No 90 - Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout (USA)

Aaaah - two great Imperial Stouts in a row - well, it was needed to wash the last snow away - now its spring time! :-)

This one has a deep, tight, heavy nose with lots of chocolate with high cocoa content - think at least 90%! - tar, soap and that lovely scent of an autumn walk in the forest. Very deep. A lovely warm scent.

The taste is concentrated and intense with a great structure and masses of black, sweet fruit. The bitterness cuts through the massive fruit in a stunning way. Very, very long. Some notes of balsa wood and bakelite in the end, probably from the oak? Stunning!

95p   (tasted from bottle - 2011/03)

No 89 - North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout (USA)

A stunningly deep, penetrating, powerful nose with masses of dark chocolate, sugared coffee, tar and a beautiful scent of rosemary. Very pure, very deep and very, very good, in a deeply hedonistic sense. Just gorgeous!
The taste is massive and pure with oodles of creamy dark chcocolate, tar and candied orange peels. Long, long and long! Very tight and very impressive! This is one dark beauty!

96p   (tasted from cask - 2011/03)