So - that's one tick. There's a disappointing lack of head from this one though, only a slight patina of red mocha visible for a split second at the start. A little low for an Imperial at just 8.1%.
Initial thoughts on the aroma take me to the lands of the chocolate vanilla porter, but there's a bit of backing body there too. The problem with this body is it's lurking in the shadows holding a blunt rusty knife made of acetone and other stray tendrils. Hmm. Feeling a bit ill at ease now but all you can do is continue down that alley..
The flavour profile of this beer starts off quite nice, coffee notes evident up front, along with a muted parade of raisiny imperial notes. They too seem a little subdued in the context of that serial killer Acetone and his quiet but strangely insidious intimations of unripe fruit and off notes.
I think it's the hop profile in this beer that creates this odd edge rather than anything untoward in the beer's creation, but I couldn't help wishing they'd just left it alone and let the deeper choc / coffee notes do their job unharrassed.
Tried again on tap at Beer Deluxe. Pours nicely, fluffy head, good mouthfeel but that off note is still really offputting and to me it tastes like accidental homebrew department, rather than deliberate flavour manipulation. Can't say I like this much at all and there are far, far better options widely available. Avoid.
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