It’s not that I try to age Imperial Stouts, I just want to make sure that I have the right time to open them. Once you do, you have committed to draining the bottle that evening.
So about 4 years ago I received a little care package from Dissent Brewing out of their St. Pete location. I consumed everything else sent to me pretty quickly, and was (and still am) incredibly proud of the Ruth Bader Ginsburg glass I also received.
As far as glassware goes, it is probably my favorite glass in all of Florida craft beer (and one there are murmurs of bringing back).
But the other thing I received was a bottle of their 2nd Anniversary Caramel Apple Brandy Imperial Stout (Imperial Stout, 10.5% ABV).
The moment you crack open this bottle, it bursts forth with an aroma that basically says ‘Call a taxi, you’re not driving tonight.’
It’s completely dark as midnight, with the most amazingly decadent aromas of coffee, candied apple, caramel, molasses, and all of the sticky syrupy sweetness of an amazing dessert. The flavor is big and rich, all carried on a wonderful heavy and thick sort of mouthfeel.
You immediately get the apple brandy, right off the bat, as a dark sugar and heavy red wine quality with these nice little sweet pips coming from juicy apple. The caramel comes on very strong, and it’s just like a state fair apple, the kind that gets stuck to your teeth.
Once that goes, you get presented with heavy prune and raisin flavors, rising forth on a bed of dark roasted coffee, chicory, dark molasses and even a little bit of soy sauce.
A boldness is what lasts, heavy on the prune and coffee, and it instantly invites more.
I’m not sure why, but I just couldn’t bring myself to drink it as it seemed too amazing and too special to just crack open on a whim. Curiosity finally got the better of me, way late as Dissent Brewing gets close to their Sixth anniversary, as I am finally opening this 2nd Anniversary bottle.
Descent is one of those breweries I cannot wait to get to. They’re always there, always releasing what looks to be amazing stuff, and if the few beers of theirs that I have tried it’s always been nothing short of amazing.
As I adore St. Pete in general, I’m sure I will get there relatively soon. In the meantime, if they have a 6th Anniversary Stout, I wonder if I’ll be waiting until their 20th anniversary to open it.
Drink Florida Craft,
Dave
@floridabeerblog
floridabeerblog@gmail.com
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