No. 1 in Beau's Wild Oat Series, Matt's Sleepy Time is styled as a Belgian Imperial Stout. I know Belgium had an empire once, I just didn't think we were talking about it all that much.
It pours a massive fine mocha head and I am drinking dry cocoa coffee nutmeg mousse to make room in the glass for the other mousse that is moving up out of the clay jug. It's good tasting mousse. In the mouth, waves of spice, cocoa, rich cream and dark plum ending in minty chocolate malt bitterness that covers the 8% neatly. Nicely yeasty. Very morph-ly. A great illustration of the phases of flavour that a good beer can present. [Whoops, more beer foam cheesie effect out of the bottle. Caught.] I like.
BAer respect. Is this really an imperial stout? Do I care?
Comments
Bartle - April 29, 2010 1:03 AM
I think styles are simply for judging purposes.
With all these experimental styles, sometimes I think it'd be best to leave a style out of the title and taste it before classifying, if it ever fits.
In the same breath, a good beer is a good beer regardless of title or classification.
I liked this brew.
Knut - April 29, 2010 8:52 AM
A great name for a beer, too!
Matt - April 29, 2010 11:15 AM
i agree good name :)
Martyn Cornell - April 29, 2010 3:20 PM
Hmmm, dunno about the name: the "Heart of Darkness" overtones, as you hinted, Alan, are a reminder to those who know of the terrible things Belgium did in the Congo …
Alan - April 29, 2010 5:36 PM
Conversely, could we really have a Swiss Imperial Flanders Red if that is what Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien chose for branding?