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Best before 8/8/10.

A rather unimpressive debut--pours with a translucent cola body and fails to gather much more than a few big bubbles at first. Slowly, a wispy patch of beige foam forms atop an inky black body. Still, I like my Imperial Stouts to have a much larger head than this. Nice aroma, though nothing exorbitant given the style and price tag. Whiskey barrels dominate, adding a hefty vanilla bean sweetness across a backdrop of milk chocolate and caramel malts.

The flavor starts well with a gentle dark chocolate note that lends itself to a hint of spice and whiskey booze on the finish. Soft kiss of earthen hops and Baker's chocolate seals the deal. Call my palate endemic to American Imperial Stouts, but the flavors on this brew taste a bit underwhelming, dog. Mouthfeel is watery and severely under-carbonated...quite distressing given the dough I shelled out for this one. Overall, a big pass--it's a shame too, because I had high hopes for this heavily touted Scottish brewery.

Price: $9.00 Served In: Snifter