4 through the bottle and the booze is kicking my arse. Before it drags me under the table, I have to tell you that I have never had a beer with such a velvety, gorgeous mouth texture. Honey coated oil. An unfortunate afflication of many imperial stouts -- rating-wise-- although not all, is that drinkability is diminished by their sheer power and weight. My 3.5 is awarded as a relative score in the imperial stout world, which means I could probably cope with two on the trot, but Oaties render me even more lethargic than regular RIS, and this is no exception. Goodnight. BTW mine clearly says 11% ABV.