Mint Chocolate Imperial Stout – Ken Schmidt / Iron Fist / Stone Brewing Co.

9.6 % ABV.

Appearance - Pours a rich black with no light penetration. Four finger mocha head that has great retention, leaving a solid centimeter layer of foam down to the last sip. Lacing clings to the glass extremely well.

Smell - Sweet and boozy chocolate with a healthy mint kick. Mint becomes more aromatic when glass is agitated. Dark roasted malts and coffee make up the background.

Mouthfeel - Manages to be velvety smooth and decently carbonated at the same time.

Taste - Mint flavors weave between roasty coffee and booze-soaked dark chocolate. Finish is big with a bitter kick and alcohol heat. Sweet and bitter flavors are perfectly balanced against one another. Strikingly reminiscent of mint chocolate ice cream.

Overall - I was cautiously optimistic about this beer. Too often do I see beers with unique main ingredients that wind up being strange or overpowering. On paper, a mint chocolate imperial stout sounds amazing, but the key to success with a beer like this is execution. I though this beer was absolutely delicious. I was extremely impressed that the mint only added to the flavor of the beer, rather than become the sole focus. It was balanced, delicate, and showed some deft brewing skills on the part of the three collaborators. An absolutely fantastic dessert beer.

95 out of 100