When someone offers me a beer, if they happen to say "Founders" I say, "Hell yes!" So when I saw Founders Imperial Stout, I had no choice but to pick up a pack. Founders, out of Grand rapids, MI, has never brewed anything sub par, as far as I'm concerned, and is probably in my top five favorite breweries.
An Imperial stout is my favorite style of stout. Always bold, rich, and smooth, and almost always a high alcohol content, which makes it a perfect beer for just one. Founders Imperial is brewed with ten different malted barlys, which should give a multitude of complexity.
So on to this particular beer, when you first pour it into a glass it runs thick and dark like molasses, leaving a rich caramel head. Now I have been fooled before, but I always respect a beer I can hold up to a light and its still black, and this definitely fits that description. It's aroma is almost that of a caramel machiatto, which will mature as it warms. Coming in with a 10.5% alcohol, this beer is making my taste buds grow impatient. As usual I like to take a sip of my beer right from the fridge even though with an imperial I should wait until almost 50 degrees.
Cool it has a very espresso like taste and a smoky aftertaste, leaving an almost gritty texture in your mouth, but very smooth and thick. As it warms you begin to taste the different barlys, as well as getting a slightly more smokey flavor. As you savor each sip if has a different flavor and texture. From chocolate to caramel and coffee, each sip different, but amazing. This beer is definitely to heavy to go with a meal, however I do recommend pairing this with a light savory snack, almost as a moment off reflection on each sip as well as a mild palate cleanser, the savory aspect will give way to the mills sweetness of the beer. This is a must try, I highly recommend going out and buying a pack immediately.
-Chas
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