Perennial Artisan Ales Maman 2016
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What the brewers say
“Imperial stout aged in Rittenhouse rye barrels. This is the base beer for beers such as 17, Sump, and Abraxas.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “So much going on in the aroma: dark chocolate sweetness, with roast, vanilla, dark plum, raisin, and cherry. A little bourbon and some oak, with moderate alcohol.”
Flavor: “Huge bourbon up front, followed by strong malt sweetness of caramel, molasses, and heavy chocolate. A touch of maple syrup, coffee, spice, vanilla, and light oak tannins as well, with some heavy dark fruits of plum, cherry, and raisin. The whiskey alcohol warming is pleasant, with just a touch of alcohol burn, and a light licorice sweetness.”
Overall: “This is a big, syrupy bourbon imperial stout. It’s full of different sugar flavors—molasses, caramel, and candi syrup—and the sweetness is aggressive. Expected dark fruits appear in the aroma and flavor, but are balanced by the nice alcohol warming. The sugars provide lots of complexity, building on one another in the sweetness of the aftertaste. This is a delicious beer for sipping and savoring.”
