Style: Imperial Sweet & Flavored Stout

ABV: 11.5

89/100
Aroma: 12
Appearance: 3
Flavor: 17
Mouthfeel: 3

Evil Twin Brewing Imperial Biscotti Break

What the brewers say

“Keep it cool, clean, confident, arrogant, and flamboyant. Forza Imperiale.”

What our panel thought

Aroma: “A very apparent nuttiness on the first sniff, with a slight vanilla extract aroma and a slight alcohol burn. There’s a really nice roasted coffee character in the back, with some slight dark caramel and toffee on the nose. Esters of fruit, fig, raisin, and other dark fruits. A light spice, with an almost cinnamon-like note.”

Flavor: “The nutty character dominates up front, similar to a cherry pit with some raisiny tannic flavor. This gives way to light vanilla and almond, but quickly fades to a medium-high roast character of caramel and bread crust. In the middle, coffee notes support. The sweetness was pronounced and enhanced the dark-fruit esters.”

Overall: “The nutty amaretto character of the beer dominates, with needed roast complexity to balance. Thin body and high carbonation undermine the creaminess. The flavors didn’t quite run together, but rise and fall in isolation. The individual components are nice, but the beer needs a touch more roast and body to round things out.”

What our editors thought

Review printed in: Sweet, Roasty, and Delicious (February-March 2017) (View All Issues)


REVIEWS FOR YOU >

Brouwerij De Molen Cease & Desist

**Aroma:** “Caramel nose with a bit of chocolate—reminds me of Sugar Babies candy. Some oxidation, divided between sherry and cardboard. There’s also a bit of a spicy phenol that reminds me of pepper and dried oranges. Cherry fruity notes up front with a bit of chocolate hiding in the background. High sweetness.” **Flavor:** “Sweet and malty. Toffee, chocolate, and caramel. Still get Sugar Babies candy, but more malt complexity. Moderate sweetness with fruity cherry and plum notes. Roast malt is restrained, but present. Tastes more like an old ale than a stout. Slight alcohol warming, just enough to let you know it’s there. Light hops toward the end of the sip.” **Overall:** “Tasty and easy drinking. Not a challenge at all, but still interesting. Very drinkable beer, but I wouldn’t put it in the stout category. The fruity esters and the oxidized notes seem more like an old ale. Very sweet and a rather heavy body, but it would make a good fireside sipper or desert beer.”

Burnt City Brewing Freight Handler

__Aroma:__ “Creamy milk chocolate is present up front. Some nice malty roast adds to it, but sits behind the sweetness on the nose. Notes of toasted bread, dark cherries, tobacco, and a very slight hints of hops are present, too.” __Flavor:__ “The creamy milk-like sweetness hits up front, with some roasty character that helps to cut that. On top of that is a burnt roast taste, with some dark chocolate, black licorice, and cherries. Some earthy moss-like flavors in the middle, with notes of cigar and tobacco. A medium body with a creamy mouthfeel, with some toast and bitter chocolate to help balance the sweetness in the finish.” __Overall:__ “This beer had some nice flavors going on that balanced well. Nice body for a sessionable stout, and the roasty-to-sweet balance was great. A touch strong on the burnt notes with some hints of cigar, but that’s softened by the milk sugar.”

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