Review: Tenaya Creek Imperial Stout

Tenaya Creek Brewery

Grade:  A-

Appearance: After about ten minutes trying to get the wax seal off, it poured black with a beautiful thick tan head that slowly recedes to a nice one finger head.  The lacing is thick and sticky.

Smell: Strong coffee and creamy milk chocolate with roasted malt undertones.  There are slight burnt caramel and orange notes as well.  It smells great!

Taste: Like the smell, the coffee takes center stage with strong sugar sweetness.  Bitter dark chocolate and roasted malt is tasted mid-palate.  It finished with moderate hop bitterness and alcohol spiciness.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation.  The finish is roasty and bitter with slight stickiness.

Drinkability: Strong.  I find myself taking sips faster and faster as the bottle dwindles.  It is super smooth with a nice alcohol burn and warmth at the finish.  But like all imperial stouts, the high alcohol content (9.3%) makes me think twice about having another.

Overall: It is a really good imperial stout and the best of the Tenaya Creek lineup, IMO.  The booze is there, but the rich coffee and chocolate notes compliment it nicely.  I bought a second bottle and can't imagine how good it will be with some age.