Founders Imperial Stout

Founders Imperial Stout:

Imperial Stouts got their name because of their intended audience: royalty. So if you have the grapefruits to call your stout "imperial" you'd better be prepared to back it up with quality you can taste. Founders Imperial Stout does that and more.

Oh, it's imperial alright. Founders Imperial Stout has regal implications, with a velvety smooth mouthfeel and formidable body. Definitely high viscosity. It is dark and dark with a richness you can see. This beer is ginormous. Just seeing its inky visage in the glass, oily lacework and grayish-brown head should let the casual observer know that this is no ordinary stout. The aroma is non-threatening, maybe a hint of of cocoa sweetness; and the first sip follows suit... but just wait for the after effects: The huge body materializes and brings with it some deeper flavor phantoms: coffee perhaps, or molasses. but something else adds to the body-- oatmeal or milk sugar? Not sure. There's an interesting hop profile here, too. With 90 IBUs (Hop-heads, take note: that's the same as Dogfish Head 90 minute IPA) the brew seems to get a little drier, not sweeter, as the drink moves along.

Founders Imperial Stout ranks high up on the charts -- comparable to two of my regional faves, Victory Storm King and Weyerbacher Old Heathen. Style and Representation are big scores. Accessibility may be trouble because of its rich bitterness and boozy tendencies (10.5% abv does not a "session brewski" make) and Personal Preference is a crapshoot. I think it's wonderful but I don't want to stock my fridge with a case of it. I have to wake up at some point, after all.

Don't waste this beer on a novice. Rookies need to earn their way into the imperial court. It's a must-have for stout lovers and Founders fans. Cheers!

Founders Imperial Stout:

Representation: .99

Accessibility: .89

Style: 1.0

Personal Preference: .925

Total Score: 3.805 flags