Jester King Brewery's Black Metal Imperial Stout

Alright, this is what made me think of posting again. I recently had this beer at lunch in a pretty nice restaurant in Houston, and thought I should start putting things down here again. I remember when this brewery just announced that it was opening, and I thought it was a stupid name. Still do. Like someone couldn't let go of the Renaissance Festival or something. Then I looked up the website, and their artwork is the same. A mix of Renaissance Fair and goth, with a little steam punk thrown in on one logo. Whatever it is, I don't like it.

But this is a damn good beer. And who am I to criticize someone else's work and creativity, anyway. Especially when they're doing it right where it counts.

This one pours an inky black with a thin, dark tan head head. Very low carbonation, which I think is just fine in this style.

Great smell. Deep roasted and coffee flavors. Website says "aggressive bitterness," but at 60 IBU the bitterness isn't so aggressive in a RIS. That's OK too, I hate Victory beers and overly hopped styles remind me of them. This one is just right though. Despite the 10.4% ABV, the alcohol is virtually imperceptible. Perfect.

Excellent beer. I hope it makes it to Spec's soon, because it will compete with any RIS out there. Maybe they can ramp up production and distribute more widely so I can try the rest.

Or maybe I'll have to make a beer trip to Austin.

Moylan's Brewing Company's Ryan Sullivan's Imperial Stout

I've heard plenty about this brewery, but never had one of their beers. I figured I'd start them off with one of my favorite styles and hope for the best.

Pours a completely opaque black with a big dark tan head that sticks very well.

Nice, robust smell. Deep and roasted grain, with more coffee than chocolate.

Nice body as well, goes down smooth and is as heavy as an impy stout should be. Still more coffee flavor than chocolate, which I like, and still has a nice roasted flavor as well.

Simple and straight forward, and just right for the style.

Avery Brewing Company's Black Tot Imperial Oak Aged Oatmeal Stout

I've always found Avery beers to be over-hyped, but they have so many fanboys out there that I thought maybe I'm wrong and they're right. And I guess it makes sense that I'd try them again with this beer, since I have a compulsion to buy anything that says stout on it.

Pours a murky, inky, opaque brown, like it should. Small tan head, which is expected in a beer so big.

Yeah, here we go. Smells like whiskey, which I wouldn't have minded ten years ago when that was what I was drinking. I never like it in a beer though.

But even then, it tastes hollow. It doesn't feel like an imperial. It's a mish-mash of various roasted, whiskey, and bitter flavors, but in a confused, unbalanced way.

Not a good beer. I'm pouring it out after two sips.

Lagunitas Brewing Company's Ruben And The Jets

I bought this because many seasonals and one-time offerings are better than the standards from a brewery, and although Lagunitas is decent, their seasonals are the best of their offerings, in my opinion.

And then, holy crap I had to look it up to see what style it was. The bottle was silent on the style, and I picked it because the next beer in my line up is a Sam Smith's RIS so I figured I'd start light, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen. It pours a deep, clouded, opaque brown tinted toward black. It is virtually identical to how Dogfish Head's Palo Santo Maron pours (which is not a goddamn brown). So, imperial stout based on what I could find, which matches well with what I'm looking at. I just had no idea what to expect, so I had to make sure. Good tan head that stays, and decent carbonation based on what I can see at the edges. It has what looks to be the remnants of being wet-hopped, and as the carbonation dies down you can see the hops particulates just suspended. The heavier ones fall, but it's full of pieces from about 1/16th to 1/8th across. I don't think it's the yeast, because there's no residue at the bottom of the bottle. If you like crystal clear filtered beers, this one isn't for you.

Roasted grain seems to supply the apparent bitterness, with a shot of coffee and grain. Smells deep and slow.

Yep, it's an RIS, just a little more brown than usual. Big, slow, smooth body. The roasted grain is still hits first, followed closely by a solid bitterness and although it's a big beer and only 8.6% ABV, the alcohol stings a bit. That's a little less sophisticated than I'd expect for such a big beer, but nobody's perfect. A bit of raisin in the aftertaste, and although I hate raisins, this doesn't detract from it.

Very good beer. Glad I had it, and it was a pleasant surprise.