We have had ample opportunities to cover Smuttynose beers in the past but I think few of their efforts have been as big and as bold as their Imperial Stout aged in wine barrels, The Stallion. Smuttynose’s The Stallion Imperial Stout possesses a robust dark and intensely dense set of flavors immediately become prevalent after one opens a bottle.
The beer pours with a dark brown coloration and only the smallest in the way of head. An initial sip yields hints of caramel, vanilla, and even a toasted flavor. The way that The Stallion opens up as it warms is alluring, having a very tight-knit flavor at the onset that gradually spins into something wider. What is initially a very coherent and cogent statement of the Imperial Stout style opens to something much more experimental one; imbibers will continue to pick out hints and pieces of new flavors as they continue along with the beer. Most surprising about The Stallion is that the alcohol content is weaved into the overall flavor profile of the beer; the well-rounded flavors of the brew make this a dangerous proposition.
The Stallion comes in 500 milliliter bottles and is part of the Smuttynose beer of the month promotion. The high ABV means that this Imperial Stout should be enough to get a night started well or put the finishing touches on and experience. For more information about the entirety of the efforts that Smuttynose provides visit their website and social networking Services profiles. Check out our coverage of Smistletoe, Smoked Peach Short Weisse, Imperial Stout, Hayseed, Rhye IPA, ParadoX, Really Old Dog,Durty, Kindest Find, Oktoberfest, Bouncy House and Cherry Short Weisse.
Rating 9.1/10
The Stallion (Aged in red wine barrels) / Smuttynose Brewing / 11% ABV / smuttynose.com / www.facebook.com/Smuttynose / twitter.com/smuttynosebeer /
John Sargeant, writing on NeuFutur as Sargeant, is the founder and editor-in-chief of NeuFutur Magazine, where he has covered independent music, PC hardware, consumer tech, and gaming culture since 1998. With over 25 years of continuous digital publishing experience, he has written thousands of hands-on game and record reviews, conducted in-depth hardware field testing, and analyzed digital media monetization trends. His work prioritizes first-hand evaluation and long-term product testing.
Beats: Independent Music, PC Gaming & Peripherals, Consumer Tech, Webmaster Tools
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